▲The young Prince (standing on the wall) was baptized on December 15, 1948, at a ceremony held in Buckingham Palace's Music Room.

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The British royal family in Athens, with Charles standing in the middle. His father, the late Prince Philip, was born in Greece and into Greek and Danish royal families.

▲A young Prince Charles, who was born with the titles Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and both Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.

▲Charles and his sister Princess Anne in their prams, next to one of their mother's corgis.

▲Queen Elizabeth's eldest children, Charles and Anne, seen at Liverpool Street Station.

▲Charles and Anne board a plane, appearing as if in a race to get to the top first.

▲Charles standing with his back to a number of press photographers at London's Waterloo Station in 1961.

▲Charles and Anne fashion coordinated in a kilt and tartan skirt, respectively, as they pose for photographs with family and US President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

▲A young Charles playing with his great uncle Louis Mountbatten, whom he affectionately called "Uncle Dickie."

▲Charles on a sail boat with his father at Cowes, Isle of Wight, in 1958.

▲Charles chats with an engine driver and a train inspector on Platform 6 of London's St Pancras Station, this in 1956.

▲The young royal hops aboard a London Transport bus with other school children for Sports Day at Kensington in 1957.

▲Inspecting dummy shells as Gunnery Instructor E.H. Bradley explains how a gun turret works.

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Mother and son walk through Liverpool Street Station in London with the royal pooches.

▲Taking a sneak peak at the 1958 Royal Ascot Horse Jumping Show program.

▲Charles playing around with his sister as they prepare to ride a sled. Charles was by this time attending Gordonstoun School in Scotland.

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Charles carrying his own skis over his shoulder, just like a pro!

▲Back in the UK, Charles and his sister, Princess Anne, are seen going about their royal duties in typically spiffy attire.

▲The Queen and her eldest son during a photo shoot outside Windsor Castle in 1969, shortly before his investiture.

▲Queen Elizabeth II and a teenage Charles replete in kilt at Gordonstoun School in Scotland, where the monarch opened the school's new sports center in 1967.

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Charles attends church with his parents in tow. Did you know that he is the only member of the royal family to get married in a civil ceremony? It was to Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005.

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Charles in a beard, holding a dagger in his hand, and performing a scene from 'Macbeth' at university.

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Rather than joining the military after completing his A-levels, Charles went against tradition and instead went straight to university.

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Charles pictured in robes at the University of Cambridge, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1970. Five years later he was awarded a Master of Arts degree from the same university.

▲Charles posing next to a Chipmunk training aircraft after a flying lesson.

▲Charles seen during another flying lesson, this time at the controls of a Basset aircraft.

▲Charles holding a pet corgi on a leash, one of many dogs Queen Elizabeth II owned during her life.

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The young prince relaxing with a good book. The pose was reportedly for an informal portrait of the royal.

▲In 1966, Charles traveled to Australia to spend two terms at the Timbertop campus of Geelong Grammar School in Victoria. He's pictured here meeting locals in North Bondi, New South Wales, shortly after arriving in the country.

▲The Prince of Wales in his naval uniform during a visit to the Caribbean island of St. Kitts, in 1973.

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Charles was an avid polo player in his youth, and remained so well into his later years.

▲Diana and Charles pose with their baby, Prince William, who was born on June 21, 1982.

▲Charles disembarking a plane with toddler William in his arms.

▲Prince Harry as a youngster in Charles' arms, with Princess Diana in Majorca, Spain.

▲Cheeky Prince William sticks his tongue out to assembled photographers.

▲Charles sitting beside the Queen of Spain, with Diana and the two princes staring ahead during an informal moment while visiting Spain.

▲A young Prince William and Harry with their parents during a wedding outing.

▲Charles and Diana in happier times, with the princes acting up as all young children do.

▲A royal family, dressed formally but looking relaxed and happy—at least for the cameras. By 1986, Charles and Diana's marriage was in difficulty. In 1992, the couple separated.

▲Charles and his eldest son William on the ski slopes and spotting the paparazzi.

▲A young Prince Harry accompanies his father to a polo tournament.

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Charles in suitable attire with his sons during a trip to Scotland.

▲Prince Harry having a laugh in the snow with his dad.

▲In 2005, Charles married his long-time love, Camilla Parker Bowles at Windsor Guildhall.

▲The 2018 documentary about Charles, 'Charles at 70,' revealed the close bond he has forged with his grandchildren from William and Harry: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and latterly, Prince Archie.

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Charles and Camilla with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

▲While at Timbertop, Charles would stay at Devon Farm, Lilydale, where he befriended four sisters, Jane (10), six-year-old Amanda, Penny who was four, and three-year-old Lisa. Pictured: the siblings with the then 17-year-old prince.

▲During a royal tour of Australia in April 2018, Charles and Camilla visited Lilydale, where he was reunited with the now grown-up sisters. They presented him with a framed photograph of their youthful get-together 52 years earlier. Reminiscing, it was smiles and laughter all around.

▲In fact, Australia remains close to the prince's heart. Here he is attending Australia Day celebrations at Australia House, in London.

▲Charles and Diana posing in front of Uluru, then more commonly known as Ayers Rock, during a 1983 visit to the country.

▲In April 2018, the royal couple were back down under on a tour that included a visit to the Commonwealth Hub at Broadbeach to unveil the final plaque on the Commonwealth Walkway at Gold Coast, near Brisbane.

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Charles at the Bundaberg Rum Museum and Distillery in Queensland during his and Camilla's 2018 tour. Here, the prince blends his own tipple, no doubt before drinking to the health of his hosts.

▲Charles has since described his time at Timbertop as the most enjoyable part of his whole education.

▲Charles became the Prince of Wales on July 1, 1969, at an investiture at Caernarfon (Carnarvon) Castle in Wales.

▲Left to right: Earl Spencer (Diana's brother), Prince William, Prince Harry, and the Prince of Wales, waiting as the hearse carrying the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales prepares to leave Westminster Abbey, following her funeral service.

▲In a wonderfully selfless gesture, Charles walked Meghan Markle down the aisle before her marriage to Prince Harry.

▲Charles married Lady Diana Spencer, thereafter known to millions as Princess Diana, on July 29, 1981, at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

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Charles was born on November 14, 1948, at Buckingham Palace in London.

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During a 2005 visit to Australia, Charles made a nostalgic return to Geelong Grammar School. He met current pupils and recalled his time in Victoria.

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Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022, Charles and Camilla returned to London to greet crowds of mourners, this time as King Charles III and Queen Consort.

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The coronation ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023. Charles was officially crowned King of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Realms. Following the coronation, it was announced that Camilla would simply be addressed as Queen Camilla, rather than Queen Consort.

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King Charles, formerly the Prince of Wales, was the oldest and longest-serving heir apparent in British history, up until September 8, 2022. On that date, his mother Queen Elizabeth II passed away at the age of 96 after reigning for 70 years. The crown was immediately passed to Charles upon her death, transforming him into King Charles III after decades of waiting in the wings. His coronation finally took place on May 6, 2023.

Browse this gallery and take a nostalgic look back at the remarkable and well-traveled life of the prince who is finally king.

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King Charles was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024, a diagnosis that came as a shock less than 18 months into his reign. Buckingham Palace has not specified the type of cancer he is battling. After undergoing treatment and recovery, he resumed his public duties in April 2024.