Son of Elizabeth II (1926–) and heir to the throne of England. He was born on November 14, 1948, the firstborn child of Princess Elizabeth, daughter and heir to King George VI and her husband Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He attended private boarding school at Hill House, Cheam School, Gordonstoun in Scotland, and Timbertop in Australia. Charles became a Counselor of State at age eighteen and was invested as a Knight of the Gaiter in June of 1968. He attended Trinity College, Cambridge, and graduating with a lower second class degree in 1970, became the first heir to the throne to secure a university degree.
In March of 1971, Charles did four-months of service with the Royal Air Force at Cranwell to qualify as a jet pilot. In 1974, he joined the Fleet Air Arm, took a helicopter conversion course, and was assigned to the 845 Naval Air Squadron as a pilot on board the commando carrier HMS Hermes. In 1976, Charles was given command of the coastal mine hunter HMS Bronington. After finishing his five-year term of service in the navy, Charles often expressed his frustration over the limitations of royal responsibilities. Charles’s desire to do more led him to found the Prince’s Trust in 1976. This organization provided individual grants to help young people escape from poverty and crime by setting up self-help programs. It became a multi-million pound organization and the biggest independent charity of its kind in the country. Charles also served as the president of the International Council of the United World Colleges. In February of 1981, the prince, who was thirty-two, announced his engagement to Lady Diana Spencer, who was nineteen at the time. The wedding, which received extraordinary media coverage, took place on July 29, 1981. The nation rejoiced in a mood of universal celebration as the beautiful, shy bride married what seemed to be her “Prince Charming.”
Charles and Diana celebrated the birth of their first son, Prince William, on June 21, 1982. Another son, Prince Henry (“Harry”), followed in September of 1984. As Charles and Diana made official tours around the world, her popularity grew. The media interest in her soared and the press focused less on Charles, although he continued his work with community organizations such as the Prince’s Trust. In 1986, the Prince’s Youth Business Trust was founded to disperse modest loans and grants to beginning entrepreneurs who were refused by banks. By 2000, the organization had helped over 40,000 people start new businesses. Charles also became president of Business In The Community (BITC) that tried to break through barriers of class and race that separated industrial executives from leaders of the black community.
By 1986, Charles’s marriage had disintegrated. The following year speculation over the marriage became a preoccupation of the British and international media, and rumors abounded about Charles and Diana’s behavior and alleged affairs. On December 9, 1992, Prime Minister John Major announced in the House of Commons that the royal couple was separating, but that they would not divorce. However, strained relations between the two continued and in December of 1995 the Queen wrote to Charles and Diana suggesting they resolve their differences amicably for the sake of the children. In February 1996, the two met privately to discuss the details of the divorce settlement. The royal divorce became final on August 28, 1996.
The scandal and humiliation the royal family began to endure in 1987 continued as accusations flew and “tell-all” books were published by former employees and supposed friends. Charles’s popularity plummeted as opinion polls published in 1996 showed that 77 percent of the British people believed he lacked the public respect to be an efficient king. However, both Charles and Diana appeared to be moving on with their respective lives. Then tragedy struck on August 31, 1997, when Diana was killed in an automobile accident in Paris. Following her death, Charles has continued to raise his sons and work. He also has become more responsive to the media and increased his public appearances. A 1999 survey indicated that 63 percent of the British people believed he would be an effective king.
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