Charles, Prince of Wales

Information about Charles, Prince of Wales

Prince Charles
Prince of Wales; Scotland: Duke of Rothesay
SpouseDiana, Princess of Wales (1981–1996)[1]
Camilla Parker Bowles (2005–)
Issue
Prince William of Wales
Prince Henry of Wales
Full name
Charles Philip Arthur George[2]
Titles
HRH The Prince of Wales
HRH The Duke of Rothesay
HRH The Duke of Cornwall
HRH Prince Charles of Edinburgh
Royal houseHouse of Windsor
FatherPhilip, Duke of Edinburgh
MotherElizabeth II
Born14 November 1948 (1948--) (age 60)
Buckingham Palace, London, England
Baptised15 December 1948
Buckingham Palace, London, England
British Royalty
Royal Family
HM The Queen
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

This box:     [ edit]
Styles of
The Prince of Wales
Reference styleHis Royal Highness
Spoken styleYour Royal Highness
Alternative styleSir|
The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George;<ref name="sur" /> born 14 November 1948), is the eldest son of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He has held the title of Prince of Wales since 1958, and is styled His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, except in Scotland, where he is styled His Royal Highness The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay. The title Duke of Cornwall is often used for the Prince in relation to Cornwall.

Charles is Heir Apparent, equally and separately, to the thrones of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth Realms; he will most likely reside in and be directly involved with the United Kingdom. He will not, however, necessarily inherit the title Head of the Commonwealth.[3] If Charles ascends to the throne, he will be the first British monarch to be descended from Queen Victoria through two lines: from his mother's side through Edward VII, George V and George VI; and through his paternal grandmother, Princess Alice of Battenberg who is the eldest daughter of Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, who as a daughter of Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine is a female line grandchild of Queen Victoria. Though the Prince is first in line to the Thrones, in the United Kingdom order of precedence he is third, after his parents, and is not included in the other Realms' precedence orders at all, though typically he would be fourth or fifth, following his mother, the relevant vice-regal representative(s), and his father.

The Prince of Wales is well known for his extensive charity work, particularly for the Prince's Trust, the Prince's Regeneration Trust, and the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment. He also carries out a full schedule of royal duties and, increasingly, is taking on more duties from his elderly parents as official representative of the Queen and deputy for his father. The Prince is also well known for his marriages to the late Diana, Princess of Wales and, subsequently, to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

Birth

Prince Charles was born on 14 November 1948 at Buckingham Palace, London, England, son of the then Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, now Queen Elizabeth II, and The Duke of Edinburgh.

Prince Charles was baptised in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace on 15 December 1948, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Geoffrey Fisher. The Prince's godparents were: King George VI, Queen Mary, Princess Margaret, the Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven, David Bowes-Lyon, Lady Brabourne, King Haakon VII of Norway (for whom the Earl of Athlone stood proxy), and Prince George of Greece (for whom Prince Philip stood proxy).

Under letters patent issued by the Prince's great grandfather, King George V, the title of a British prince or princess and the style Royal Highness was only available to the children and grandchildren in the male-line of the sovereign and children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales. As Charles was a female-line grandchild of the sovereign, he would have taken his title from his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, and would have been styled by courtesy as Earl of Merioneth. However, the title of Prince and Princess, with the style Royal Highness was granted to all the children of Princess Elizabeth and Philip by letters patent of George VI on 22 October 1948. In this way the children of the heiress presumptive had a royal and princely status not thought necessary for the children of King George VI's other daughter, Princess Margaret. Thus, from birth Charles was known as His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Edinburgh.

Early life

In 1952, his mother assumed the throne, becoming Queen Elizabeth II. Prince 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 His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall. He also became, in the Scottish Peerage, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick and Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.

The Duke of Cornwall was now the heir apparent to the throne. He attended his mother’s coronation at Westminster Abbey, sitting with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and his aunt, The Princess Margaret.

School

As with royal children before him, a governess, Catherine Peebles, was appointed to look after the Prince. The governess was responsible for educating the Prince between the ages of 5 and 8. In a break with tradition, Buckingham Palace announced in 1955 that the Prince would attend school, rather than have a private tutor, the first heir apparent to do so. He first attended Hill House School in West London, and later the Cheam Preparatory School in Berkshire which the Duke of Edinburgh had also attended.

The Prince finished his education at Gordonstoun, a private boarding school in the north east of Scotland. It is often reported that the Prince despised his time at the school, where he was a frequent target for bullies. ("Colditz in kilts" he reportedly said.) The Prince would later send his own children to Eton College rather than Gordonstoun.

In 1966 Charles spent two terms at Geelong Grammar School in Victoria, Australia during which time he visited Papua New Guinea on a history trip with his tutor Michael Collins Persse. On his return to Gordonstoun he followed in his father's footsteps by becoming Head Boy. In 1967 he left Gordonstoun with two A levels, in History and French.

University

Traditionally, the heir to the throne would go straight into the military after finishing school. However, in a break with tradition, Charles attended university at Trinity College, Cambridge, despite only gaining a B and a C in his A-levels where he studied anthropology and archaeology, and later history, earning a 2:2 (lower second class) Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree on 23 June 1970,[4] making Charles the third member of the Royal Family to earn a university degree. For a term he also attended the Old College, part of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, where he studied the Welsh language and Welsh History. The intention was specifically to learn the Welsh language, and as such he was the first English-born Prince (of Wales) ever to make a serious attempt to do so. He subsequently learnt enough to be able to deliver his investiture speech in Welsh.

On 2 August 1975,<ref name="powedu" /> per Cambridge tradition, the Prince was awarded a Master's degree, entitling him to use the postnominal MA (Cantab.).

Created Prince of Wales

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Queen Elizabeth II formally invests The Prince of Wales with the Prince of Wales crown
Prince Charles was created The Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on 26 July 1958,[5] though his actual investiture did not take place until 1 July 1969. This was a ceremony with symbolically political overtones, held at Caernarfon Castle in north Wales. The ceremony at Caernarfon has traditionally been associated with the subjugation and humiliation of Welsh people since the 13th century when Edward I of England cruelly deposed the last native Prince of Wales, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. Previous investitures had taken place at various locations, including the Palace of Westminster, the seat of Parliament. The Welsh borough of Swansea was granted city status to mark the occasion.

The investiture also aroused considerable hostility among many Welsh people, and some were under constant police surveillance and were the subject of much intimidation from the secret services. Threats of violence ensued and a short bombing campaign, although these acts were generally more related to the greater nationalist campaign for Welsh independence. The nationalist campaign against the investiture culminated with an attempted bombing of the Royal Train by two members of the Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru as it passed through Abergele on the eve of the investiture, resulting in the two bombers' deaths.

