Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms. He acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022 upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. As Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay from 1952 to his accession, he was the oldest and the longest-serving heir apparent in British history, and the longest-serving Prince of Wales, having held the title from 26 July 1958 until his accession. At 73, Charles is also the oldest person ever to assume the British throne. The record was previously held by William IV at age 64.
Charles was born in Buckingham Palace, the first child of his mother and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; he was the first grandchild of King George VI and his consort, Queen Elizabeth. He was educated at Cheam and Gordonstoun schools, both of which his father attended as a child. He later spent a year at the Timbertop campus of Geelong Grammar School in Victoria, Australia. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Cambridge, Charles served in the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy from 1971 to 1976. In 1981, he married Lady Diana Spencer, with whom he had two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. In 1996, the couple divorced after they had each engaged in well-publicized extramarital affairs. Diana died as the result of a car crash in Paris the following year. In 2005, Charles married his long-time partner, Camilla Parker Bowles.
As Prince of Wales, Charles undertook official duties on behalf of Elizabeth II. He founded the youth charity the Prince's Trust in 1976, sponsors the Prince's Charities, and is a patron, president, or a member of over 400 other charities and organizations. He has advocated for the conservation of historic buildings and the importance of architecture in society. A critic of modernist architecture, Charles has worked on the creation of Poundbury, an experimental new town based on his architectural tastes. He is also an author or co-author of a number of books.
A self-described environmentalist, Charles has supported organic farming and action to prevent climate change as the manager of the Duchy of Cornwall estates, which has earned him awards and recognition from environmental groups. He is also a prominent critic of the adoption of genetically modified food. Charles's support for alternative medicine, including homeopathy, has been the subject of criticism. The conduct of his charities has also attracted criticism, having faced allegations of offering of British citizenship to donors, and with the Prince's Foundation subject to an ongoing Metropolitan Police investigation into cash-for-honours allegations.
Canada welcomes His Majesty King Charles lll as its reigning monarch.
God save The King!
No comments:
Post a Comment