Prince Charles Biography
HRH The Prince of Wales
Birth and Titles
He was born in 1948 at Buckingham Palace to Princess Elizabeth, the elder daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. From birth, he was known as HRH Prince Charles of Edinburgh. In 1952, his mother inherited the throne, becoming Queen Elizabeth II, and Charles immediately became Duke of Cornwall under a charter of King Edward III, which gave that title to the Sovereign's eldest son, and was then referred to as HRH The Duke of Cornwall. He also became, in the Scottish Peerage, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick and Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.The Prince's full title is: His Royal Highness Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales, Knight of the Garter, Knight of the Thistle, Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Bath, Member of the Order of Merit, Knight of the Order of Australia, Member of the Queen's Service Order, Privy Counsellor, Aide-de-Campe to Her Majesty, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Chester, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. He is correctly referred to as HRH The Prince of Wales (or in Scotland, HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay). Though the term is commonly used, he ceased to be styled Prince Charles (and technically should not be described as such) following the accession of his mother to the throne in 1952, becoming Duke of Cornwall instead.
Created Prince of Wales
Charles was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester in 1958, though his actual investiture did not take place until July 1, 1969. This was a major ceremony, held at Caernarfon Castle in north Wales, a place traditionally associated with the creation of the title in the thirteenth century. Previous investitures had taken place at various locations, including the Palace of Westminster, the seat of parliament.Prior to the ceremony, Charles had studied at Gordonstoun School in Scotland, at Trinity College, Cambridge, and also at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, where he went specifically in order to learn the Welsh language -- the first English-born prince ever to make a serious attempt to do so. This won him some popularity in the principality, but the investiture also aroused considerable hostility among some Welsh nationalists, and there were threats of violence. In the late 1970s, Charles established another first when he became the first member of the Royal Family since King George I to attend a British cabinet meeting, he being invited to attend by Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan so as to see the workings of cabinet government at first hand.
Marriage
In 1981, the Prince of Wales married 19-year-old Lady Diana Spencer, daughter of the 8th Earl Spencer. It was to be perhaps the biggest royal marriage ever held. All of Europe's crowned heads (with the exception of King Juan Carlos of Spain, who was advised not to attend because the new couple's honeymoon would involve a stop-over in the disputed territory of Gibraltar) attended. So, too, did most of Europe's presidents, with two notable exceptions: President Karamanlis of Greece declined to go, because Greece's exiled King, Constantine II, who was a personal friend of the prince, had been described in his invitation as 'King of Greece', the technically correct description of an exiled monarch who hadn't abdicated, but which infuriated Greek republicans. Similarly, Ireland's President Hillery was formally advised by the Irish government of Charles J. Haughey not to attend because of the continued dispute over Britain's role in Northern Ireland.By marriage to the heir-apparent to the throne, Diana received both a title, "Princess of Wales", and the style, "Her Royal Highness". (Though commonly called Princess Diana, such a form of address was incorrect.) They made their homes at Highgrove in Gloucestershire and Kensington Palace. Almost immediately, Diana became a star attraction, chased by the paparazzi and the news media, her every move (including changes in hair-style) followed by millions. However, the marriage soon hit the rocks. Critics of Diana alleged that she was unstable and tempermental; one by one she sacked each of Charles's longstanding staff members and fell out with numerous friends (her father, mother, brother, Duchess of York, Elton John, her own staff -- who quit after rows). Charles, too, was blamed for the marital troubles. He and Camilla Shand had ended their relationship in the 1970s and now found themselves in unhappy marriages. The restart of their affair in the late 1980s was to destroy what remained of the fairytale Charles and Diana marriage, which within five years of the wedding was already on the brink of collapse. Ironically, Charles and Diana were similar in some respects: Both had troubled childhoods. Both took their public roles seriously and devoted much of their time to charity work, becoming highly regarded for it. (Diana notably devoted much time to helping AIDS sufferers, while Charles devoted much effort to marginalised groups in urban centres through his Prince's Trust charity).
Both partners subsequently admitted to extra-marital affairs, he with Mrs. Parker Bowles, she with a number of people, including a young army officer. Though they remained publicly a couple, they effectively had separated by the late 1980s, he living in Highgrove, she in Kensington Palace. The media noted their increasing periods apart and their obvious discomfort at being in each other's presence. By 1992, it was obvious that the marriage was over in all but name. The couple formally separated, with media sources taking different sides in what became known as the "War of the Waleses". Charles received much of the blame when details of his relationship with Mrs. Parker Bowles were revealed. She and her husband divorced, and he married a woman with whom he had had a long-term relationship during his marriage.
