This article was originally published on WHerMoments
After 73 years of waiting, Charles Windsor finally became King Charles III in 2022 after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away. And as you would expect, interest in the former Prince of Wales reached new heights as a result. These photographs show his extraordinary life like we’ve never seen it before.
1. Royal baby
Charles came into this world in November 1948 at one of the royal family’s most famous residences, Buckingham Palace.
This was so long ago that his mother Elizabeth hadn’t even ascended the throne at the time! Just a month after becoming the future queen’s first child, the future king was baptized.
2. First birthday
It can be hard to imagine Charles as an adorable little tot. But here he is looking super-happy — and as though butter wouldn’t melt — being photographed for his very first birthday.
Of course, the royal would end up celebrating a further 72 of these before he would sit on the throne.
3. Posing with grandma
Charles was particularly close with his grandmother, a.k.a. the Queen Mother. They both certainly look delighted to be in each other’s company in this heart-warming picture alongside a tongue-wagging pooch named Pippin.
The snap was taken in the early 1950s, at which point the Queen Mother still had a half-century to live!
4. Third birthday with grandpa
Charles got to spend plenty of time with his grandmother, with the Queen Mother living until the ripe old age of 101. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to see as much of his other royal grandparent.
King George VI died at the age of 56 in 1952 — just a year after this sweet photo was taken.
5. Unimpressed at mom’s coronation
Elizabeth’s coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey in 1953 was undoubtedly one of the most iconic moments in the modern history of the royal family.
Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother obviously knew its significance. But it’s fair to say that a bored-looking Charles wasn’t quite as fascinated.
6. Playing big bro
Charles, of course, has three siblings. There’s middle brother Prince Andrew and the youngest of the lot, Prince Edward.
But he is closest in age to his sister, Princess Anne, who was born just two years after the future king in 1950. And in this cute snap Charles seems determined to play the role of big bro.
7. Balmoral Castle
This is another example of how Charles and Anne appeared to be as thick as thieves during their childhoods. The photo was taken at Scotland’s Balmoral Castle, a place which would go on to occupy a special place in the King’s heart.
It’s where he honeymooned with first wife Princess Diana and where he regularly enjoyed father-son bonding time with Prince Harry and Prince William.
8. School days
Charles always appears to have dressed for the occasion. Just look at the short suit, cap, and tie combo he’s wearing in this early pic. The future Prince of Wales attended several schools before he left the educational world behind in 1967.
He first studied at London’s Hill House School at the age of eight before moving on to Berkshire’s Cheam Preparatory School.
9. Wedding guest
Charles would attend countless royal weddings over the years, including two of his own, of course.
But before walking down the aisle with Diana and Camilla Parker Bowles the future king got a taste of how it all worked when he showed up at his aunt’s. Margaret tied the knot with Antony Armstrong-Jones, a photographer, in 1960.
10. Scottish schooling
You could say that Charles had a much worldlier education than most of his peers. The royal spent time studying at the Geelong Grammar School in Australia, and specifically its Timbertop campus.
And as shown by this slightly nervy-looking first-day-of-term image, Charles also attended Gordonstoun in Scotland.
11. The corgi life
If you thought the Queen was the only royal to have a love of corgis, think again. Just look at this heart-warming photo of her son taking one for a walk alongside his father, Prince Philip.
Charles would also go on to own several other breeds, though, including his current two Jack Russell terriers, Beth and Bluebell.
12. Charles the pilot
Charles was still only in his late teens when he started to learn how to pilot an aircraft. The royal would continue to fly over the next 25 years. But in 1994 he decided to quit after crashing his mother’s jet in the Inner Hebrides.
The plane, which cost millions of dollars, overshot the Scottish runway thanks to winds of over 30mph, bursting three tires in the process.
13. Crowned Prince
Charles had to wait a while until he was officially coronated as Prince of Wales. The royal was first given the title in the summer of 1958.
Yet it was only the following July that his investiture was staged at Caernarfon Castle. The whole ceremony was screened live on TV.
