Charles II

**Charles II** (Charles Henry Alexander; born 14 May 1937) is the King of New Anglia. He acceded to the throne upon the death of his father, Henry II, on 20 March 1989.

Charles was born at the White House in Washington, D.C. as the elder son of Henry, Prince of Columbia and his wife Alexandria Lawson, Baroness Lawson of Weston. Born as the second-in-line to the New Anglian throne, he became first-in-line and heir apparent in 1950, aged 13, following the death of his grandfather Charles I and accession of his father.

After completing his education at Sidwell Friends School in 1955, Charles received a bachelor's degree in New Anglian history from Harvard University in 1959. He subsequently enlisted as an officer in the Royal New Anglian Navy, before being honorably discharged in 1961. Afterwards, Charles returned to Washington, D.C., where he received a master's degree in New Anglian history from Georgetown University in 1964.

Charles married French noblewoman Françoise de Montpierre in 1964, after having been in a relationship for one year. They have three children together: Charles Henry (1967–1993), Victoria (born 1969), and Elizabeth (born 1972). Charles acceded to the throne as King in 1989, following the death of his father. As king, he has ruled as a constitutional monarch, and has embarked on philanthropic pursuits that support raising awareness for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

## Early life

Charles was born on 14 May 1937 at the White House in Washington, D.C. with the birth name *Charles Henry Alexander*. His parents were Henry II and Queen Alexandria, then known as the Prince and Princess of Columbia. His father was the only son of Charles I and his wife Victoria of England, while his mother came from the New Anglian nobility as the eldest child of John Newport, Baron Newport, a hereditary peer and member of the House of Lords.

Charles spent his early life residing at Patricia House, a six-bedroom estate on the grounds of the White House. When he was two years old, his younger brother Prince Victor was born.

## Youth and education

Charles began his formal education in 1942, being educated by private tutors at his home. In 1949, at age 12, he began attending formal school after enrolling in Sidwell Friends School in nearby Bethesda, Maryland, a private, coeducational, PK–12 school affiliated with Quakerism. While at the school, Charles an athlete who played both lacrosse and soccer. In 1950, Charles's grandfather Charles I died of a cerebral aneurysm, and his father Henry II succeeded him as king. Afterwards, Charles became heir apparent and received the title Prince of Columbia.

Charles began secondary school at Sidwell Friends School in 1949, where he was a gifted, popular, and athletic student, captaining his varsity boy's soccer team in his senior year. He graduated from the school in 1955, and afterwards moved to Massachusetts to enroll in Harvard University. While at Harvard, Charles studied New Anglian history and graduated in 1959. He subsequently enlisted in the Royal New Anglian Navy as an officer, and completed his officer training course in September 1959. Charles served in the navy until 1961, when he was honorably discharged.

After returning from the navy, Charles enrolled in a graduate program at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he studied New Anglian history. He received his master's degree in 1963, focusing his studies on 19th-century New Anglian history.

## Reign

### Accession

In January 1989, Charles's father Henry II was diagnosed with aggressive pancreatic cancer, after complaining of stomach aches and a lack of appetite for months. He made his diagnosis public, and confirmed that Charles was "ready" to inherit the throne on his death. Henry later succumbed to the disease on 20 March 1989, and Charles was proclaimed king.

Charles's inauguration was held at Columbia Cathedral on 5 July 1989. Upon taking the throne, he opted to be styled as *Charles II*, after his grandfather Charles I. Following the death of his son in 1993, Charles has embarked on philanthropic pursuits that support raising awareness for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

### Constitutional role

As a constitutional monarch, there are numerous rules and regulations that Charles must follow as outlined in the New Anglian constitution. The King's main tasks are to represent the Kingdom abroad and to be a unifying figure at home. The King performs the latter task by accepting invitations to open exhibitions, attending anniversaries, inaugurating bridges, etc. She receives foreign ambassadors and awards honors and medals.

As an unelected public official, the King takes no part in party politics and does not express any political opinions. Although he has the right to vote, he opts not to do so to avoid even the appearance of partisanship. The King holds a meeting with the prime minister and the foreign affairs minister every Wednesday, unless he or the prime minister is outside of the country.

After each election, once the government has been formed, it is formally appointed by the King. Officially, it is the King who is the head of government, and he therefore presides over the Privy Council, where the acts of legislation which have been passed by the parliament are signed into law. In practice, however, nearly all of the King's formal powers are exercised by the Cabinet of New Anglia. In addition to his roles in his own country, the King is also the commander-in-chief of the Royal New Anglian Armed Forces, although he does not actually undertake an active role in military policy.

## Marriage and family

Charles met Françoise de Montpierre of the French noble House of Montpierre in 1962, while on a trip to Paris. They began a romantic relationship, and Françoise returned with him to New Anglia after his planned departure, where she began residing in a guest residence at the White House. Once in New Anglia, Françoise adopted the anglicization of her name *Frances*. They became engaged in June 1963, and later married in a royal wedding at Columbia Cathedral on 25 July 1964. Upon their marriage, Frances received New Anglian citizenship and became styled as *Her Royal Highness* The Princess of Columbia.

Following their wedding, Charles and Frances moved into Elizabeth House on the grounds of the White House, a five-bedroom estate. After one year of residing in the residence, they opted to move to Hogg Cottage in Chevy Chase Section Five, Maryland, a five-bedroom estate. The move was instigated by Charles and Frances's desire to live in a less urban area where they could have more privacy. Following Charles's accession as king in 1989, they family moved into the main residence of the White House.

Charles and Frances have three children together:

* The Prince of Columbia (*Charles Henry François*; 10 June 1967 – 20 December 1993)
* The Princess of Georgetown (*Victoria Alexandria Élisabeth*; born 3 March 1969)
* The Duchess of Massachusetts (*Elizabeth Marie Vivienne*; born 10 September 1972)

## Titles

Upon his birth, Charles became styled as *His Royal Highness* Prince Charles. Upon becoming heir apparent in 1950, Charles received the title Prince of Columbia, traditionally designated to the first-in-line to the throne. After acceding to the throne in 1989, he became styled as *His Majesty* King Charles II.

* **14 May 1937 – 4 June 1950**: *His Royal Highness* Prince Charles
* **4 June 1950 – 20 March 1989**: *His Royal Highness* The Prince of Columbia
* **20 March 1989 – present**: *His Majesty* King Charles II