King Charles' Life in Photos: From Young Prince to Reigning Monarch

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Young King Charles playing at Balmoral

Queen and Prince at Balmoral Castle — Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Getty Images

He's used to taking charge in the driver's seat. Queen Elizabeth watches her young son, Charles Philip Arthur George, driving in a toy car on the grounds of Balmoral Castle in 1952.

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Young King Charles bonding with Princess Anne

Being Queen Elizabeth's oldest child comes the great responsibility of being a big brother. Princess Anne and King Charles share a laugh in this adorable 1952 photo.

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Young King Charles and his family having fun at Balmoral

Royalty - Royal Family - Balmoral Castle — PA Images/Getty Images

Growing up, Charles had the Balmoral Estate as his playground. In this photo, then-Prince Charles and Princess Anne are pushed on a swing by their father, Prince Philip, with their mother looking and smiling.

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Young King Charles and his family picnic at Balmoral

Royalty. 9th September 1960. During their holiday on the Balmoral Castle estate the Royal family sit together within the grounds, a happy smiling baby Prince Andrew held on his father the Duke of Edinburgh+s lap. Pictured also smiling is Queen Elizabeth I

Posing in front of the breathtaking Balmoral Castle, a smiling baby Prince Andrew steals the show in this black-and-white family photo in 1960. Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip, King Charles, Princess Anne and their household dog also pose while enjoying their group picnic.

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Teen King Charles and Queen Elizabeth in 1967

Le Prince Charles A Fait Ses Adieux A L'Ecole De Gordonstoun — Keystone-FranceGamma-Rapho via Getty Images

King Charles dressed to kilt. The royal joined his mother for an appearance in 1967.

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King Charles posing with his parents and siblings at Balmoral

Grab Cut Insert Cut Grab Cut Insert Cut F:PHOTOMediaFactory ActionsRequests DropBox42949#Getty Images77414683.jpg — Lichfield/Getty

Charles striked a pose with his parents and siblings for a family portrait. Although it was taken in front of Balmoral Castle during their annual summer holiday in 1972, the image ended up as their Christmas card!

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King Charles modeling with a dog in 1978

GettyImages-830078538 — PA Images/Getty Images

The Queen's oldest child always looked the part. Charles sported a blazer, a tartan skirt and red knee socks while holding a cane and posing with a dog outside the castle in 1978.

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King Charles with his parents and siblings in a group photo

Family portrait! Prince Edward, King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew gather for a picture with their parents (and a pet!) at Balmoral in 1979.

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King Charles driving a Range Rover

King Charles takes a spin behind the wheel of his 1975 Range Rover in 1979. This same vehicle — which he used while dating Princess Diana — was auctioned for £101,150 (over $133,000) in 2018.

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King Charles with Princess Diana and baby Prince William

Charles and Diana with Prince William — Quadrillion/Corbis/Getty

King Charles became a father in 1982 when Princess Diana gave birth to Prince William. In this shot, the then-new parents have a picnic with their baby son, who leaned on Charles to stay standing.

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King Charles with Princess Diana and their two sons

Christmas Card From The Prince And Princess Of Wales In 1987. The Picture Shows Prince Charles Princess Diana (diana Princess Of Wales Died August 1997) Prince William And Prince Harry On Holiday Together In Spain. — Nick Skinner/Daily Mail/REX/Shutterstock

Prince Harry completed the brood in 1984. Here, they pose together for a casual 1987 portrait.

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King Charles and sons at the River Dee

Charles, Princes of Wales, Prince William, and Prince Harry play by The River Dee, in Scotland — Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images)

Charles passed on his love for the outdoors to his sons. In 1987, they were photographed playing on the bank of the River Dee near Balmoral Estate.

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King Charles painting in Switzerland

Prince Charles Painting With Watercolours — Julian Parker/UK Press/Getty

King Charles is a man of many hobbies. The royal paints with watercolors in Klosters, Switzerland, in 1994.

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King Charles and his family attending the V-J Day parade

Princess Diana(L), her sons Harry(2nd L) — Johnny Eggitt/AFP/Getty

Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William and King Charles look presentable while watching a parade in August 1994. The march is part of the commemorations of V-J Day — the day Japan surrendered during World War II.

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King Charles and his sons at Glenmuick

Charles William Harry At Balmoral — Tim Graham/Getty Images

King Charles sported a monochromatic green ensemble while exploring the verdant outdoors. In this shot, the sovereign visits Glenmuick on the Balmoral Castle estate with sons Prince William and Prince Harry.

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King Charles and his sons enjoying the outdoors

Charles, William, Harry And Dogs — Prince William, Prince Charles and Prince Harry on the Balmoral Castle estate. Tim Graham/Getty Images

In 1997, the monarch joined his children for a morning stroll. Here, the father-son trio walk on the rocky terrain while in professional outfits.

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King Charles marries Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle

Royal Marriage Blessing At Windsor Castle — Tim Graham/Getty

King Charles and Queen Camilla tied the knot at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on April 9, 2005.

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King Charles and Queen Camilla spend their first wedding anniversary at Balmoral

Prince Charles And Camilla Mark First Wedding Anniversary

King Charles and Camilla spent their first anniversary at Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland. They dressed appropriately, in matching tartan skirts.

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King Charles with his sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren

HM The Queen Attends Trooping The Colour — Chris Jackson/Getty Images

King Charles is now a grandfather of five! He's the proud granddad to Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

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King Charles and Queen Elizabeth watching a game in Scotland

queen-elizabeth0c — Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock

In September 2018, King Charles and Queen Elizabeth enjoyed watching traditional games at the Braemar Highland Gathering in Scotland. On this day, they opened a special exhibition of the Scottish Highland's games and culture, which was named after Charles' title at the time — The Duke of Rothesay Highland Games Pavilion.

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