10 fun facts about King Charles III
Grab your history hats, gang – it’s time to find out about our monarch! Take a trip back through time and check out our top ten King Charles III facts…
10 facts about King Charles III
1. King Charles III was born at 9.14pm on 14 November 1948.
He was born at Buckingham Palace, London, to parents Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess) and Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
2. He became King on 8 September 2022.
Aged 73, King Charles III became the oldest monarch ever crowned in British history when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II (below, left) passed away in Balmoral, Scotland. He had been heir apparent (the next person to be crowned) since he was 3 years old.
3. From 1967 to 1970, he studied history at Cambridge University.
That makes him the first monarch in UK history with a university degree!
4. King Charles III can speak Welsh.
He spent two months learning the language as he prepared to become the Prince of Wales in 1969.
5. The King is a qualified pilot and diver.
While serving in the military, King Charles III trained as a jet and helicopter pilot and became an accomplished diver. He’s even explored shipwrecks like The Mary Rose – King Henry VIII‘s flagship!
6. Plus, he’s a keen watercolour painter.
Not only that, he’s also a published author and music lover, playing the cello in his university orchestra.
7. As Prince of Wales, he founded nearly 20 charities.
Together, these charities raise £140 million each year for good causes! He’s also passionate about the environment – as Prince, he spoke out about plastic pollution as early as 1970, drove an electric car and planted many trees during royal engagements.
8. He’s the reigning monarch in 14 other countries, as well as the UK.
These include Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Jamaica. As King, he’s also the only person in the UK who can travel without a passport and drive without a licence – cool!
9. King Charles III is no stranger to an audience.
Before he became King, he featured in UK TV show Coronation Street, participated in stage magicians’ group the Magic Circle and presented the BBC weather forecast.
10. His son, Prince William, is next in line for the throne.
The King has two children – Princes William and Harry – and five grandchildren. Prince William (below, right) is next in line to become King, and was named the Prince of Wales in 2022.
What do you think of our facts about King Charles III? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
Image credits: Prince in car (c) Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS; Prince and Queen (c) Sang Tan/WPA Pool/Getty Images; Prince gives a speech (c) Hulton Archive/Getty Images; Prince sketching (c) Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images; Prince planting tree (c) Brian Morrison/Northern Ireland Office via Getty Images; Prince reads weather (c) Andrew Milligan – WPA Pool/Getty Images; Prince and sons (c) Anwar Hussein/Getty Images; featured image (c) Hugo Burnand-Pool/Getty Images; header image (c) Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse.
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COMMENTS1
Noel Moody
He owns all the swans in the uk
Pizza
I love this website
Tiana
It's really usefull!
jack
good facts
Anya
Thanks for information
kristan
amazing
wow
Jacob
very useful facts
Remy
Wow laugh a lot nice such cool pictures
Akshara
I never knew prince Charles played the cello
Angela
Great information Thanks!
Lillie-mai
Wow thanks helped me alot in my homework
it helped me with my work a lot
Kye
Wow I didn't know that
robyn
this helped me in one of my history lessons good job.
LucasandGilesofpapplewick
Great facts
Quiet-ish
I didn't know any of this before!
stamol
amazing so much deatail
Anna
I loved the that he can speak Welsh because I am half Welsh.
I love how you knew the exact time he was born
Ivy
WOW! Very helpful for a school project
emma
wow i didnt realise hes so clever
Bob
Very interesting facts both for adults and children!
Annabel Paling
The facts were fascinating I especially liked the watercolour fact because I'm into watercolour 's too!
Pearl
These facts are amazing ! I'm glad I know more about him !
These are really interesting facts. I didn’t know these before :)
Brian
Thanks it helped my homework
gud
This helped me in my 4 paragraph biography
Anna Denison
Not bad provided he does do what the queen did for all of us
cool
Wow
Thanks helped me a lot Im my homework
Bird
Cool
cata
coooool
Emma
cool
Effie
this is so cool
effie
these are not fun facts but I'm really impressed
Sky_88
There is so many cool facts I love it it is so interesting i’m using the website for my homework
Easkey
It was very helpful for my school project thank you
sofia
its so cool
Wow I love these things
phoenix
very interesting and very helpful (:
cool
hello
this is really cool now i know 10 stuff about him
Ishaan
I didn't know number 6.
Ella
Wow I didn’t know this about him.
Mars
Damn, that's just cool and supa-interesting.
Grace
Wow!
Darcey
I don't like him
liam.c
boo king charles boo!
Mic
This is so cool I read it 5 times
Emily
I dont like king charles
Haseeb
The royal family is big and special
Noah
AWSOME!
Mia
These facts were very interesting.
Elsie
Awesome!
Lil
Interesting
Katie
I love the royal family!
Archie
I really enjoyed those facts!!!
Eliza star
Wow I didn't know that a Prince \king could do that! EPIC
Emily
Nice facts!!
William Goodband
He will be a great king,may he live to award himself a letter of congratulations when he reaches 100 years old.
Iona
This website really interesting
Millycatmeow
Love this!read it twice!!!!!
Ally
Thank you so much, National Geo Kids, I learned so much about King Charles III !!!! Thank you so much for your hard work.
Lily
How cool!!!!!!!!!
MordechaiT
1 more fun fact about King Charles III. He has the same birthday as Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Meow
I loved the facts and now I know more about King Charles the III
francesca2377
Neato! I like that he's a multitasking sort of person. I hope I get to meet the King someday.
Elyse GB
Amazing love the royalty!!
Mini poodle
I wonder how he learned that language
lovely
alisha
good
Sarah Mc Laughlin Mason
I love the fact that King Charles is multi talented. It takes time to develop talents and many of us have forgotten how to do that.
Amazing facts
Kingqueen
Omg most people have never seen another person on the throne
Sarah
I hope he is going to be a good king
sparkeldolphin9
so intresting
John
He will be a good king
Rachel
Wow that's cool
Cat_the_teddy
Very intresting
sarah
he's so cute as a baby
essy j
your mags r epic i love looking at all the animals and what the public have sent in ~ big fan of your work
Mal
Amazing ☺can't wait for more
pop
I didn't know he liked to paint with water colours
Anna
Wow!
it helped me in my reaserch :) :) :) !!!
bob
good facts
Alayna
Very helpful, good to know about the king.
BOB THE BUILDER
thanks. you helped me in my history assignment
CoolRhino
amazing
koda
good
Tahlia
Wow it helped me a lot, we will probably have kings for the rest of our life time
ICE_464
Nice
Ellam
This is a really interesting article + I ❤ the mag as well.
essy j
it really helped with my homework!!! :)
Unknown
Awesome
C.Marsh
thank you you have helped me in school
isabcrom
wowwww
sidney
cool
Jake
Awesome!
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