Чарльз, принц Уэльский The Prince of Wales, eldest son of The Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born at Buckingham Palace at 9.14pm on November 14, 1948. A proclamation was posted on the Palace railings just before midnight, announcing that Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth had been safely delivered of a son. It was announced later that the baby Prince weighed 7lb 6oz. 1951. Семейный портрет: принцесса Элизабет, Дюк Эдинбургский и двухгодовалый принц Чарльз, играющий со своей младшей сестренкой принцесой Анной, которой всего годик On December 15, Charles Philip Arthur George was christened in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Geoffrey Fisher. The Prince's mother was proclaimed Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 25, when her father, King George VI, died aged 56 on February 6, 1952. On The Queen's accession to the throne, Prince Charles - as the Sovereign's eldest son - became at the age of three heir apparent. Принц Уэльский и принцесса Анна на встрече с телеведущим Би-Би-Си Дэвидом Эттенборо и попугаем Коки The Prince, as heir to the throne, took on the traditional titles of The Duke of Cornwall under a charter of King Edward III in 1337; and, in the Scottish peerage, of Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. The Prince was four at his mother's Coronation, in Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. Many who watched the Coronation had vivid memories of him seated between his widowed grandmother, now to be known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and his aunt, Princess Margaret. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh decided that, rather than follow tradition and have a tutor at the Palace, their son should go to school to mix with children from non-royal backgrounds. Accordingly, on November 7, 1956, he started at Hill House school in west London. After ten months, the young Prince became a boarder at Cheam School, the preparatory school in Berkshire. It was while His Royal Highness was away at Cheam, in 1958, that The Queen created him The Prince of Wales, and at the same time Earl of Chester, at the age of nine. Принц держит беседу с подрастающим поколением In April 1962, The Prince began his first term at Gordonstoun, the school near Elgin in eastern Scotland which Prince Philip had attended. The Prince of Wales spent two terms in 1966 as an exchange student at Timbertop, a remote outpost of the Geelong Church of England Grammar School in Melbourne, Australia. When he returned to Gordonstoun for his final year, The Prince of Wales was appointed school guardian (head boy). The Prince, who had already passed six 'O' levels, took his 'A' levels in July 1967, the first heir to the throne to take such examinations. He was awarded a grade B in history and a C in French, together with a distinction in an optional special history paper. Принц Чарльз обтесывает камень во время визита в Винчестерский Кафедральный Собор The Prince went to Cambridge University in 1967 to read archaeology and anthropology at Trinity College. He changed to history for the second part of his degree, and in 1970 was awarded a second class degree. While at Cambridge, The Prince took part in college drama society revues and a Joe Orton black comedy. On July 1, 1969 The Queen invested him as Prince of Wales in a colourful ceremony at Caernarfon Castle. In preparation for the Investiture The Prince had spent a term at the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth, learning to speak Welsh. Принц Чарльз радуется успехам своего сына, принца Гарри. Справа - учитель юного принца On February 11, 1970, His Royal Highness took his seat in the House of Lords. On March 8, 1971, The Prince of Wales flew himself to Royal Air Force Cranwell in Lincolnshire, to train as a jet pilot. At his own request, The Prince had received flying instruction from the RAF during his second year at Cambridge. In September 1971, after the passing out parade at Cranwell, The Prince of Wales embarked on a naval career, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and both his great-grandfathers. The six-week course at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, was followed by service on the guided missile destroyer HMS Norfolk and two frigates. Принц Чарльз и Королева-Мать на празднике Цветов The Prince qualified as a helicopter pilot in 1974 before joining 845 Naval Air Squadron, which operated from the Commando carrier HMS Hermes. On February 9, 1976, The Prince took command of the coastal minehunter HMS Bronington for his last nine months in the Navy. Over these years, The Prince was developing a wide range of interests, including social and community issues, young people, the arts, the built and natural environment, national heritage, religion and medicine. These interests are reflected in the list of around 200 organisations of which he has since become patron or president. The Prince of Wales's interest in young people and the under-privileged led to the foundation in 1976 of The Prince's Trust, which has helped over 200,000 disadvantaged young people to find jobs or fulfil ambitions for themselves and their communities. In 1985 The Prince became President of Business in the Community, which supports economic and social regeneration through increased involvement of companies and their employees in their local communities. Принц Чарльз и принцесса Диана The Prince's concerns about developments in fields such as architecture, the inner cities, education, religion, health and farming have been elaborated over many years in a large number of speeches and articles. On July 29, 1981, The Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer in St Paul's Cathedral. ............