In the late 1970s, The Prince of Wales established another first when he became the first member of the Royal Family since King George I to attend a British cabinet meeting, being invited to attend by Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan so as to see the workings of cabinet government at first hand.
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Charles during a visit to the United States in 1981.


In the early 1980s, Charles privately expressed an interest in becoming Governor-General of Australia. Commander Michael Parker explained: "The idea behind the appointment was for him to put a foot on the ladder of Monarchy, or being the future King and start learning the trade. However, nothing came of the proposal. The Prince accepted the decision of his mother's Australian ministers, if not without some regret; he reportedly stated: "What are you supposed to think when you are prepared to do something to help and you are told you are not wanted?"[6]

The British expert in Romanian politics and history and Encyclopaedia Britannica editor Tom Gallagher,[7][8] wrote that Charles was offered the Romanian throne, supposedly by Romanian monarchists, an offer which he reportedly turned down.[9][10]

If he ascends to the British throne after 20 September 2013, the Prince, who turned 58 in November 2006, would become the oldest successor to do so. Only William IV and Edward VII were older than Charles is now when they became monarchs of the United Kingdom. He is both the third-longest serving heir apparent and third-longest serving Prince of Wales in British history, in each case behind Edward VII and George IV

Romances

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The Prince of Wales, on the cover of Time in 1978
The Prince of Wales's love life has always been the subject of speculation and press fodder. In his youth he was linked to a number of women including: Georgiana Russell (daughter of the British Ambassador to Spain); Lady Jane Wellesley (daughter of the 8th Duke of Wellington); Davina Sheffield; Penthouse model Fiona Watson; the actress Susan George; Lady Sarah Spencer; Princess Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg; Dale, Baroness Tryon (wife of Anthony Tryon, 3rd Baron Tryon); Janet Jenkins; and divorcée Jane Ward, among others. Irrespective of the truth of the romantic rumours, the hurdles of marriage made some of these matches manifestly implausible.

As heir-apparent to the Throne, the Prince of Wales would be expected to father future monarchs; also, like other members of the royal family, he was legally obliged to obtain his mother's approval before marriage.[11] Apart from her support, his choice of a future wife would also need to survive the immense popular interest it would immediately arouse.

Amanda Knatchbull

Charles was given written advice on dating and selection of a future consort from his father's "Uncle Dickie", Louis, Earl Mountbatten of Burma:
In a case like yours, the man should sow his wild oats and have as many affairs as he can before settling down, but for a wife he should choose a suitable, attractive, and sweet-charactered girl before she has met anyone else she might fall for...it is disturbing for women to have experiences if they have to remain on a pedestal after marriage.
[12] Mountbatten had a unique qualification for offering advice to this particular heir to the throne; he had invited George VI and Queen Elizabeth to visit Dartmouth Royal Naval College with their daughters on 22 July 1939, having also detailed Cadet Prince Philip of Greece to keep the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret company. This was the first recorded meeting of Charles's future parents.[13] Mountbatten began corresponding with Charles about a potential marriage to his granddaughter, Hon. Amanda Knatchbull, early in 1974.[14] It was at this time he also recommended that the 25 year-old prince get on with sowing some wild oats. Charles dutifully wrote to Amanda's mother (who was also his godmother), Patricia Brabourne, about his interest. She replied approvingly, while suggesting that a courtship was premature.

Undaunted, four years later Mountbatten wangled an invitation for himself and Amanda to accompany Charles on his planned 1980 tour of India, where Mountbatten had served as last British viceroy and first governor general. This time both fathers objected: Philip complained that the Prince of Wales would be eclipsed by his famous uncle. Amanda's father, John Knatchbull, 7th Baron Brabourne, warned that a joint visit would rivet media attention on the cousins before they could decide on becoming a couple, potentially dashing the very prospect for which Mountbatten hoped.[16]

But before Charles departed alone for India, Mountbatten was assassinated, in August 1979. When Charles finally proposed marriage to Amanda (who had been with her grandfather when he, her paternal grandmother, and her youngest brother, Nicholas, were fatally wounded) she declined immediately.[17] In June 1980, Charles officially turned down Chevening House as his future residence. A stately home in Kent, Chevening was bequeathed to the British nation by the last Earl Stanhope, Amanda's childless great-uncle, in the hope that Charles would eventually occupy it.

First marriage

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The Prince and Princess of Wales return to Buckingham Palace following their wedding in St Paul's Cathedral. Source: BBCNews archive
On 29 July 1981, The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer were married at St Paul's Cathedral before 3,500 invited guests and an estimated worldwide television audience of 750 million people. All of Europe's crowned heads attended (except for Juan Carlos I of Spain, who was advised not to attend because the couple's honeymoon would involve a stop-over in the disputed territory of Gibraltar). So, too, did most of Europe's elected heads of state, with the notable exceptions of President of Greece Constantine Karamanlis, who declined to go because Greece's exiled King, Constantine II, a personal friend of the Prince, had been described in his invitation as "King of the Hellenes"[18] and the President of Ireland, Patrick Hillery, who was advised by taoiseach Charles Haughey, not to attend because of the dispute over the status of Northern Ireland.[19]

By marriage to the heir apparent, Lady Diana received both the title of the Princess of Wales and the style of "Her Royal Highness". She was popularly known as Princess Diana, although her correct title was, until the couple's divorce, Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales. The couple made their home at Highgrove, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire and at Kensington Palace. Almost immediately, the Princess of Wales became a star attraction, chased by the paparazzi, her every move (including every change in hairstyle) closely followed by millions.
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Charles and Diana's wedding commemorated on a 1981 British twenty-five pence coin


However, the marriage soon became troubled. The continued presence of Mrs. Parker-Bowles in the events and circumstances of the couple became intolerable to the Princess. Allies of the Prince who spoke publicly if anonymously against the Princess alleged that Her Royal Highness was unstable and temperamental; one by one she sacked each of the Prince of Wales's longstanding staff members and fell out with numerous friends and members of her family -- her father, her mother, her brother, and The Duchess of York. The Princess sought counsel outside of the generally acceptable sources of advice, to the chagrin of the palace, and in response to the succor sought by the Prince, responded in kind.

The Prince of Wales, too, was blamed for the marital troubles, as he resumed his adulterous affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles. Within five years of the wedding the "fairytale" marriage was already on the brink of collapse. Ironically, the Prince and Princess of Wales were similar in some respects: both had had troubled childhoods, both took their public roles seriously and devoted much of their time to charity work, becoming highly regarded for it. (The Princess of Wales notably devoted much time to helping AIDS sufferers, while The Prince of Wales devoted much effort to marginalised groups in urban centres through The Prince's Trust charity and to victims of mines.)

Though they remained publicly a couple, they had effectively 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 and aired evidence and recriminations of infidelity in the news. 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.

