Charles Henry, Prince of Columbia

**Charles Henry** (*Charles Henry François*; 10 June 1967 – 20 December 1993) was the eldest child of Charles II and heir apparent to the New Anglian throne from 1989 until his death in 1993.

Charles Henry was born in Washington, D.C. as the eldest child of Charles II and his wife Queen Frances of Montpierre. He attended Sidwell Friends School, graduating as salutatorian in 1985. Following his graduation, Charles Henry enrolled in Yale University, where he received a bachelor's degree in English literature in 1989, later enlisting as an officer in the Royal New Anglian Navy, serving until his death. Charles Henry married Julianne Williamson in June 1993, six months prior to his death, and they had no children together.

On 20 December 1993, Charles Henry had went on a speaking tour of the nation in support of various children's welfare charities. While driving in Mount Holly, South Jersey after leaving a speaking engagement in Philadelphia, Charles Henry's limousine was struck by a tank truck driven by Anthony Torino, who had been intoxicated. The collision and subsequent explosion was severe, killing Charles Henry, his driver, his assistant, and Torino. Upon his death, a two-month period of mourning was declared in New Anglia, and his younger sister Princess Victoria became heir presumptive. A state funeral was broadcast nationwide on 23 December 1993, becoming one of the most-watched television specials in New Anglian history. Following his death, his title of Prince of Columbia was retired by his father, after having previously been designated to the first-in-line to the New Anglian throne.

## Early life

Charles Henry was born on 10 June 1967 at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. with the birth name *Charles Henry François*. His parents were Charles II and Queen Frances of Montpierre, then known as the Prince and Princess of Columbia. His birth name came from those of his parents, in addition to his grandfather Henry II. Charles Henry's father was the eldest son of Henry II and heir apparent to the New Anglian throne, while his mother came from the French noble House of Montpierre.

Charles Henry spent his upbringing residing at Hogg Cottage in Chevy Chase Section Five, Maryland, a five-bedroom estate belonging to the royal family. When he was one-and-a-half years old his younger sister Princess Victoria was born, and when he was five years old his youngest sister Princess Elizabeth was born. He and his siblings were raised bilingually in English and French.

## Youth and education

Charles Henry began his education in 1972, enrolling in kindergarten at Sidwell Friends School in nearby Bethesda, Maryland, a private, coeducational, PK–12 school affiliated with Quakerism. In his youth, Charles Henry was inspired to begin playing soccer, due to his father's love of the sport.

Charles Henry began secondary school at Sidwell Friends School in 1979, where he was a popular and gifted student who played on the boy's varsity soccer team. In his senior year at the school, Charles Henry was elected "Most Popular" by his classmates and chosen as his class prom king, the latter of which became a nationwide news headline. He graduated from the school in 1985, as his class salutatorian. After graduating, Charles Henry moved to Connecticut to enroll in Yale University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in English literature in 1989. While at Yale, he was a member of Morse College. Also in 1989, Charles Henry's grandfather Henry II died of pancreatic cancer, and his father acceded to the throne as king; this led to Charles Henry becoming heir apparent to the throne and Prince of Columbia.

After completing his bachelor's degree, Charles Henry enlisted as an officer in the Royal New Anglian Navy. He completed his officer training in September 1989, and soon afterwards became a commissioned officer. He served until his death in 1993.

## Marriage

Charles Henry met Julianne Williamson in 1989, during his final year of studies at Yale University. Julianne was a commoner but came from an affluent family from Massachusetts. They began a romantic relationship, but later broke up in December 1991. After several months apart, they resumed their relationship in May 1992, becoming engaged in September of that year. Charles Henry and Julianne married in a royal wedding at Columbia Cathedral on 12 June 1993. After the marriage, Julianne received the royal title of *Her Royal Highness* The Princess of Columbia, and the couple moved into Elizabeth House on the grounds of the White House.

Charles Henry and Julianne had no children together at the time of his death in December 1993. Following his death, Julianne remained in the public eye and later married New Anglian lawyer Peter Edmund in 2001; she was authorized to keep her title as Princess of Columbia and has continued to be affiliated with the royal family.

## Death

In addition to his royal duties, Charles Henry took part in a number of philanthropic efforts, most often associated with promoting children's welfare in New Anglia. In December 1993, he had embarked on a speaking tour throughout New Anglia to speak with at-risk children and teenagers in lower-class neighborhoods. In the evening of 20 December, Charles Henry had given four speeches at at-risk schools in Philadelphia, and had planned to drive out of South Jersey that night to reach North Jersey for his speeches the following day.

At around 11 pm on a highway near Mount Holly, South Jersey, Charles Henry's limousine was severely hit by a tank truck driven by 48-year-old North Jersey resident Anthony Torino. Torino was a truck driver who was transporting gasoline, and had a habit of drinking on the job due to his alcoholism and depression; Torino was intoxicated at the time of the incident. After the collision, which Charles Henry was expected to have survived, the tank of gasoline exploded, killing Charles Henry, his driver Martin Briggs, his assistant Pamela Osbourne, and Torino. Typically, royals travel with an entourage of vehicles surrounding their limousine, but Charles Henry had often opted against this because he wished to live a "more normal life." If he had accepted the entourage, the tank truck likely would not have been able to reach Charles Henry's vehicle, although the explosion may have severely injured him still. Following the event, the House of Commons passed a bill referred to as "Charles Henry's Law" which mandated that senior royals travel with a Secret Service detail and vehicular security.

After the explosion, emergency services arrived at the site and declared Charles Henry dead at the scene. News of the heir apparent's death instantly became widespread, and a two-month period of national mourning was declared in New Anglia. The day after his death, Charles II published a statement where he confirmed that Princess Victoria would become heir presumptive, granting her the newly created title of Princess of Georgetown, and that he would retire the title of Prince of Columbia in order for it to be "buried with Charles Henry." A state funeral was held on 23 December 1993, which was broadcast live on television; the special attracted 65.5 million viewers internationally, becoming the largest New Anglian television special of all-time at the time, while the in-person funeral also attracted more than 100 thousand mourners.

## Titles

Upon his birth, Charles Henry became styled as *His Royal Highness* Prince Charles Henry. Upon becoming heir apparent in 1989, Charles Henry received the title Prince of Columbia, traditionally designated to the first-in-line to the throne.

* **10 June 1967 – 20 March 1989**: *His Royal Highness* Prince Charles Henry
* **20 March 1989 – 20 December 1993**: *His Royal Highness* The Prince of Columbia