Charles, Prince of Wales

* Season 5-6
* Season 3-4

**Charles, Prince of Wales** (born **Charles Philip Arthur George**) is the son of Queen Elizabeth II and the heir to the throne. In *The Crown* Netflix series, he is portrayed by Billy Jenkins and Julian Baring as a child and adolescent, by Josh O'Connor in Seasons 3–4, and by Dominic West in Seasons 5–6.

## Biography

Throughout the series, Prince Charles is the heir apparent to the British throne as the oldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He served Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay since 1952, and he is the oldest and longest-serving heir apparent in British history.

Charles was born in Buckingham Palace on November 14, 1948. When was three years old, his mother ascended the throne in 1952. He was made Prince of Wales in 1958. He was educated at Cheam and Gordonstoun schools, but suffered abuse and poor treatment from his classmates at the latter, and this may have had something to do with the way his personality evolved and how he treated other people later in life. Charles later spent six months at the Timbertop campus of Geelong Grammar School in Victoria, Australia. In 1969, he was investitured as Prince of Wales in Caernarfon Castle. Addressing the crowd in Welsh and then English, the former of which Charles had learned to speak after being taught the language by Dr. Edward Millward, he made a controversial statement saying that the people of Wales had the right to their own future and determination. This upset the Queen, as Charles had made a political remark, something which he as a member of the Royal Family was not supposed to do. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Cambridge, Charles served in the Royal Air Force and Navy from 1971 to 1976.

In 1978 he began a relationship with Lady Diana Spencer, and on February 24, 1981, the couple were officially engaged. On July 29, 1981, the couple were married at an elaborate ceremony in St. Paul's Cathedral, in London. The wedding was watched by more than 750 million people around the world. Together, they had two sons, William (born 1982) and Harry (born 1984). The marriage began to break down, mainly as a result of Charles' affair with Camilla. Initially Charles treated Diana respectfully but in private remarked that she was "like a child". After their wedding, Charles became very arrogant and hostile towards Diana, often accusing her of trying to ruin his reputation. During one notable episode, Diana danced to the tune of Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl" at an opera house in London, which angered Charles. After they got into their car and began to drive back to Kensington Palace, Charles lashed out at Diana, accusing her of trying to inflate her ego. By the 1990s it became clear that their marriage was no longer stable; both had affairs. They tried to make the marriage work again, but Charles unfortunately resumed his affair with Camilla. In 1992, the couple were formally separated, with Diana taking custody of William and Harry. In 1996, the couple divorced. In 2005, Charles married his long-time partner, Camilla Parker Bowles.

On September 8, 2022, he ascended the throne upon the death of his mother, thus making him as "King Charles III", and Camilla became Queen Consort. He was coronated on May 6, 2023.

## Trivia

* Ironically, his actor supported the republicanism in the United Kingdom, despite playing a member of the Royal Family in Season 3 and 4.
* His second portrayer Dominic West is the real life father of Senan West, who also played Charles and Diana's eldest son Prince William.

## Gallery

### Photos

Charles in ImbroglioCharles in Dangling ManCharles playing poloCharles in his investiture as the "Prince of Wales" in Tywysog Cymru