The marriage of The Prince and Princess of Wales formally ended in divorce on 28 August 1996. It had produced two sons, Prince William of Wales, and Prince Henry of Wales who is known as Harry.

Death of Diana, Princess of Wales

Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in a car accident while being chased by paparazzi in Paris on August 31, 1997. The Prince of Wales was praised by some 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, 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. The Prince of Wales, against advice, flew to Paris along with Diana's sisters 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 especially created for her.

For more details on this topic, see Death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles

During a 1994 television interview, Charles admitted that he had committed adultery "once it was clear the marriage had broken down." The timing of the affair's resumption may or may not be accurate by the Prince's account; Prince Charles also held during the same interview that his own father The Duke of Edinburgh approved of the taking of a mistress. This assertion was vehemently denied by the Duke, and the implication of condoned adultery caused a significant rift between father and son. It was later confirmed that the third party was Mrs. Parker-Bowles. This public confession by Charles resulted in Andrew Parker-Bowles' immediate demand for divorce from Mrs. Parker-Bowles, although he had heretofore remained silent on the subject of his wife's ongoing affair with the Prince. In fact in 1993, the British tabloids got hold of tapes (still unexplained) of a 1989 mobile telephone conversation allegedly between Prince Charles and Mrs Parker Bowles, in which Prince Charles expressed regret for all the indignities she endured because of their relationship. That same taped conversation also revealed rather graphic expressions of an undeniable physical relationship between the two. [1]

After his divorce from Diana, Princess of Wales, The Prince of Wales's relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles eventually became openly acknowledged, and she became his unofficial companion. With the death of Diana in 1997, Camilla's gradual emergence in the public eye came to a temporary halt. However, in 1999, after a party celebrating the 50th birthday of Camilla's sister Annabel Elliott, Charles and Camilla were photographed in public together. Many saw this as a sign that their relationship was now regarded as "official". In a further effort to gain acceptance of the relationship, in June 2000 Camilla met the Queen. Eventually in 2003, Camilla moved into Charles's homes at Highgrove and Clarence House, although Buckingham Palace points out that public funds were not used in the decoration of her suites.

Marriage remained elusive, with two main issues requiring resolution and acceptance. As future Supreme Governor of the Church of England, the prospect of his marrying Mrs Parker Bowles, with whom he had had a relationship while both were married, was seen as controversial by some. Both the Prince and Camilla had divorced their spouses, but as her former husband was still alive (although re-married to his long-time mistress), her remarriage was likely to be problematic. Over time, opinion—both public and within the Church—shifted somewhat to a point where a civil marriage would be acceptable.

Second marriage

On 10 February 2005, it was announced by Clarence House [2] that the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles would marry on 8 April of that year, in a civil ceremony at Windsor Castle, with a subsequent religious blessing at the castle's St George's Chapel. Subsequently, the location was changed to the Guildhall, Windsor, possibly because of the discovery that Windsor Castle might have to become available for other people's weddings, should theirs be performed there. On Monday 4 April, it was announced that the wedding would be delayed for one day to 9 April to allow the Prince of Wales and some of the invited dignitaries to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

It was announced by Royal authorities that after the marriage, as the wife of the Prince of Wales, Mrs. Parker Bowles would be styled Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall and that upon the Prince's accession to the throne, she would not be known as Queen Camilla but as Her Royal Highness The Princess Consort. This form of address is believed to be based on that used by Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert, who was styled as Prince Consort. Some constitutional experts, however, believe that the wishes of Camilla and the Prince create a constitutional confusion. The British Department of Constitutional Affairs has stated that unless parliament passes legislation dictating her status, Camilla will become Queen Camilla upon her husband's succession. A spokesman for the Prince concedes that the government may have to formalise Camilla's status at the time of the succession.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall spent their first wedding anniversary in Scotland. In Scotland they are styled the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay.

Personal interests

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The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall are greeted by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush on a November 2005 visit to the United States.


The Prince of Wales has a wide array of interests and activities, some of which have not been fully appreciated by the public. His popularity has fluctuated, but he is one of the most active Princes of Wales for centuries, and has devoted his time and effort to charity work and working with local communities.

The Prince is President of 18 charities, 16 of which he personally founded. Together these 18 not-for-profit organisations form a loose alliance called the Prince's Charities, which claim to raise over £110 million annually.[20]

The Prince is also Patron of over 350 other charities. [21] The Prince has ties with at least one associated charity - and sometimes several, in each of his main areas of interest described below.

This activity is not confined to the UK. For example, as heir to the Canadian Throne, he has aimed to use his tours of that country as a way to help draw attention to relevant issues, including youth, the disabled, the environment, the arts, medicine, the elderly, heritage conservation and education.[22]
Further information: Royal visits to Canada


The Prince is regarded by some as an effective advocate for the United Kingdom. On a visit to the Republic of Ireland, for example, he delivered a personally researched and written speech on Anglo-Irish affairs that was warmly received by Irish politicians and the media.

Alternative medicine

The Prince has long been known to be interested in greater exploration of alternative medicine,[23] drawing fire from the medical establishment and those who consider such "complementary therapies" to be pseudoscience at best and outright fraud at worst.

However, his charity The Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health has been closely involved in a government drive to improve regulation and quality standards in the sector.[24]

Architecture

Charles has frequently shared his views about the built environment in public forums. In essence, these views might be thought of as being part of the intellectual tradition of English town planning that descends from Ebenezer Howard and Raymond Unwin. The Prince claims to "care deeply about issues such as the environment, architecture, inner-city renewal, and the quality of life" and is known for being an advocate of the neo-traditional ideas of architects such as Christopher Alexander and Leon Krier. In 1984, he delivered a blistering attack on the profession of architecture in a speech given to the Royal Institute of British Architects, describing the proposed extension to the National Gallery in London as a "monstrous carbuncle." Despite criticism from the professional architectural press, he has continued to put forward his views in numerous speeches and articles on traditional urbanism, the need for human scale, concern to restore historic buildings as an integrated element in new developments and green design. These ideas are furthered through two of the Prince's Charities in particular: The Prince's Regeneration Trust and The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment. His Regeneration Through Heritage and Phoenix Trust merged in 2006 to form The Prince's Regeneration Trust, which develops his ideas about historic buildings and heritage-led regeneration by supporting and carrying out exemplar projects.

To put his ideas on architecture and urban planning into practice, the Prince of Wales is developing the village of Poundbury, in Dorset, which is built from a master plan by Krier. Prior to commencing work on Poundbury, Prince Charles published a book and produced a documentary entitled A Vision for Britain, both being critiques of modern architecture. In 1992, he also established The Prince of Wales's Institute of Architecture, and began the publication of a magazine dealing with architecture, but the latter has since ceased independent operation after being merged with another charity to create the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment in 2001.

