10 Astonishing Truths About King Charles III

King Charles III holds the distinction of being the longest-serving heir apparent in British history. At the tender age of three, his grandfather, King George VI, passed away, leading to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, assuming the throne. Her reign lasted an unprecedented 70 years, making her the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

Despite the highly publicized events of his life—such as his marriage to and subsequent divorce from Princess Diana, his enduring relationship with Camilla, the Queen Consort, and his occasionally tense dynamic with his father—Charles dedicated years to working behind the scenes. He championed charitable causes and upheld his responsibilities as a prominent member of the royal family. Additionally, he indulged in landscape painting as a personal passion. Here are nine lesser-known facts about Charles, who ascended to the throne following his mother’s passing on September 8, 2022.

1. King Charles III was the first royal child born at Buckingham Palace during the 20th century.

At the age of 22, Princess Elizabeth welcomed Charles Philip Arthur George into the world on November 14, 1948, just six days before celebrating her first wedding anniversary. Newspapers described him as “a beautiful boy, a truly magnificent baby.“ However, Matthew Halton of CBC Radio cautioned audiences that the infant was far from becoming king. “If his grandfather, the king, and his mother, the princess, both live full lives,“ Halton stated, “he might not ascend the throne until he’s 50 or 60 years old.“

Halton’s prediction was off by more than a decade, as Queen Elizabeth II passed away when Charles was 73.

2. King Charles III was only 9 years old when he was formally bestowed the title of Prince of Wales.

Despite being the longest-serving Prince of Wales, Charles could have held the title for even longer if he had been appointed earlier. The title “Prince of Wales“ is exclusively bestowed upon a male heir apparent and is not automatically granted. Charles moved from third to second in the line of succession after his grandfather’s death in 1952, but it wasn’t until 1958, at the age of 9, that he was officially named Prince of Wales and also received the title Earl of Chester.

3. There was uncertainty about whether King Charles III would retain his name.

Monarchs often select a regnal name (similar to popes) that differs from their birth name. For instance, Charles’s grandfather, George VI, was originally named Albert Frederick Arthur George and commonly known as Bertie. Despite being the most prominent Charles in the UK for over 70 years, the previous two King Charleses had controversial legacies. Charles I was executed for treason, leading to the temporary abolition of the monarchy. His son, Charles II, lived in exile until the monarchy was reinstated 11 years later. While generally popular, he was infamous for his numerous affairs and acknowledged at least a dozen illegitimate children. Additionally, Charles Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, was referred to as Charles III by some due to his role in the Jacobite rebellion in Scotland.

However, as reported by the BBC, Charles decided to retain his name, a choice he made shortly after ascending to the throne.

4. King Charles III is skilled in playing the cello.

As a child, Charles learned to play the piano, trumpet, and cello. Although he once described himself as “hopeless,“ he continued with the cello and even performed with the Trinity College Orchestra during his undergraduate years.

5. King Charles III’s Secret Service codename is “Unicorn.“

Prominent foreign visitors to the U.S. are often assigned code names, and Charles was given Unicorn. This whimsical name is surprisingly apt—the unicorn is Scotland’s national animal and has been featured on its coat of arms for approximately 600 years. The first documented use of a unicorn as a symbol of power by a Scottish monarch dates back to the late 1300s, when either Robert II or III incorporated unicorns into the arms and gateway of Rothesay Castle on the Isle of Bute, Scotland. One of King Charles III’s earliest titles, bestowed at age 5, is Duke of Rothesay.

6. Richard Nixon attempted to arrange a match between King Charles III and his daughter Tricia.

In 1971, Tricia Nixon, the eldest daughter of President Nixon, celebrated the first outdoor White House wedding in the Rose Garden. However, the summer prior, her father had tried to pair her with the future king of England. Charles and his sister, Princess Anne, aged 21 and 19 respectively, visited Washington, D.C., on an unofficial trip. They were treated as royal dignitaries, toured museums and local landmarks, and stayed in the White House (Charles slept in the Lincoln Bedroom). According to Sally Bedell Smith’s 2017 biography Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life, “The president ensured Tricia was seated next to Charles at every event, much to his annoyance.“

Although Charles didn’t connect with the first daughter (Bedell Smith notes he “ungenerously described her as ’artificial and plastic’“), he found the president’s efforts amusing. “Years later, during a visit to Washington with Camilla, he still chuckled about Nixon’s matchmaking attempts.“

7. King Charles III first encountered Lady Diana Spencer while he was in a relationship with her older sister.

In his twenties, Charles was known for his playboy lifestyle, and any woman with a noble background was seen as a potential princess and media sensation. In June 1977, he met Lady Sarah Spencer at a Windsor Castle party, and they began attending polo and shooting events together. That November, Charles visited the Spencer family estate, Althorp, where he was introduced to Sarah’s younger sister, Diana, who was 16 at the time.

As detailed in Bedell Smith’s 1999 biography Diana in Search of Herself: Portrait of a Troubled Princess, after a Swiss ski trip with Charles in February 1978, Sarah told a tabloid she wasn’t romantically interested in the then-prince, stating, “There’s no chance of me becoming the future queen of England. I don’t think he’s met her yet.“

8. King Charles III has a frog species named in his honor.

In 2012, a newly discovered and endangered species of Ecuadorian tree frog was introduced in the journal Zootaxa as Hyloscirtus princecharlesi, or the Prince Charles stream treefrog. The naming honored his dedication to rainforest conservation. Charles has been a vocal advocate for addressing climate change and established the Prince’s Rainforest Project in 2007 as both a charity and a global awareness initiative.

9. King Charles III authored a children’s book.

In 1980, King Charles III penned a children’s book titled The Old Man of Lochnagar, inspired by tales he told his younger brothers, Princes Andrew and Edward. The story follows an old man who ventures to the caves near Balmoral in search of a peaceful spot for a hot bath. The book was later adapted into an animated short film, with the king providing the narration.

10. King Charles III’s coronation will not occur immediately.

Charles ascended to the throne immediately after his mother’s passing. However, while his coronation, referred to as “Operation Golden Orb,” was planned prior to Elizabeth’s death, it will not take place right away. The UK will first observe a mourning period before organizing the elaborate and reverent religious event. Elizabeth II’s coronation was held more than a year after she became queen.

This story was originally published in 2018 and has been updated for 2022.