Charles Philip Arthur George became King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms on 8th September 2022, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Although he has spent the majority of his life in the public eye, there are still some things that you may not know about our new monarch. In this blog, we will be looking at nine facts about King Charles III…
The first royal baby born at Buckingham Palace.
Princess Elizabeth was just 22 years old when she gave birth to Charles Philip Arthur George on November 14th 1948, at Buckingham Palace. The first royal to be born at this residence, particularly poignant as Charles would then go on to become the longest-serving heir apparent.
A Prince of Wales at just nine years old.
The title ‘Prince of Wales’ is only given to a male heir apparent, but is never an automatic appointment. While Charles became heir apparent at the age of three, it wasn’t until 1958, when he was nine years old, that he was granted the title of Prince of Wales, alongside its conjoining title, Earl of Chester.
Secret Service nickname: Unicorn.
Upon visiting the US, certain royals and dignitaries are often given their own code name as a way of communicating their visit in a subtle way. Charles was given the name ‘Unicorn’. While it may seem an odd name to have been given, it is actually quite fitting for the king, with the unicorn being the national animal of Scotland, part of its coat of arms for some 600 years.
Ranger of Windsor Great Park.
King Charles III has always been open about his love of nature, farming and gardening, spanning throughout his life. Because of this, he has now taken on the role of the ranger of Windsor Great Park, one of England’s oldest landed estates, a role previously held by his father Prince Philip.
An interesting tree planting ritual.
During his official engagements, it doesn’t go unnoticed that the king carries out many tree planting ceremonies, showing just how much of a proud environmentalist he is. After planting each tree, he wishes them well by giving each branch a shake or tap.
A player of three instruments.
During his university studies, Charles learned to play three instruments; cello, trumpet and piano. He has since become a patron of over 20 performing arts organisations, and regularly plays in his spare time.
An environmentally friendly car enthusiast.
King Charles III is a car enthusiast alongside a true environmentalist at heart. In a bid to keep his carbon footprint down, he had his fleet of high-horsepower vehicles converted. His Aston Martin now runs on ethanol derived from gasses emitted during the production of wine and cheese, while other cars in his collection use bio diesel made from old frying oil. He also drives electric vehicles.
A royal food company.
In 1990, he launched his own food company, Duchy Originals (named after the Duchy of Cornwall). The first product was a biscuit made from wheat and oats grown organically at Home Farm in Highgrove. Duchy Originals also has its own brand of whiskey called Barrogill.
A children’s book writer.
King Charles III wrote a children’s book in 1980 entitled, The Old Man of Lochnagar. The book is based on a story about a Scottish man that he told his younger brothers, Andrew and Edward, when they were little. The picture book has since been adapted into an animated film, with proceeds benefiting The Prince’s Trust.
Released to celebrate our new king, we have these two remarkable silver crown coins. Secure them HERE.