King Charles III
(1948-), King regnantSitter in 170 portraits
Charles III is the reigning King of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth realms. He acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022 following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. He was the longest-serving heir apparent in British history. Born in Buckingham Palace, he was the first child of then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. He was created Prince of Wales on 26 July 1958 and invested Prince of Wales in 1969. He took a degree at the University of Cambridge (1967-70) before serving in the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy (1971-6). On leaving the navy in 1976, he founded the Prince's Trust to help young people realise their potential and has since founded several non-profit organisations under The Prince’s Charities group. In 1981, he married Lady Diana Spencer. They had two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, but their marriage was dissolved in 1996. In 2005, Charles married his long-term partner, Camilla Parker-Bowles, now Queen Consort. An environmentalist, Charles has supported organic farming and action to prevent climate change.
King Charles III; Richard Nixon; Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; Queen Elizabeth II
by Joan Williams
chromogenic print, 1969
NPG x200340
by Norman Parkinson
colour print on card mount, 1969
NPG x30171
by Patrick Lichfield
bromide fibre print, 26 December 1971
NPG x25290
by Patrick Lichfield
colour print, 26 December 1971
NPG x26200
Queen Elizabeth II and her family
by Desmond Groves
bromide print, 1972
NPG x133278
Lady Sarah Chatto; King Charles III
by Patrick Lichfield
archival inkjet print, August 1972
NPG x126907
The Wedding of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips
by Norman Parkinson
colour print, 14 November 1973
NPG x126928
by Carole Cutner
colour resin print, November 1974
NPG x22209
by Eric Greenhalf
bromide print on card mount, 20 October 1975
NPG x12504
King Charles III; Diana, Princess of Wales
by Patrick Lichfield
giclée colour print, July 1981
NPG x128498
King Charles III; Diana, Princess of Wales
by Lord Snowdon
chromogenic print, 1981
NPG x35372
Diana, Princess of Wales; Prince Charles
by Lord Snowdon
chromogenic print, February 1981 (printed 2000)
NPG x200859
King Charles III; Diana, Princess of Wales
by Patrick Lichfield
pearl-toned colour print on card mount, July 1981
NPG x29864
King Charles III; Diana, Princess of Wales
by Volker Hinz
gelatin silver print, 17 May 1987
NPG x201311
William, Prince of Wales; Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex; King Charles III; Diana, Princess of Wales
by Lord Snowdon
chromogenic print, 1991 (printed 2000)
NPG x200858
Queen Elizabeth II; William, Prince of Wales; Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother; King Charles III
by John Swannell
Inkjet print, 2000
NPG x88877
Prince George of Wales; William, Prince of Wales; Queen Elizabeth II; King Charles III
by Jason Bell
archival inkjet print, 23 October 2013
NPG x138989
Official wedding photograph of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
by Alexi Lubomirski
archival pigment print, 19 May 2018
NPG x200211
Related People
- Princess Alice of Greece and Denmark (grandmother)
- Prince Andrew of Greece (grandfather)
- Prince Andrew, Duke of York (brother)
- Princess Anne (sister)
- Camilla, Queen Consort (wife)
- Princess Charlotte of Wales (granddaughter)
- Diana, Princess of Wales (wife)
- Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (father)
- Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis, Earl of Wessex (brother)
- Queen Elizabeth II (mother)
- Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (grandmother)
- Prince George of Wales (grandson)
- Prince Henry, Duke of Sussex (son)
- Princess Margaret (aunt)
- Peter Mark Andrew Phillips (nephew)
- Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips (niece)
- William, Prince of Wales (son)
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