Considering the Windsors are a family known for their “never complain, never explain” approach to public relations, their family’s dirty laundry has gotten a lot of air time. King Charles III has paid more than any other royal family member for this.
Public attention is still focused on the many problems in his marriage to Princess Diana, and “The Crown” has been happy to portray him as a pathetic or villainous character at will, regardless of historical accuracy.
The people Charles rules over are continually less fond of him than his mom, ex-wife, and kids, and he’s been the target of constant mockery in the media. So, let’s discuss some things that we bet you do not know about England’s King Charles III:
1. His Uncle Stole His Coronet
The title “Prince of Wales” is not inherited but is traditionally bestowed upon the heir apparent by the reigning monarch. As a result of this increasing tide, there was also a less antagonistic interest in restoring the Welsh language, which led the government of the day to advise that Charles study Welsh and deliver a portion of his investiture speech in that language.
And to the doctor’s amazement, a staunch nationalist named Dr. Tedi Millward was appointed to instruct the prince. Militant opponents remained unconvinced by the gesture, leading to demonstrations and an unsuccessful explosion that ultimately cost the lives of the would-be murderers.
2. King Charles Served In The House of Lords
Whoever rules the United Kingdom at present acts primarily in a ceremonial and symbolic capacity and is thus required to avoid becoming involved in any political activities. The constitution does not assign any such duty to the remainder of the royal family.
Since 900 years ago, the Prince of Wales and other non-reigning royals have sat in Britain’s Chamber of Lords. Charles became the first king in 1884 to address the House of Lords four years later.
The future King Edward VII took part in a discussion about slum housing at the time, and in 1829, royal feuds brought the House of Lords to a halt. A transcript from his speech in Parliament reveals that Charles addressed the topic of productive pastimes.
3. King Charles Wanted To Be Australia’s Governor-General
In 14 countries that were once British colonies, the British monarchy is still in effect as the head of state. The monarch represents a governor-general who is selected by the monarch and who performs all constitutional and ceremonial responsibilities and functions on behalf of the monarch in these Commonwealth nations.
However, there is no law prohibiting a member of the royal family from accepting the position of governor-general. Queen Victoria and King George V’s younger son served as Canada and Australia’s governor-general, respectively. At one point, Charles considered following in the footsteps of the Duke of Gloucester.
While on a visit to Australia in 1974, Charles told then-governor-general Sir John Kerr that he was feeling “malcontent” while waiting to inherit the throne. Kerr suggested that Charles might succeed him as Australia’s governor-general. As a result of the Australian constitutional crisis, Kerr precipitated by firing prime minister Gough Whitlam in 1975.
4. A Plane Crash Got Him In Trouble
King Charles III shares his family’s love of planes with his son, Prince Charles. While studying at Cambridge, he enrolled in flying school under the Royal Air Force.
After joining the Royal Navy in 1969, he began studying to become a jet pilot, eventually becoming certified to fly helicopters in 1974. William, Charles’ son, now holds the latter position.
Still, Charles served in the military and then passed for the East Anglian Air Ambulance until he retired in 2017 to focus on royal responsibilities. Charles didn’t feel the same way. Therefore, he abruptly ended his flying career that year.
The Independent reports that while riding as a passenger on a Queen’s Flight jet, Charles was given the controls by the plane’s captain, Graham Laurie.
Charles landed the jet in Port Ellen 40 miles per hour too quickly due to the strong winds. A tire failed, sending the plane careening off the runway and crashing nose first to the ground.
5. Modern Architecture vs King Charles
King Charles III’s fiercest opponents have been architects, not British republicans or Diana lovers. In 1984, Charles allegedly called a planned National Gallery expansion “a giant carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and exquisite friend,” marking the start of his decades-long fight with Britain’s architectural elite.
There has been no holding back in the rebuttals provided by modernist architects and their followers. The Guardian’s Douglas Murphy indicated that the prince’s penchant for traditional style aligned him with the dangerous, retrograde political right and gave him malevolent control over buildings.
6. He Decided To Pay Taxes
What is a prince to do about funding his lavish lifestyle? Duchy of Cornwall in the United Kingdom. The Duchy of Cornwall was created by Edward III in 1337 as a private estate to provide for his son, the future King of England.
It encompasses more than 52,000 acres, used for farming, real estate development, the management of a nursery, and a collection of vacation cottages. According to its website, the duchy is a private estate free from capital gains tax.
Since it does not qualify as a legal business entity, it is exempt from paying business taxes. King Charles III willingly paid taxes on his ducal revenues while he was Prince of Wale. Charles, Queen Elizabeth, and the UK signed the Royal Taxation MOU.
7. Mission Golden ORB
Operation Golden Orb may sound like the codename for a James Bond plot, but it refers to the committee preparing Prince Charles’s coronation. A government worker neglected to redact a name from a file unrelated to the operation in 2016.
Charles’s public statements and a few leaks have provided insight into the future after the death of his mother. The upcoming coronation will reportedly be far shorter and cheaper than Queen Elizabeth’s in 1953, giving British taxpayers “excellent value for their money,” as reported by the Daily Mirror. One insider asserted, “It will be a slimmed-down Monarchy on show throughout.”
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