Divorce
The marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales formally ended in divorce in 1996. It had produced two sons, Prince William and Prince Henry, who is known by the name 'Harry'. Tragically, Diana was killed in a car accident in 1997. Charles earned considerable praise for his handling of the events and their aftermath, in particular his over-ruling of palace protocol experts (and indeed the Queen) who argued that as Diana (by then known as Diana, Princess of Wales) was no longer a member of the Royal Family, the responsibility for her funeral arrangements belonged to her blood relatives, the Spencers. Charles, against advice, flew to Paris to accompany his ex-wife's body home and insisted that she be given a formal royal funeral; a new category of formal funeral was specially created for her. His role as a single father earned much sympathy, in particular in how he handled a crisis when it was revealed that his younger son, Prince Harry, had dabbled in soft drugs. From extreme unpopularity in the early 1990s, Charles became one of the more popular members of the Royal Family.Relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles
His relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles is now openly acknowledged, with her becoming his unofficial consort. However two issues remain over the relationship. As future Supreme Governor of the Church of England, the prospect of him marrying a divorc?, with whom he had a relationship while both were married, is controversial. (Since Diana, Princess of Wales has died, he himself is technically a widower, not a divorc? and so there is no problem with him marrying a second time. But as Mrs. Parker Bowles has a former husband still alive, she is technically a divorc?, hence the problem.) However public opinion and opinion within the Church has shifted somewhat to a point where a majority would accept a second marriage. However he is unlikely to marry until public opinion expects as opposed to merely accepts a remarriage.Secondly and more sensitively, there remains the issue of Mrs. Parker Bowles' title after marriage. In strict constitutional law, she would automatically assume the title 'Princess of Wales' and the style 'Royal Highness'. Such a development is almost universally unacceptable, even to those supporting a marriage between the couple. Legislation may have to be enacted allowing for a morganatic marriage, whereby she could neither become a princess or queen, and would not be styled HRH, but would use a courtesy title, perhaps 'Duchess of Cornwall'. (He is Duke of Cornwall.) Though her age suggests it is highly improbable, such legislation would also need to state that any children of the union would be excluded from the succession to the throne. Practical issues would also potentially arise over the status of her children by her first marriage, who in the event of a second marriage would become step-children of the future king and step-brothers and step-sisters to Princes William and Harry. (And so the focus of media attention, hence the need for some clarifications, such as inheritance rights to property of the Prince of Wales, police protection, etc.)
Personal Interests
The Prince of Wales is an avid horseman and huntsman. He served in the Royal Navy, commanding the HMS Bronington, a minehunter, from February 1976 until December 1976. He is also a talented artist and a published writer. The Prince's Trust, which he founded, is a charity that works mainly with young people, offering loans to groups, businesses and people (often in deprived areas) who had difficulty receiving support from mainstream lending institutions. The Prince's Trust is believed to have helped thousands of people in poor inner-city areas get jobs and training. In this role, the Prince has become surprisingly popular with many left-wing politicians, who see his charity as helping those who were receiving aid from nowhere else. Fundraising concerts are regularly held for the Prince's Trust, with leading pop, rock and classical musicians taking part.Charles is a complex character. An openly-admitted depressive, a passionate man who cares deeply about issues such as the environment, architecture, inner-city renewal and the quality of life. To put his ideas on architecture and town planning into practice, Charles is developing the village of Poundbury in Dorset.
Charles is also highly regarded on the international stage as an effective performer for the United Kingdom. On a visit to the Republic of Ireland, for example, instead of simply using a standard foreign office speech, he delivered a personally-researched, personally-written speech on Anglo-Irish affairs which was warmly received by Irish politicians and the Irish media.
While his popularity has fluctuated, he remans the most active Prince of Wales in centuries, who, while he could have opted for a low-key life, has devoted his time and effort to charity work and working with local communities. Only the issue of his relationship with Camilla (and allegations by one former staff member, as of yet not publicly substantiated, of a sexual relationship with a male aide) remain as complicating factors in his public image and persona.
Official Residence
The Prince of Wales's current official London residence is Clarence House, former London residence of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (the eighteenth century building has undergone major restoration and renovation to equip it for use by him, his partner and their extensive personal and office staffs).His previous oficial residence was an apartment in St. James's Palace.
Some previous Princes of Wales resided in Marlborough House. It however is no longer used as a royal residence. Following the death in 1953 of Queen Mary, widow of King George V, its last royal resident, it was given by Queen Elizabeth II for use by the Commonwealth of Nations.
Principal Title in use
- His Royal Highness, Prince Charles of Edinburgh (from birth to 1952)
- His Royal Highness, The Prince Charles, Duke of Cornwall (1952 to 1958)
- His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales (1958-) (England, Wales, Northern Ireland and internationally)
- His Royal Highness The
Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay
(1952-) (Scotland)
Children
This Prince Charles Biography Page is Copyright © 2004 - 2006 Chuck Ayoub