Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George, born 14 November 1948), is the eldest child and, since 1952, heir apparent of Queen Elizabeth II. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. He is known as The Duke of Rothesay in Scotland and as The Duke of Cornwall in Cornwall. He is the longest-serving heir apparent in British history.
Charles's interests encompass a range of humanitarian and social issues: he founded The Prince's Trust in 1976, sponsors The Prince's Charities, and is patron of many other charitable and arts organisations. For many years, he has championed organic farming and sought to raise world awareness of the dangers facing the natural environment, such as climate change. He has been outspoken on the role of architecture in society and the conservation of historic buildings, and produced a book on the subject called A Vision of Britain in 1989. He has also promoted herbal and other alternative medical treatment.
Charles was educated at Cheam and Gordonstoun Schools, which his father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, had attended as a child, as well as the Timbertop campus of Geelong Grammar School in Victoria, Australia. After earning a bachelor of arts degree from Trinity College, Cambridge, Charles served a tour of duty with the Royal Navy from 1971 to 1976. His 1981 wedding to Lady Diana Spencer produced two sons, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (born 1982) and Prince Harry of Wales (born 1984). The couple divorced in 1996 after Diana publicly accused Charles of having an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, and Charles admitted adultery on television. Diana died in a car crash in 1997. In 2005, after a lengthy continued association, the Prince married Camilla, who uses the title Duchess of Cornwall.
Read more about Charles, Prince Of Wales: Early Life, Early Romances, First Marriage, Second Marriage, Official Duties, Media Image, Residences, Issue, Ancestry
Famous quotes containing the words prince and/or wales:
“The Prince but studies his companions
Like a strange tongue, wherein, to gain the language,
‘Tis needful that the most immodest word
Be looked upon and learnt, which once attained,
Your highness knows, comes to no further use
But to be known and hated.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“I just come and talk to the plants, really—very important to talk to them, they respond I find.”
—Charles, Prince Of Wales (b. 1948)