King Charles’ life in pictures as he celebrates 75th birthday – from bonny baby & polo-star prince to grand coronation
KING Charles turns 75 today.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have already wished His Majesty a happy birthday, with the Royals sending him a heartfelt message.
Fans, friends and family have been sharing heartwarming snaps of the royal to mark the special ocasion.
Here we take a look at Charles' life through some of the most iconic photos of His Majesty...
Christening
Charles was born in Buckingham Palace at 9.14pm on November 14 1957 and two hours later his mother’s private secretary called him “just a Plasticine head”.
When the birth was announced, Westminster Abbey’s bells rang, gun salutes were fired and the Trafalgar Square fountains were lit blue for a boy.
A month later, on December 14, photographer Cecil Beaton took the first official photos of the tiny Prince.
On the couch with grandad
When Charles turned three in 1951, he sat with grandad George VI on a sofa for a photo session that became his only memory of the King.
A 1969 souvenir brochure written for Charles’s investiture as Prince of Wales said: “He vaguely recalls sitting with George VI to be photo-graphed on his third birthday.”
Off to school
Charles was enrolled as a boarder at Cheam School, Hampshire, in September 1957 – but he later admitted that his first few days there were the most miserable of his life.
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Schoolmates teased him for his protruding ears, and also called the slightly pudgy Prince “Fatty”.
The Prince of Wales
Charles showed he was game for some improvisation at his investiture as Prince of Wales – by wearing a coronet topped with a ping-pong ball.
The headwear placed on him by the Queen had to be newly created for the ceremony, as the coronet worn by previous princes of Wales had never been given back by the exiled Edward VIII.
Eager to lower the costs for the event on July 1 at Caernarfon Castle, they topped the new crown with a table tennis ball dipped in gold.
Charles later said the three-hour event, watched by 500million people globally, was the biggest ordeal of his life up to that point.
Royal wedding
Charles and Diana's “fairytale wedding” at St Paul’s Cathedral on July 29, 1981, was watched by a global TV audience of 750million.
Afterwards, they became the first newlyweds to kiss on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, establishing a new royal tradition.
Polo star
Charles always loved horses, and in the late 70s and early 80s he became a dab hand at polo.
He later said the sport seemed more attractive than hunting, as it meant he didn’t have to jump horses over fences.
Harry's birth
Crowds greeted Charles with cheers when he emerged from St Mary’s Hospital after the birth of Prince Harry on September 15.
He told them his new son was “marvellous”, with “pale blue eyes” and hair of “a sort of indeterminate colour”.
Diana later recalled that their marriage fell apart after their new son’s arrival.
Diana's funeral
Charles had been at Balmoral with sons William and Harry on August 31 1997 when the phone call came at 3.15am with the news that Diana had died in a car accident in Paris.
A week later, the Prince cut a solemn figure alongside his boys as they walked behind the Princess’s coffin with her brother Charles Spencer and Prince Philip.
Tying the knot
Charles and Camilla tied the knot at a civil ceremony at Windsor’s Guildhall on April 9 2005.
They had announced their engagement on February 10 and the months leading up to the ceremony had been anxious ones.
Meg and Harry's wedding
In the absence of Meghan’s ailing father, Charles walked her down the aisle at her wedding to Prince Harry on May 19.
Harry later revealed: “I asked him to, and I think he knew it was coming, and he immediately said, ‘Yes, of course, I’ll do whatever Meghan needs, and I’m here to support you’. ”
Queen's funeral
The Queen died on September 8 and in his first speech as King, Charles spoke for millions when he paid tribute.
Charles walked behind his mother’s coffin when she was laid to rest on September 19.
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Coronation
In May 2022, Charles, a monarch-to-be for 70 of his 74 years, succeeded his late mother as the glittering — and weighty — St Edward’s Crown was carefully placed on his head.
The world held its breath as the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby took time to secure the 362-year-old gold masterpiece — while the King sat solemnly still in the Coronation Chair.