Prince Charles assisted with the establishment of a National Trust for the built environment in Canada, after lamenting the unbridled destruction of many of Canada's historic urban cores when in the country in 1996. He offered to help the Department of Canadian Heritage create a trust modelled after the British National Trust. With the passing of the 2007 federal budget by his mother's representative in Canada, a National Trust was finally fully implemented.[25] Since 1999, Heritage Canada has awarded The Prince of Wales Prize for Municipal Heritage Leadership, given annually to a municipal government that has shown sustained commitment to the conservation of its historic places.[26]

The Prince also has had a particular interest in the Romanian countryside since the 1980s, when, under the rule of the Communist dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu, Romanian villages were destroyed to move farmers to apartment buildings in cities. Since 1997 he has been visiting Romania regularly and has shown a great personal interest in Romania's Orthodox monasteries[27][28] as well as in the fate of the Saxon villages of Transylvania[29][30] where he purchased a house.[31][32] He is patron to two built environment organisations that are active in Romania: the Mihai Eminescu Trust,[33] which manages the restoration of Romanian architecture and INTBAU (the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture, and Urbanism), an advocate of architecture that respects cultural tradition and identity.

In November, 2005, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, visited the United States. Besides visiting Washington D.C. and President George W. Bush, the Prince and Duchess toured southern Mississippi and New Orleans to highlight the need for financial assistance in rebuilding these areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Prior to their visit to New Orleans, the Prince received National Building Museum’s Vincent Scully Prize in Washington D.C. The Prince donated $25,000 (£14,000) of the Scully Prize to help restore communities damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Arts

Prince Charles is a watercolour artist, having exhibited and sold a number of paintings, and a published writer. He is also reportedly a fan of Canadian singer and song writer Leonard Cohen.[34]

Cars

The Prince is known to have a keen interest in cars, particularly the British marque Aston Martin. He has collected numerous Aston models over the years and has tight connections with the brand, so much so that special "Prince of Wales" Edition Aston Martins have been created over the years, sporting his favourite colour and trim combinations. He is a frequent visitor to the factory and its service department, and has been a guest of honour at most of the company's special launch events.

Canadian First Nations

As Prince of Wales, Prince Charles has paid seventeen visits to Canada, beginning in 1970. Five years later, while serving aboard HMS Hermes in Canadian waters, the prince spent a week in the Northwest Territories; the Canadian North remains an area that holds a special attraction for him. Reflecting the Prince's interest in aboriginal peoples, members of the First Nations community have conferred on him special titles: In Winnipeg, Cree and Ojibway students named the Prince "Leading Star" in 1996, and in 2001 he was named Pisimwa Kamiwohkitahpamikohk, or "the sun looks at him in a good way," during his first visit to the province of Saskatchewan in 2001. Charles also meets with aboriginal leaders; sometimes taking time to walk and meditate with tribal elders.<ref name="CMN" />

Environment

The Prince has taken a keen interest in environmental issues, and has taken a leadership role in promoting environmentally sensitive thinking, within business practice as well as urban planning and design. The latter ties in with his Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment.

In 2007, Charles received the 10th annual Global Environmental Citizen Award from Harvard Medical School's Centre for Health and the Global Environment, presented by former US Vice President Al Gore and actress Meryl Streep. Eric Chivian, director of the Centre, stated: "For decades The Prince of Wales has been a champion of the natural world... He has been a world leader in efforts to improve energy efficiency and in reducing the discharge of toxic substances on land, and into the air and the oceans."[35] The Prince's travel to the United States via commercial airliner caused some controversy amongst environmental activists - with the Plane Stupid climate change action group's campaigner Joss Garman saying: ""It is frustrating and disappointing that someone who styles himself as a green leader and should be leading an example, behaves in such a manner when everyone else is doing their best to cut emissions."[36]

In December, 2006, Charles announced plans to make his household's travel plans more eco-friendly. Later in 2007 he will also have published in his annual accounts the details of his own carbon footprint, as well as targets for reducing his household's carbon emissions.<ref name="BBCenv" />

Charles attended The British School - Al Khubairat's Environmental Exhibition hosted by a number of companies on February 27, 2007.

On Friday 23 March 2007, Prince Charles opened a climate change exhibition at The Peacocks shopping centre in Woking. The exhibition, a joint venture by Business in the Community and the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) endorsed by the Climate Group, features displays with information on "issues of recycling, energy use, transport, waste reduction and locally sourced food."[37]

Organic products

The Prince grows and promotes organic food, although he drew some ridicule when he joked about sometimes talking to his house plants.[38]

In the early 1980s, the Prince moved to the Highgrove country estate in Gloucestershire, and became increasingly interested in organic farming - particularly in how to make it more economically viable. This culminated in 1992 in the launch of his own organic brand Duchy Originals - the name reflects his title as the Duke of Cornwall.[39] The company sells a range of more than 200 organic and sustainably-produced products, from garden furniture to food. All the profits go to The Prince's Charities Foundation, raising £6 million so far.[40] He is also patron of Garden Organic (the Henry Doubleday Research Association), a campaigning UK charity dedicated to promoting organic growing and living.

The Prince regularly meets with farmers to discuss their trade. In Saskatchewan in 2001 the foot-and-mouth epidemic in the UK prevented Charles from visiting farms, however organic farmers came specifically to meet him at the Assiniboia town hall.<ref name="CMN" />

He is co-author, with Charles Clover, environment editor of the Daily Telegraph (London), of Highgrove: An Experiment in Organic Gardening and Farming, published by Simon & Schuster in 1993.

The Orthodox Church

Prince Charles is also interested in Orthodox Christianity.[41][42] Each year he spends time in the Orthodox monasteries of Mount Athos in Greece[43] , and has also visited monasteries in Romania.[44][45] With his father, Prince Philip, who was born and raised Greek Orthodox, he is a patron of the "The Friends of Mount Athos" organisation. Prince Charles was also the patron of the "21st International Congress of Byzantine Studies,"[46] a forum dedicated to the study of the history and art of the former Orthodox Roman Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire.

Philosophy

Another of the Prince's greatest areas of interest continues to be philosophy, especially the philosophy of Asian and Middle Eastern nations, as well as so-called New Age theology. He had a friendship with author Sir Laurens van der Post, whom outsiders called the "guru to Prince Charles," starting in 1977 until van der Post's death in 1996; such was his friendship with van der Post that the author was named godfather to Prince William. In 2006, the Prince praised "that wonderful Kabbalistic diagram of the Tree of Life", as expounded by Warren Kenton, a teacher at the Temenos Academy.[47]

Youth

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 outside support. Fundraising concerts are regularly held for the Prince's Trust, with leading pop, rock, and classical musicians taking part. Charles also supports the FARA Foundation,[48] which runs Romanian orphanages.