14. Family portrait
Don’t they all look so young? Here, the Queen and Philip sit next to each other and to Edward and Andrew, respectively.
Anne and Charles are forced to make do with the arms of the sofa. And the latter doesn’t appear too happy about the arrangement.
15. The Australian tour
Charles’ stint at the Geelong Grammar School’s Timbertop campus certainly wasn’t the only time he spent Down Under.
During his time as the Prince of Wales he regularly headed to Australia as part of his royal duties. Unfortunately, on this occasion he seems to have brought the wet-and-windy British weather with him.
16. Snowmobiling
It’s fair to say that Charles is quite the polymath when it comes to piloting vehicles. As well as flying planes and sailing yachts the royal also appears to be quite handy on a snowmobile.
His beaming smile while riding one on a Northwestern Territories of Canada tour in 1975 certainly suggests a level of confidence.
17. Role model
It’s easy to forget just how big the age gap is between Charles and his younger brother Edward. It’s only when you see photos like this one — taken in 1976 — that you realize that they belong to different generations.
Charles was very much a man at this point at the age of 28, while Edward was still very much a boy at the age of just 12.
18. All smiles
Charles had just turned 30 when this snap was taken in 1977 — which may explain why he’s all smiles. This would be the last year that the future king would serve as a member of the military.
He’d spent much of the previous six years piloting aircraft in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
19. Horse riding
As you may remember the Queen had a big passion for horses not only as a spectator but as an owner, breeder, and even a rider.
And she seemed to pass on her main sporting passion to her eldest son. Here, Charles can be seen riding at Sandown Park’s steeplechase course in 1980.
20. Mini-motorbike
Charles may be used to being chauffeured around in the height of luxury whenever he needs to travel. But this amusing pic proves that he wasn’t totally against the idea of downsizing his transport needs.
The then-prince can be seen at Bisley Rifle Range on a mini-motorbike which seems in danger of tipping over at any moment.
21. Happier times
This picture was taken just three weeks after Charles and Diana walked down the aisle in one of the 20th century’s most historic weddings.
Yes, instead of sunning it on a tropical island the royals decided to honeymoon in the decidedly chillier climate of Scotland’s Balmoral Castle. Luckily, they both seemed happy with the decision.
22. World’s Strongest Man
So it looks like Geoff Capes, a.k.a. the one-time World’s Strongest Man, has a sense of humor as impressive as his muscles. What else could explain why Charles and Diana, as well as the Queen and Queen Mother, are in fits of laughter in this candid pic?
The snap was taken in 1982 at Scotland’s Braemar Highland Games, where Capes was no doubt showing off the day job, too.
23. Firstborn
Just a year after walking down the aisle in what was possibly the most famous wedding of the 20th century, Charles and Diana welcomed their first child.
William, who instantly became second in line to the throne, was born in 1982. And this heartwarming snap was taken just a day after he came into the world.
24. Father of two
William didn’t exactly have to wait too long to get a younger brother. Just two years later Diana and Charles welcomed a second child into the world.
In this adorable 1984 snap the two-time parents can be seen leaving London’s St. Mary’s hospital with son Harry, then the third-in-line to the throne, in tow.
25. New family photo
Aww. Judging by this happy, smiley photo you would imagine that Charles and Diana had a carefree, loving marriage.
Taken at Highgrove House in a meadow of wild flowers the couple are beaming from ear to ear while holding Harry and William, respectively. Of course, behind the scenes things were very different.
26. Indian chief
You could never accuse Charles of refusing to embrace other cultures. During a trip to the Iwokrama Rainforest in Guyana the royal donned a headdress made of palm leaves and hawk feathers.
Charles was given the title of honorary Indian chief during his visit and he looked to be pretty pleased about it, too.
27. Brazilian trip
Diana’s fashion sense appeared to have rubbed off on her husband by the time this snap was taken.
