King Charles III Birthday & Age: Wife Camilla, Children, Family & Reign Timeline

King Charles III, monarch of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms, celebrates his birthday on 14 November. Born at Buckingham Palace in 1948, he is 78 years old. He spent more than seven decades as heir to the throne before becoming king in September 2022 — longer than any heir in British history.

King Charles III at a Glance

Detail	Information
Full name	Charles Philip Arthur George
Born	14 November 1948, Buckingham Palace, London
Parents	Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Became king	8 September 2022
Coronation	6 May 2023, Westminster Abbey
Wife	Queen Camilla (married 2005)
Children	Prince William and Prince Harry

Early Life and Education

Charles was born at 9:14 pm on 14 November 1948 during the reign of his grandfather, King George VI. When his mother became Queen Elizabeth II in 1952, the three-year-old prince became heir apparent. He has three younger siblings: Princess Anne (born 1950), Prince Andrew (born 1960) and Prince Edward (born 1964).

He was educated at Cheam School and Gordonstoun in Scotland and spent six months at the Timbertop campus of Geelong Grammar School in Australia. He then earned a history degree at the University of Cambridge — making him the first heir apparent to earn a university degree — before serving in the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy from 1971 to 1976.

👉 See more birthdays on this date: Famous Birthdays on November 14

Wife, Children and Grandchildren

Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. They had two sons, Prince William (born 1982) and Prince Harry (born 1984). The couple divorced in 1996 after years of separation, and Diana died in a car crash in Paris the following year.

In 2005, Charles married his long-time partner, Camilla Parker Bowles. She became Queen Camilla when he took the throne and was crowned alongside him in 2023.

Family member	Relation
Queen Camilla	Wife (since 2005)
Diana, Princess of Wales	First wife (1981–1996)
Prince William, Prince of Wales	Elder son and heir
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex	Younger son
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis	Grandchildren (William’s children)
Prince Archie, Princess Lilibet	Grandchildren (Harry’s children)

Reign Timeline

• 1952: Becomes heir apparent at age three.
• 1958: Created Prince of Wales; invested in 1969.
• 1976: Founds the Prince’s Trust to help young people.
• 1981: Marries Lady Diana Spencer.
• 2005: Marries Camilla Parker Bowles.
• 2011: Becomes the longest-serving heir apparent in British history.
• 8 September 2022: Becomes king on the death of Queen Elizabeth II, aged 73 — the oldest person to succeed to the British throne.
• 6 May 2023: Crowned at Westminster Abbey.

Causes He Champions

Long before becoming king, Charles was known for his campaigns on the environment, organic farming and climate change, which he promoted while running the Duchy of Cornwall. He has supported the conservation of historic buildings and traditional architecture, which inspired the experimental town of Poundbury in Dorset. Through the Prince’s Trust (now the King’s Trust) and many other charities, he became patron or president of more than 800 organisations.

How His Birthday Is Marked

Although his real birthday is in November, the monarch’s official birthday is celebrated in June with Trooping the Colour, a tradition that gives the public a better chance of good weather for the parade. On his actual birthday, gun salutes are traditionally fired in London.

👉 Discover the day’s observances: November 14 Holidays and Observances

Frequently Asked Questions

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