During Charles's tour of Canada in 1998, with his two sons, he participated in the ceremonies marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.[49] Later, in 2001, he drew attention to youth and education while touring Saskatchewan, where he helped launch the Canadian Youth Business Foundation in Saskatchewan, and he visited Scott Collegiate, an inner-city school in Regina.[50]

Personality and image

Prince Charles has been a prominent figure in the media since his youth, his public actions and comments attracting both praise and criticism, and sometime ridicule. The British tabloid media became particularly obsessed with Charles after his marriage to Lady Diana Spencer, casting him in a favourable light. Coverage continued through the couple's separation and divorce, with Charles often portrayed negatively. This press exposure affected the Prince's public image and popularity.

Prince Charles is also well known in the media as a keen environmentalist and gardener and has vociferously spoken on many green issues from the need to combat climate change[3] to his love of talking to his plants to help them grow[4].

During a visit to Canada in 2001 it was remarked by the Saskatchewan officer for protocol and the Prince's personal staff, that people were first beginning to see "the real Prince Charles."<ref name="CMN" />

Military career

On 8th March 1971, the Prince flew himself to Royal Air Force (RAF) Cranwell in Lincolnshire, to train as a jet pilot. At his own request, The Prince had received flying instruction from the RAF during his second year at Cambridge.

In September 1971, after the passing out parade at Cranwell, the Prince embarked on a naval career, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and both his great-grandfathers.

The six-week course at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, was followed by service on the guided missile destroyer HMS Norfolk and two frigates.

The Prince qualified as a helicopter pilot, in 1974, before joining 845 Naval Air Squadron, which operated from the Commando carrier HMS Hermes. On 9th February 1976, the Prince took command of the coastal minehunter HMS Bronington for his last nine months in the Navy.

With both qualification as a helicopter and fighter pilot, the Prince served in both the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. He came to fly the following aircraft (the WWII vintage Spitfire arguably having more of a historical/symbolic value than practical importance): Prince Charles served in the Royal Navy for five years: The Prince's involvement as Colonel-in-Chief of Canadian Forces regiments permits him to be informed of their activities, and allows him opportunity to pay visits while in Canada or overseas. In 2001, Charles placed a specially-commissioned wreath, made from vegetation taken from French battlefields, at the Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Prince also became patron of Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in 1981. The Prince serves as Colonel-in-Chief, Air-Commodore-in-Chief, or Honorary Air Commodore of various regiments throughout the Commonwealth Realms.

In the United Kingdom, Prince Charles also holds the ranks of General (British Army), Admiral (Royal Navy) and Air Chief Marshal (Royal Air Force), having been promoted to these ranks on his 58th birthday.

See also: Honorary military positions of Charles, Prince of Wales
Further information: List of Canadian organizations with royal patronage

Official residence

The Prince of Wales's official London residence is Clarence House, former London residence of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (the nineteenth century building has undergone major restoration and renovation to equip it for use by him, his wife, and their personal and office staffs). His previous official residence was an apartment in St. James's Palace. He also has a private estate, Highgrove in Gloucestershire and in Scotland he has use of the Birkhall estate near Balmoral Castle which was previously owned by Queen Elizabeth.

Some previous Princes of Wales resided in Marlborough House. It is no longer a royal residence. After its last royal resident,George V's widow Queen Mary, died in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II gave it to the Commonwealth Secretariat, which has used the building as its headquarters since 1965.[5]

In 2007, Charles bought a property in Carmarthenshire. Charles applied for permission to convert his newly-purchased farm, although according to their neighbours the application clearly flouted local planning regulations. The application is pending while a report is drafted on how the changes would affect the local bat population.[51]

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles

Further information: List of titles and honours of Charles, Prince of Wales

Styles

The Prince's style in full (rarely used): His Royal Highness The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland, Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Great Master and First and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Member of the Order of Merit, Knight of the Order of Australia, Companion of the Queen's Service Order, Honorary Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, Chief Grand Commander of the Order of Logohu, Member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty.[52]

In Canada, the Inuit gave Prince Charles the distinctive title Attaniout Ikeneego, meaning "The Son of the Big Boss,"[53] serving as a reasonable equivalent to the term "heir apparent" in the Inuktitut language of Nunavut. The Cree and Ojibway in Winnipeg named Prince Charles Leading Star.[54]

If Prince Charles succeeds his mother as monarch and uses his first given name as his regnal name, he would become known as Charles III. However, Prince Charles has considered rejecting that style when he accedes to the throne, because of its associations with Britain's bloody past. The move away from Charles stems from its associations with Charles I, who was beheaded in 1649 following the English Civil War, at the start of Oliver Cromwell's short-lived republic. The executed monarch's son, Charles II, spent 18 years in exile and returned to England in 1660 but was nicknamed "The Merry Monarch" because of his string of mistresses. Charles III is partially associated with the Catholic Jacobite pretender, Charles Edward Stuart (called Bonnie Prince Charlie), an enduring Scottish romantic figure, who claimed the throne as that style in the 18th century. The move would not be a first - three of the past six British monarchs chose a regnal name different from their first given name.[55] The most discussed alternative style has been "George VII", in honour of Charles's grandfather.[56]

Honours

Main articles: List of titles and honours of Charles, Prince of Wales#Commonwealth honours and Honours of Charles, Prince of Wales

Arms

The Prince's own coat of arms are those of the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom with a label for difference. The version used everywhere but Scotland is blazoned ''Quarterly (by quarters):

1st and 4th, Gules three Lions passant guardant in pale Or (England). (The first and fourth quarters display the three lions, representing England.)
2nd quarter is of a lion rampant within a Double Tressure floury counterflory Gules (Scotland). (The second quarter, displays a red lion in a yellow field with a double border coloured red, this represents Scotland.)
3rd, Azure a Harp Or stringed Argent (Ireland). (The third quarter shows a harp against a blue background, this represents Ireland.)


The whole differenced by a plain Label of three points Argent, as the eldest child of the sovereign, and an inescutcheon of the ancient Coat of Arms of the Principality of Wales.

Controversy

The prince has been involved in a number of controversial incidents through the years.

