King’s coronation: Facts about King Charles III
King’s coronation: Facts about King Charles III
King Charles III will be coronated on the 6th May 2023. It is important for SBMs to be aware about the King and his life so that their school can learn and gain knowledge too. We have sourced some facts about King Charles III for you to learn from, and share with your staff to use in lessons that are focused on the Kings coronation. You could create a display board with your staff to celebrate with some of these facts so that students can see them clearly.
King Charles was born on the 14th November 1948
King Charles III was the first royal baby to be born at Buckingham Palace in the 20th century. Princess Elizabeth was 22 when she gave birth to Charles on November 14th 1948. One of his middle names is after his father prince Philip who was the Duke of Edinburgh. Charles full name is Charles Philip Arthur George.
The King can speak Welsh
Charles III spent two months learning Welsh in preparation for becoming the Prince of Wales. He claimed the title in 1969, so busied himself with the language ready for the responsibilities. Today, he still speaks Welsh whilst visiting or addressing the country.
He is a qualified pilot and diver
King Charles received Royal Air Force training at the Cambridge University Air Squadron. He flew himself to RAF Cranwell to train as a jet pilot and five months later he earned his RAF wings. He became a flight lieutenant for Wales which lead him to be the first royal to achieve this honour.
He is also the first member of the royal family to be a qualified diver. He begun scuba diving in the 1970s and has explored the oceans many times over the years. He once explored the wreck of the Mary Rose where he spent 47 minutes underwater.
King Charles III loves to paint
Throughout his childhood, King Charles was surrounded by art which inspired him to take on painting as a hobby. He mainly uses watercolours, and he specialises in natural landscapes using places in the UK or other countries he has visited.
Encourage your school to use watercolours to create art with and suggest to your staff to focus on natural landscapes. This would be a perfect way to celebrate the Kings coronation and you can display student's artwork in the hallways ready for the day.
As Prince of Wales, he founded around 20 charities
When Charles was the Prince of Wales, he founded around 20 charities which in total, raised £140 million each year. A few of these charities are committed to improve the environment which Charles is passionate about. He has advocated for plastic pollution from the 1970s and planted many trees too.
He was just 9 years old when he claimed the Prince of Wales title
King Charles became second in line for the throne when his grandfather died in 1952. However, he wasn’t given the title of Prince of Wales until 1958 when he was 9. This title is only given to a male heir, but it is never automatically given. He could have been Prince of Wales for longer if the title was appointed to him earlier, even though he is the longest serving Prince of Wales.
Charles learnt how to play the cello
As a child and throughout his studies, Charles learnt how to play the cello. When he was an undergrad, he played in the Trinity College Orchestra. He also learnt to play the piano and trumpet too but stuck with cello as his main musical instrument. Since this passion for music King Charles has become a patron of over twenty performing arts organisations.
Help encourage your school to have a passion for music by stocking up on musical instruments for students and for your school’s orchestra. From cellos to flutes and even percussion sets, give your school the choice of what instrument they would like to learn. Providing a few musical instruments for children allows them to have a chance of learning without hefty costs for those families that can’t afford them.
He has a secret service codename
This is one of the most interesting and little-known facts about King Charles III. Certain dignitaries who visit the US are given code names by the secret service. The King’s is Unicorn which oddly suits him. The Unicorn is also the national animal of Scotland and has been a part of the countries coat of arms for years.
King Charles III has written a children’s book
King Charles wrote a children’s book called The Old Man of Lochnagar which was originally published in 1980. The story is about an old man who wants a quiet place to take a bath so searches the caves near Balmoral castle. This book was turned into an amination that the King himself narrated.
He was just 3 years old when he became heir to the throne
In 1952 Queen Elizabeth was crowned Queen following the death of her father King George VI. At this time Charles was around 4 years old. However, when King George VI passed away Charles was 3 years old. This is when he technically became heir to the throne due to his mother taking on a monarch's role before it became official months later.
Charles met Camilla at a polo match
King Charles met his now wife and Queen Consort Camilla at a polo match in 1970. This polo match was held at Windsor Castle and there was a romantic spark between the two when they originally met. However, this soon fizzled out when King Charles was deployed in 1972 in the Royal Navy. After this, Charles met Diana who he later married before having an affair with Camilla.
He is a park ranger at Windsor great park
King Charles III has always had a passion for gardening throughout his life and loves the outdoors and nature. Recently, he took on the role of park ranger at Windsor Great Park which his father, Prince Philip, previously did. This park is one of the oldest landed estates in England and Charles visits frequently when he can.
Use these King Charles III facts to educate your staff and students about His Majesty. It is also a great way to kick start the coronation celebrations throughout your school. Be prepared for the celebrations by stocking up on craft supplies for teachers to use closer to the time.
