King Charles has been in the public eye throughout his life, and today the reigning monarch celebrates his 77th birthday.
Prince Charles was born on November 14, 1948, the first of four children to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, and was succeeded by his siblings Princess Anne, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and Prince Edward. He famously married Princess Diana in 1981, and although their marriage was acrimonious, they fathered two sons, Prince William, born in 1982, and Prince Harry, born in 1984.
In 2005, nine years after his divorce from Princess Diana and eight years after her death, he married his longtime girlfriend Camilla Parker Bowles in a small ceremony at Windsor Castle.
Prince Charles will ascend to the throne in 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, making him the head of the British royal family.
As the royal family celebrates his 77th birthday, take a look at his life in photos.
Early days of King Charles
Charles Philip Arthur George was born on November 14, 1948 at Buckingham Palace. At the time, his grandfather, King George VI, was still supreme.
Above, Queen Elizabeth watches her young son drive a toy car in the grounds of Balmoral Castle in 1952.
King Charles and Princess Anne bond
Being the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II comes with responsibilities as a future monarch, as well as great responsibilities as an older brother. Princess Anne, who was born in 1950, and King Charles laugh together in this adorable 1952 photo.
King Charles and Nature
As a child, Charles found Balmoral Estate his playground. In this photo, then-Prince Charles and Princess Anne are being carried on a swing by their father, Prince Philip, as their mother smiles and looks on.
King Charles’s teenage years
Charles dressed to kill. The seemingly shy royal appeared alongside her mother in 1967.
king charles and his family
George Freston/Fox Photography/Hulton Archive/Getty
Charles and his brother helped celebrate their parents’ silver wedding anniversary in 1972. This candid moment from the photoshoot captures the family laughing together.
King Charles and his love for dogs
The love for dogs clearly runs in the family. The future king poses with an adorable puppy outside his castle in 1978.
King Charles in the driver’s seat
Charles spun behind the wheel of a 1975 Range Rover in 1979. The same car used on dates with Princess Diana sold for £101,150 (more than $133,000) in 2018.
King Charles marries Princess Diana
Anwar Hussain/WireImage
In 1981, then-Prince Charles married Princess Diana in a lavish ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral.
King Charles becomes a father
Tim Graham Photo Library (via Getty)
Despite a rocky marriage, the couple had two sons, Prince William on July 21, 1982, and Prince Harry on September 15, 1984. In the photo, the two are seen posing together at Kensington Palace in coordinating outfits.
King Charles and his sons on the River Dee
Charles passed on his love of the outdoors to his sons. In 1987, he was photographed playing on the banks of the River Dee near Balmoral Estate.
King Charles divorces Diana
Princess Diana and Charles had a turbulent 15-year marriage before divorcing in August 1996.
king charles and his sons
Charles wore a monochromatic green ensemble while exploring the lush outdoors. In this shot, the King is visiting Glenmuwick, in the grounds of Balmoral Castle, with his sons.
King Charles marries Queen Camilla
On April 9, 2005, almost 10 years after their divorce and Princess Diana’s death, King Charles and Queen Camilla wed at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s first wedding anniversary
Charles and Camilla spent their first wedding anniversary at Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland. They wore matching tartan outfits for the occasion.
coronation of king charles
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
King Charles became the sovereign ruler of the United Kingdom following Queen Elizabeth’s death on September 8, 2022. He was then crowned on May 6, 2023, at which time his wife became Queen Camilla.
king charles today
Phil Noble – WPA Pool/Getty
In February 2024, the palace announced that Prince Charles had been diagnosed with and is undergoing treatment for cancer, after undergoing benign surgery for an enlarged prostate in January of the same year (a spokesperson clarified that Charles does not have prostate cancer).
Following doctors’ orders, the king refrained from public work for three months, but continued to attend to state affairs and administrative matters behind the scenes. Although he resumed outdoor work in April 2024, palace officials said his cancer treatment will continue into this year.
He returned to work in March 2025 and has kept to his schedule ever since.