In 1999, the League Against Cruel Sports accused him of making a 'Political statement' after Charles took Princes William and Harry with him on the Beaufort Hunt at a time when the government were trying to ban fox hunting with hounds.[57][58]

In 2004, doctors were widely reported speaking out against the Prince’s backing of coffee enemas as a treatment for cancer.[59] His defence of controversial therapies, London’s The Guardian reported more recently on 23 May 2007, had prompted Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at Exeter’s Peninsula Medical School to say: "It has been wholly inappropriate because it is not his role as Prince of Wales to mingle in health politics."[6]

An open microphone on 31 March 2005 caught him muttering to his sons about the media during an officially-arranged press photo-call: "I hate doing this...These bloody people." About the BBC's royal reporter Nicholas Witchell in particular, he confided: "I can't bear that man. I mean, he's so awful, he really is."[60]

Even the Prince's organic farming efforts have attracted media criticism. According to London's The Independent daily in October, 2006 '... the story of Duchy Originals has involved compromises and ethical blips, wedded to a determined merchandising programme'.[61]

February 2007 saw Duchy products themselves under attack, with the tabloid Daily Mail claiming that Prince Charles' own brand food was "unhealthier than Big Macs".[62]

Ancestry

}}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16. Christian IX of Denmark
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8. George I of Greece
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
17. Louise of Hesse-Kassel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4. Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
18. Grand Duke Konstantine Nicholaievich of Russia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9. Olga Konstantinovna of Russia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
19. Alexandra Iosifovna of Altenburg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2. Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
20. Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10. Louis Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Milford Haven
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21. Julia von Hauke
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5. Princess Alice of Battenberg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
22. Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11. Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23. Princess Alice of the United Kingdom
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. Charles, Prince of Wales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24. Edward VII of the United Kingdom
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12. George V of the United Kingdom
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
25. Alexandra of Denmark
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6. George VI of the United Kingdom
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
26. Francis, Duke of Teck
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13. Mary of Teck
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
27. Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
28. Claude Bowes-Lyon, 13th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14. Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
29. Frances Dora Smith
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30. Charles William Frederick Cavendish-Bentinck
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15. Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
31. Caroline Louisa Burnaby
 
 
 
 
 
 

Legacy

Popular culture

Charles wrote a children's book, The Old Man of Lochnagar, and even read it on the BBC's Jackanory programme.

He is the subject of the song "Charles Windsor" by McCarthy.

Charles has a keen interest in illusionism, and is a member of The Magic Circle. He passed his audition by performing the cups and balls effect.[63]

In the late 1950s, Mad Magazine ran an article of "comic strips" in which there was a closeup of young Charles (then about ten years old). The drawing by cartoonist Wally Wood suggested a resemblance to the magazine's mascot Alfred E. Neuman. But what got unfortunate attention from the British was the dialogue in the strip, the last two part of which (in comic-strip balloons)-- was: Charles: Why can't I be an ordinary boy, Mother? Why can't I play with ordinary boys and have fun once in a while?
Elizabeth: Hold your tongue, Charlie! You're beginning to sound like your Father!
A London tabloid reproduced Wood's artwork under the bold headline "A Stupid Insult!" And years later, when the paperback The Voodoo Mad, which included the article, was shipped to Great Britain, the page with the Prince Charles strip had to be torn by hand out of 25,000 copies before they could be sold there. (Fittingly, the article on the other side was about Wernher von Braun, whose V-2 rockets had bombed London during World War II.)

A character based on Prince Charles appears in Tom Clancy's bestseller Patriot Games (1987) as the target of an assassination attempt. In the book, he is referred to only as "The Prince of Wales." In the later film version however, the character was extensively rewritten with his name and rank changed to Lord Nottingham.

The Prince of Wales also appeared as a character in the Ben Elton novel ''Chart Throb'

He and Diana are the models for Mark Helprin's title characters in Freddy and Fredericka (2005).

In 2000, he made an appearance in the UK soap, Coronation Street, to celebrate the show's 40th anniversary on ITV1.[64]

An unnamed monarch, very similar to Charles, is the new King of the United Kingdom in Michael Dobbs's book To Play the King. In the TV adaptation, Michael Kitchen portrayed the monarch (still unnamed) as a very close approximation of Charles in voice and mannerism.

In 2005, Prince Charles appeared as himself in the New Zealand adult cartoon series Bro'Town. The episode aired on TV3 on Wednesday 26 October and was the final episode in the second series of the popular show. Prince Charles agreed to record some impromptu audio for Series Two while attending a performance from the show's creators during a visit to New Zealand. After some enthusiastic encouragement from Prime Minister Helen Clark (who also appears in the episode), the Prince gave a royal rendition of the Bro'Town catch-cry "Morningside 4 Life!"

In 2006, a court case was filed by Prince Charles against the Mail on Sunday after publication of extracts from his personal journals. Lawyers for the Prince argued that he was as entitled to keep private documents as any other person. Various revelations were made, including his opinions on the takeover of Hong Kong by the People's Republic of China in 1997, in which he described Chinese government officials as "appalling old waxworks". His ex-private secretary also alleged that the Prince considers himself a dissident, working against majority political opinions.[65]

On Saturday 20 May 2006, ITV presented the 30th birthday of The Prince's Trust. It included songs from Embrace and their song 'World at our Feet' and Annie Lennox and also an interview with Prince Charles, Prince Harry and Prince William by Ant and Dec.

Prince Charles is sometimes referred to in the popular press as "Chazza" (along the lines of "Gazza", "Hezza" and similar coinages of the 1990s).

Mancunian singer and songwriter Morrissey often criticised Prince Charles in interviews and in his songs. Once, Morrissey said about Prince Charles that "he had no intelligence whatsoever". [66] Morrissey also claimed that "the very idea of Charles being king is laughable. You might as well say Ronnie Corbett will be king one day. I think that would give people more pleasure." Back in 1986 the controversial artist pondered: "Charles, don't you ever craze to appear on the front of the Daily Mail, dressed in your mother's bridal veil?", which is a lyric of the song The Queen Is Dead, recorded by Morrissey's former band The Smiths.[67]

The film Children of Men, released in 2006, shows London Metropolitan Police officers wearing cap badges that show a Royal Cypher comprised of the letters "GR". This can be assumed to be referring to Prince Charles, as he has indicated that he has a preference for the name George upon his accession to the throne. As the film is based in 2027, this assumes that Prince Charles would live to at least 79 years of age.

Prince Charles has been criticised for publishing a memo on ambition and opportunity.[68] This memo was widely understood to criticise meritocracy for creating a competitive society. In humorist Lynne Truss's critique of British manners entitled Talk to the Hand,[69] Charles's memo is evaluated with respect to the putative impact of meritocracy on British boorishness. Truss came to the conclusion that the prince might have a point, that the positive motivational impact of meritocracy might be balanced against the negative impact of a competitive society.

In late 2006, The Queen arrived in theatres, depicting Prince Charles, played by Alex Jennings, shortly after the death of Diana. Jennings portrayed Charles as genuinely distraught over the death of his ex-wife, although still calculating in his role as a royal and, at times, cowardly in his fears of what the public might do to him.

In 2007, Charles is depicted as King in the controversial novel, 'Pieces of a paki' by British writer Yusuf Misdaq. Set around 15 years into the future, 'King Charles' is ruling the country and enjoys the popular support of the people. He is at odds with the right-wing government of the time who are intent on waging war against Brazil.

The Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong was named in his honour in 1984.

