Before the Throne: Childhood photos of King Charles

See a collection of photos from the early years of the British monarch before his coronation

Andrea PérezDeputy Editor - U.S.

MAY 6, 2023 4:37 AM EDTMAY 6, 2023, 4:37 AM EDT

While the world waits for King Charles’s anticipated and historic coronation to take place today, May 6, 2023, let’s go back in time. See a mesmerizing collection of photos from King Charles’s early years before his accession to the throne. A touching reminder that even the King was once an innocent child and the youngest member of the British monarchy.

Royal Family Portrait

1951: Queen Elizabeth with her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and their children Prince Charles and Princess Anne, .

Charles with his mom, Queen Elizabeth

1952: Prince Charles and his mother Queen Elizabeth looking out of a window at Balmoral.

Playful memories

1952: Queen Elizabeth II and Charles, Prince of Wales helping Princess Anne through an open window at Balmoral Castle, Scotland.

With his toy car

1952: Princess Elizabeth watching her son Prince Charles playing in his toy car while at Balmoral.

Charles at his mother’s coronation

1953: Prince Charles with his Aunt, Princess Margaret (r) and his Grandmother, Elizabeth the Queen Mother, at the 1953 Coronation of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Climbing trees like most boys

1954: Prince Charles eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh climbs into a tree at Royal Lodge, Windsor.

Growing up - a visit to the Windsor Great Park

1956: Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Charles at Windsor Great Park, during a polo match.

Charles at Prep School

1957: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (left) with friends at prep school in England.

Family Picnic

1960: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh with their children, Prince Andrew (centre), Princess Anne (left) and Charles, Prince of Wales sitting on a picnic rug outside Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

Royal Family At Windsor

1965: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and their children at Windsor on the Queen’s 39th birthday.

Left to right: Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Edward and Prince Charles.