A British heir to the throne has never waited so long. Charles Philip Arthur George became the 13th monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Thursday after 70 years as heir.
Up until now, we have come to know Charles as an environmentalist with a disdain for modern architecture and a propensity to lobby the government on topics from the teaching of history to military helicopter procurement.
In his first speech as king yesterday, he said: “My life will of course change as I take up my new responsibilities. It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply.”
But what kind of king will Charles III be? His letters, interviews and speeches hint at what Britain can expect from its new sovereign — and what his accession could mean for the future of the monarchy.
“I snore and I get hit on the head all the time. It’s absolute hell. The people in my dormitory are foul. They throw slippers all night long or hit me with pillows . . . I wish I could come home.”
A 15-year-old Charles in a letter home during his studies at Gordonstoun School in Moray, Scotland.
“I have gone through my fair share of being called a Pommy bastard . . . but look what it has done for me. By god, it was good for the character. If you want to develop character, go to Australia.”
Joking at an Australia Day event in 2011. Prince Charles spent six months at school in Australia in 1966.
“How awful incompatibility is, and how dreadfully destructive it can be for the players in this extraordinary drama. It has all the ingredients of a Greek tragedy . . . I never thought it would end up like this.”
Discussing the breakdown of his first marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales, in a letter to an unidentified correspondent in 1986.
“It’s always marvellous just to see them develop and start to get good at some things and develop interests and all that. It gives me enormous pleasure and satisfaction and pride.”
On watching his sons William and Harry growing up.
“It’s always nice to have somebody on your side . . . She is an enormous support. The great thing is we laugh a lot because she sees the funny side of life, thank God.”
On his wife Camilla, now Queen Consort, in the run-up to their 10th wedding anniversary in 2015.
“When you think that each person produces roughly two pounds of rubbish per day . . . and there are 55mn of us on this island using non-returnable bottles and indestructible plastic containers, it is not difficult to imagine the mountains of refuse that we shall have to deal with.”
Prince Charles’s first speech on the environment in 1970. He later recalled being seen as “rather dotty” for holding such views.
“I don’t want to be confronted by my future grandchild and [have] them say: ‘Why didn’t you do something?’ So, clearly now that we will have a grandchild, it makes it even more obvious to try and make sure we leave them something that isn’t a total poisoned chalice.”
Prince Charles after it was announced that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were expecting their first child.
“It is baffling, I must say, that in our modern world we have such blind trust in science and technology that we all accept what science tells us about everything — until, that is, it comes to climate science.”
Lamenting the influence of climate deniers during a speech to green entrepreneurs.
“After billions of years of evolution, nature is our best teacher — in this regard, restoring natural capital, accelerating nature-based solutions and leveraging the circular bio-economy will be vital to our efforts.”
Extolling the virtues of nature during a speech at COP26 last November.
“I have raised with you on a number of occasions the importance of reducing the bureaucratic and administrative burden on farmers, and you have been most reassuring in your replies.”
Prince Charles, himself a keen farmer, writes to the prime minister, Tony Blair, in 2004, as part of a series of lobbying letters.
“Each member’s constitutional arrangement, as republic or monarchy, is purely a matter for each member country to decide. The benefit of long life brings me the experience that arrangements such as these can change, calmly and without rancour.”
Making his feelings on the future of the Commonwealth clear in June this year.
“Despite having made substantial progress . . . I remain convinced that the current approaches to teaching and learning need to be challenged . . . I am keen to provide the opportunity for a further 80, or so, teachers of English and History.”
Prince Charles writes to the secretary of state for education in 2005.
“No two years are the same. So, what was a disaster one year will probably be a success the next year. So don’t despair. Nature’s quite interesting like that.”
Tips for aspiring gardeners. The 900-acre gardens at Highgrove, his family residence, have long been a labour of love for him.
“Something as curious as the monarchy won’t survive unless you take account of people’s attitudes. After all, if people don’t want it, they won’t have it.”
Discussing the future of the monarchy. The Queen’s death has reignited debate in Australia about its role.
“Wherever you may live in the United Kingdom, or in the Realms and territories across the world, and whatever may be your background or beliefs, I shall endeavour to serve you with loyalty, respect and love, as I have throughout my life.”
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