See also

References

1. ^ Charles and Diana Timeline (BBC)
2. ^ As a titled royal, Charles holds no surname, but, when one is used, it is Mountbatten-Windsor, although, according to letters patent dated February 1960, his official surname was Windsor
3. ^ The Commonwealth Secretariat
4. ^ Prince of Wales - Education
5. ^ Princes of Wales's site on previous PoWs
6. ^ Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Time Frame; We Did But See Them Passing By
7. ^ "The Balkans In The New Millennium," Radio Romania International
8. ^ Encyclopaedia Britannica articles on Romania by Tom Gallagher - Google results
9. ^ (Romanian) "The European Scapegoat," by Tom Gallagher, Romania Libera, June 30, 2006
10. ^ (Romanian) "Prince Charles Bought A House among The Gypsies," Libertatea, September 24, 2006
11. ^ Marriage to a Roman Catholic, furthermore, would automatically debar him and the marriage's Catholic issue from succession.
12. ^ Junor, Penny (2005). "The Duty of an Heir The Firm: the troubled life of the House of Windsor. New York: Thomas Dunne Books, p. 72. ISBN 9780312352745. OCLC 59360110. Retrieved on 2007-May-13. 
13. ^ Edwards, Phil (2000-10-31). The Real Prince Philip (TV documentary). Real Lives: channel 4's portrait gallery. Channel 4. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
14. ^ Dimbleby, Jonathan (1994). The Prince of Wales: A Biography. New York: William Morrow and Company, pp. 204-206. 
16. ^ Dimbleby, Jonathan (1994). The Prince of Wales: A Biography. New York: William Morrow and Company, pp. 263-265|. 
17. ^ Dimbleby, Jonathan (1994). The Prince of Wales: A Biography. New York: William Morrow and Company, pp. 263-265|. 
18. ^ The use of a deposed monarch's former constitutional title as a courtesy title, though standard internationally, was viewed as unacceptable by the Greek government.
19. ^ The period when the advice was given coincided with a change of government. The new taoiseach, Dr. Garret FitzGerald, indicated that he was unaware of his predecessor's advice. Traditionally Irish presidents and British royalty did not meet publicly because of the Northern Ireland issue. That changed in 1991 when the Duke of Edinburgh and Hillery's successor Mary Robinson met in what was the first of a constant series of meetings between presidents and royals.
20. ^ The Prince's Charities web page lists the 18 core charities and provides links to their web sites
21. ^ Official list of all the organisations the Prince of Wales is Patron or President of.
22. ^ Department of Canadian Heritage: His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
23. ^ Barnaby J Feder, 9 January 1985, "More Britons trying holistic medicine", New York Times, retrieved on 3 August 2007. Quotes a speech the Prince made in December 1982 to the British Medical Association
24. ^ UK Department of Health announcement of funding to Prince's charity for regulation scheme
25. ^ Copps, Sheila; Toronto Sun: Cheer for Tories' heritage cash; March 21, 2007
26. ^ The Heritage Canada Foundation: The Prince of Wales Prize for Municipal Heritage Leadership
27. ^ "Miscellaneous," Evenimentul Zilei, May 13, 2003
28. ^ "Prince Charles Tours Monasteries in Southern Romania", Jurnalul National, May 12, 2005
29. ^ BBC News
30. ^ IHBC
31. ^ "A Little Bite of Transylvania," Daily Mail, 10-06-2006
32. ^ "How Are Prince Charles's Romanian Businesses Doing?" (in Romanian), euROpeanul, October 19, 2006
33. ^ "Prince of Wales - Royal visit, 2006", The "Mihai Eminescu" Trust
34. ^ CBC News: Leonard Cohen a wonderful chap: Prince Charles; May 19, 2006
35. ^ The Prince of Wales: The Prince of Wales is presented with the 10th Global Environmental Citizen Award in New York; January 28, 2007
36. ^ March 30, 2007
37. ^ Prince to open climate change roadshow that will be rolled out at more than 50 shopping centres. Laura Chesters, Property Week, 20 March 2007.
38. ^ She's a natural The Independent; Adams, Guy; March 8 2007; accessed 25 June 2007
39. ^ Duchy - Our Story Duchy Originals; Accessed 03-08-07
40. ^ Duchy - Charity and sponsorship Duchy Originals; Accessed 03-08-07
41. ^ "Is HRH the Prince of Wales considering entering the Orthodox Church?", Orthodox England on the web, 2002
42. ^ THE PRINCE AND THE MOUNTAIN: WHAT PRICE SPIRITUAL FREEDOM? - Orthodox England on the web, 2004
43. ^ "Has Prince Charles found his true spiritual home on a Greek rock?", The Guardian, May 12, 2004
44. ^ "Miscellaneous," Evenimentul Zilei, May 13, 2003
45. ^ "Prince Charles Tours Monasteries in Southern Romania", Jurnalul National, May 12, 2005
46. ^ 21st International Congress of Byzantine Studies
47. ^ Sacred Web Conference: An introduction from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. sacredweb.com. Retrieved on 2006-01-13.
48. ^ FARA Charity
49. ^ Department of Canadian Heritage: His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
50. ^ Jackson, Michael; Canadian Monarchist News: Saskatchewan Honours Future King; Summer 2001
51. ^ [7]
52. ^ Prince of Wales - Titles
53. ^ Are You an "Ace" at Kings and Queens?: A children's quiz on monarchy in Canada
54. ^ Royal Involvement With Canadian Life
55. ^ Victoria's first given name was Alexandrina, but she was known as "Princess Victoria" before her accession; Edward VII and George VI were both known as "Prince Albert", and altered their regnal names out of respect for Albert, Prince Consort, who was denied the title of "king" in his lifetime.
56. ^ "Call me George, suggests Charles", The Times, 24 December 2005. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
57. ^ "Prince Charles takes sons hunting", BBC News, 1999-10-30. Retrieved on 2007-06-19. 
58. ^ Jeremy Watson. "Prince : I'll leave Britain over fox hunt ban", Scotland on Sunday, 2002-09-22. Retrieved on 2007-06-19. 
59. ^ "Now Charles backs coffee cure for cancer", The Observer, 2004-06-27. Retrieved on 2007-06-19. 
60. ^ "Transcript: Princes' comments", BBC News, 2005-03-31. Retrieved on 2007-06-19. 
61. ^ John Walsh, 7 October 2006, " Oatcakes at dawn: The truth about Duchy Originals", The Independent, retrieved on 3 August 2007. Asks "But are his business practices as wholesome as his stoneground bread?"
62. ^ Sean Poulter, 27 February 2007, "Hypocrite Prince Charles' own brand food unhealthier than Big Macs", Daily Mail, retrieved on 3 August 2007. Claims "The Duchy Originals Cornish Pasty carries more calories, fat and salt on a gram for gram basis than a Big Mac."
63. ^ [8]
64. ^ Prince stars in live soap. bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2006-09-02.
65. ^ BBC News.
66. ^ [The Importance of Being Morrissey, BBC documentary 2003]
67. ^ The Independent, Mar 30, 2006.
68. ^ BBC Article Regarding the Prince's Memo on Ambition & Opportunity
69. ^ Humorist Lynn Truss, (Reviewed Charles's Memo)
*Dimbleby, Jonathan. The Prince of Wales: A Biography. ISBN 0-316-91016-3
  • Paget, Gerald. The Lineage and Ancestry of H.R.H. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales. 2v. Edinburgh: Charles Skilton, 1977.
  • Pierce, Andrew & Gibb, Frances (Feb. 14, 2005). "Camilla might still become Queen". The Times.

