Guernsey Press

In Pictures: The King’s life year by year as he prepares for 75th birthday

Prince Charles Philip Arthur George was born at Buckingham Palace on November 14 1948.

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The King’s life – from newborn baby prince in his mother’s arms to a crowned monarch sitting on his throne – has been celebrated with a collection of photos from every one of his 75 years.

Charles, who reaches his milestone three-quarter century birthday on Tuesday, is pictured being held in the air as an eight-month old by his proud father the Duke of Edinburgh in 1949.

Childhood portraits show the young future King striding along in a kilt just before his seventh birthday in 1955, and spending time with his family at Windsor Castle in 1959.

Royalty – Prince Charles Presented to the World – Windlesham Moor
Baby Prince Charles is lifted up by his father the then-Duke of Edinburgh, in the grounds of Windlesham Moor, then their country home, in Surrey in 1949 (PA)
Prince Charles, striding along in a kilt, pictured for his seventh birthday in 1955 (PA)

In the collection of images compiled by the PA news agency, the then-Prince of Wales, on the brink of adulthood in 1966, smiles broadly as he stands behind a chair in a library, wearing Balmoral tartan, in a portrait commissioned ahead of his 18th birthday.

The Prince of Wales, wearing the Balmoral tartan, posing for a portrait commissioned for his 18th birthday in 1966 (Godfrey Argent/PA)
The Prince of Wales diving under the arctic ice at Resolute Bay, Canada
The Prince of Wales diving under the ice at Resolute Bay, Canada (PA)
Charles sporting a new beard at Badminton, during the horse trials in 1976 (PA)
The Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to Montague, Prince Edward Island, Canada in 1983
The then-Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to Montague, Prince Edward Island, Canada in 1983 (Ron Bell/PA)
The Prince of Wales trying his hand at breakdancing, to the delight of youngsters at a disco in Middleton-on-Sea
The then-Prince of Wales trying his hand at breakdancing, to the delight of youngsters at a disco in Middleton-on-Sea (Ron Bell/PA)
Charles with the Spice Girls at the Royal Gala celebrating the Princes Trust 21st Anniversary in Manchester in 1997
Charles with the Spice Girls at the Royal Gala celebrating the Princes Trust 21st Anniversary in Manchester in 1997 (John Giles/PA)
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall speaking to Prince William and Prince Harry before leaving Sandhurst Royal Military Academy after Harry's Sovereign's Parade
The then-Prince of Wales speaking to Prince William and Prince Harry before leaving Sandhurst Royal Military Academy after Harry’s Sovereign’s Parade (PA)
The then-Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall hosting a reception for the Elephant Family charity in 2013
The then-Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall hosting a reception for the Elephant Family charity in 2013 (Anthony Devlin/PA)
The King follows the state gun carriage as it carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremonial procession to her state funeral
The King follows the state gun carriage as it carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremonial procession to her state funeral (Andrew Milligan/PA)
King Charles III seated in the coronation chair, wearing St Edward's Crown
Charles seated in the coronation chair, wearing St Edward’s Crown (Aaron Chown/PA)
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