The pair of glasses and informal shirt Charles is wearing is certainly a lot less stuffy than what we’d become accustomed to seeing. As you would expect, the princess also looked super-stylish during their visit to a Brazilian mining center.
28. Father-son bonding
William looks the spitting image of his mother Diana in this heart-warming father-son snap. The future king also looks like he doesn’t have a care in the world as he sits alongside the current King.
Yes, their attire may look formal but William and Charles’ jovial expressions suggest they’re not taking things entirely seriously.
29. Viking cosplay
This photo is yet more proof that even the royal family aren’t averse to deliberately making themselves look foolish. Props to Charles for being game enough to sport a Viking helmet during this photo opportunity.
The future king was visiting one of the more remote parts of Scotland, the Shetland Isles, at the time.
30. Anyone for polo?
As well as riding at events such as the Sandown Park steeplechase, Charles also used to enjoy going on horseback to play the poshest of sports.
And in this 1990 pic he seems keen to pass on his love of polo to his eldest son, too. Just don’t ask us what any of the rules involve!
31. Ginger Spice
Who can forget the moment that Geri Halliwell and Mel B gave Charles a kiss at the Royal Gala Performance? This snap taken on stage at the same event shows that Ginger Spice was cheeky throughout the night, too.
The prince doesn’t seem too sure about how to respond, but comedian Michael Barrymore looks perturbed to say the least.
32. The calm before the storm
Both Charles and Harry look like they don’t have a care in the world in this father-son snap. Sadly, things would dramatically change soon after this pic at Scotland’s River Dee was taken in 1997.
For this was the year that Charles’ ex-wife and Harry’s mother Diana lost her life in a car crash.
33. Diana’s funeral
In 1997 Charles had to walk with sons Harry and William behind the casket of his ex-wife Diana. And the former later recalled in a documentary how much of a rock his dad was at the time.
In 2017’s Diana, 7 Days Harry said, “[Charles] was there for us — he was the one out of two left, and he tried to do his best and to make sure that we were protected and looked after.”
34. Playing cricket
You might not know that Charles used to be a keen cricketer back in his youth. He even played the quintessentially English sport for a match involving the Lord’s Taverners and the RAF.
And in 1998 the royal proved he could still swing a bat with the best of them during a visit to the Sri Lanka-based Singhalese Club.
35. Walking with penguins
Seems like the producers of March of the Penguins missed a trick by asking Morgan Freeman to narrate the hit documentary. Judging by this pic, Charles would have been happy to take on the role.
The royal certainly looks at ease surrounded by the animals on the Falkland Isles’ Sea Lion Island.
36. Charles’ Angels?
Sometimes the headlines just write themselves. Taken in the year 2000 this picture proves once again that Charles isn’t averse to rubbing shoulders with the celebrity world.
And Charlie’s Angels stars Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu look delighted to be joined by royalty for their film’s star-studded premiere in London.
37. Dad and sons
By the time this 2002 photo was taken William and Harry were both well into their teenage years. But they obviously still didn’t mind taking the odd photo with their dad.
In fact, the trio look closer than ever as they pose for cameras during a break from skiing in Switzerland.
38. Camilla and the in-laws
Taken at a banquet staged for the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 2007 this particular photo appears to prove that Charles’ second wife got on with the in-laws. Well, the Queen, anyway.
Camilla and Her Majesty are beaming from ear to ear. But Philip looks a little more disgruntled.
39. Inside joke
Who knows exactly what’s making this royal trio break out into a chuckle? Either way, monarchists were no doubt delighted to see three figureheads from Britain’s most famous family enjoying each other’s company so much.
The Queen, Charles, and Anne were pictured in 2009 laughing away at Scotland’s Braemar Gathering.
40. Extended family
In 2018 Charles turned the grand old age of 70. So what better way to celebrate than by posing for a family photo with your kids, your in-laws, and your grandkids?
Photographed by Chris Jackson, the family look like the height of togetherness here. Yes, even the reportedly ever-warring William and Harry.