External links


Charles, Prince of Wales
Born: 14 November 1948
British royalty
Preceded by
Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh
later became Queen Elizabeth II
Heir to the Throne
as heir apparent
1952 – present
Incumbent
First in line
(Heir apparent)
Line of succession to the British ThroneSucceeded by
Prince William of Wales
Order of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by
The Duke of Edinburgh
GentlemenSucceeded by
The Duke of York
Gentlemen
in current practice'''
Succeeded by
Prince William of Wales
Heraldic offices
Preceded by
The Duke of Gloucester
Great Master of the Order of the Bath
10 June 1974 – present
Incumbent
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Vacant
Title last held by
Edward
Prince of Wales
26 July 1958 – present
Incumbent
Designated heir:
Likely William



Persondata
NAMEWales, Charles
ALTERNATIVE NAMESMounbatten-Windsor, Charles Philip Arthur George
SHORT DESCRIPTIONHeir apparent and Prince of Wales
DATE OF BIRTH14 November 1948
PLACE OF BIRTHLondon, United Kingdom
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
Prince Charles may refer to:
  • Charles, Prince of Wales, current heir-apparent to the British throne
  • Any of the previous British royals named Charles, Prince of Wales
  • Charles Edward Stuart "Bonnie Prince Charlie"

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Motto
Nemo me impune lacessit   (Latin)
"No one provokes me with impunity"
"Cha togar m'fhearg gun dioladh"   
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Diana, Princess of Wales (Diana Frances;[2] née Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997) was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales. Her two sons, Princes William and Harry, are second and third in line to the thrones of the United Kingdom and 15 other
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Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla Rosemary; formerly Parker Bowles; née Shand, born 17 July 1947) is the second wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the thrones of the United Kingdom and the other 15 Commonwealth Realms.
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Prince William of Wales (William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982) is the elder son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. He is second in the line of succession to the British throne and thrones of each of the other Commonwealth Realms.
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Prince Henry of Wales (Henry Charles Albert David; born 15 September 1984), commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales and his first wife, the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
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Royal House or royal dynasty is a familial designation, or family name of sorts, used by royalty. It generally represents the members of a family in various senior and junior or cadet branches, who are loosely related but not necessarily of the same immediate kin.
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The House of Windsor is the current Royal House of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and each of the other Commonwealth realms. The older part is a branch of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha line of the House of Wettin, while the newer part is a branch of
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The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark, 10 June 1921)[2] is the husband and consort of Queen Elizabeth II.

Originally a Prince of Greece and Denmark, Prince Philip abandoned these titles shortly before his marriage.
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Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary;<ref name="sur" /> born 21 April 1926) is the Queen regnant of sixteen independent states and their overseas territories and dependencies.
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November 14 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

Events


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19th century - 20th century - 21st century
1910s  1920s  1930s  - 1940s -  1950s  1960s  1970s
1945 1946 1947 - 1948 - 1949 1950 1951

Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII
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Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch.[1] The palace is a setting for state occasions and royal entertaining, and a major tourist attraction. It has been a rallying point for the British people at times of national rejoicing and crisis.
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London
Canary Wharf is the centre of London's modern office towers
London shown within England
Coordinates:
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Constituent country England
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Motto
Dieu et mon droit   (French)
"God and my right"
Anthem
No official anthem specific to England — the anthem of the United Kingdom is "God Save the Queen".
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Battle of Baia.
  • 1791 - The United States Bill of Rights becomes law when ratified by the Virginia legislature.
  • 1818 - Irwin County, Georgia is created.
  • 1891 - James Naismith introduces the first version of basketball, with thirteen rules, a peach basket nailed to either
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  • 19th century - 20th century - 21st century
    1910s  1920s  1930s  - 1940s -  1950s  1960s  1970s
    1945 1946 1947 - 1948 - 1949 1950 1951

    Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII
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    Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch.[1] The palace is a setting for state occasions and royal entertaining, and a major tourist attraction. It has been a rallying point for the British people at times of national rejoicing and crisis.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    London
    Canary Wharf is the centre of London's modern office towers
    London shown within England
    Coordinates:
    Sovereign state United Kingdom
    Constituent country England
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    Motto
    Dieu et mon droit   (French)
    "God and my right"
    Anthem
    No official anthem specific to England — the anthem of the United Kingdom is "God Save the Queen".
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    British monarchy is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, and holds the now constitutional position of head of state.
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    The Royal Family. Although there is no strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member of the Royal Family [1] , and different lists will include different people, those carrying the style His or Her Majesty (HM), His or Her Royal Highness (HRH) or Their
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    Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary;<ref name="sur" /> born 21 April 1926) is the Queen regnant of sixteen independent states and their overseas territories and dependencies.
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    The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark, 10 June 1921)[2] is the husband and consort of Queen Elizabeth II.

    Originally a Prince of Greece and Denmark, Prince Philip abandoned these titles shortly before his marriage.
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    Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla Rosemary; formerly Parker Bowles; née Shand, born 17 July 1947) is the second wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the thrones of the United Kingdom and the other 15 Commonwealth Realms.
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    Prince William of Wales (William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982) is the elder son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. He is second in the line of succession to the British throne and thrones of each of the other Commonwealth Realms.
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    Prince Henry of Wales (Henry Charles Albert David; born 15 September 1984), commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales and his first wife, the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
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    The Prince Andrew, Duke of York (Andrew Albert Christian Edward; born 19 February 1960) is a member of the British Royal Family, the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II. He has held the title of Duke of York since 1986.
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    Princess Beatrice of York (Beatrice Elizabeth Mary; born 8 August 1988) is a member of the British Royal Family. She is a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Princess Beatrice is fifth in the Line of succession to the British Throne.
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    Princess Eugenie of York (Eugenie Victoria Helena; born 23 March 1990) is a member of the British Royal Family and a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II. Princess Eugenie is sixth in the Line of succession to the British Throne and has been since her birth in 1990.
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