King of the United Kingdom Charles III

British monarch, King of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms who ascended to the throne on the afternoon of 8 September 2022 upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, at 3:10 PM. He was crowned at 12:02 PM on 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey, London.

At 73, Charles was the oldest person ever to assume the British throne. As Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay from 1952 to his accession in 2022, he was the oldest and the longest-serving heir apparent in British history. He was also the longest-serving Prince of Wales, having held the title from 26 July 1958 until his accession 64 years later.

Although he has often seemed to be stodgy, cold and reserved, his friends consider him to be generous, loyal, thoughtful and kind, a man who always tried to do his best. A sensitive child, he was raised largely by nannies while his parents were absorbed in their public duties and travels for state functions. He hero-worshipped his father who was formidable, often brusque and impatient with the boy. The first Royal to go to a public school, at eight he went to an all-boys school in London and loved it. The following year he went to boarding school.

In 1962, Charles was sent to Scotland to a boy's school, where he stayed from ages 13 to 18. It was a rough beginning, as the boys did not accept him easily and made life difficult. The school put an emphasis on physical skills and macho conduct. From the time that Charles was 18, the media were always nearby with cameras trained on him, often critically. In 1967, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he took history, archaeology and geography, learned to master Welsh and government studies, and fulfilled his civic duties. It was not all grim; with skits at the college theatre he displayed his off-beat sense of humour.

In royal tradition, after getting his degree he went into military training at 21, becoming a sailor, airman and soldier.