Too shy, sensitive, liberal and weird – Charles’ rocky road to his destiny

The King has had a turbulent life to navigate - but there were some surprising obstacles that were tougher than others.

He may have been born to reign, but the path to the throne has been anything but simple for Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor.

From an early age, there have been critics. As a young man, some said he was too shy and too sensitive for the crown. Later, others said he was too liberal, or too weird, and his messy marital situation created an insurmountable hurdle.

More recently, some people – the sort who have the mistaken belief that royalty is a democracy – insisted he should step down in favour of someone with more razzle dazzle, namely his son Prince William.

There were other problems, too: a mother who was remote, sometimes geographically, but occasionally in other ways too; and a father (according to official biographer Jonathan Dimbleby) with a “forceful personality” who “easily cowed” the young prince.

The then Princess Elizabeth bends over baby Prince Charles in 1949. Picture: AFP

Born on 14 November, 1948, inside Buckingham Palace, when his mother was direct heir to the throne, Charles was just three when he himself became the first in the line of succession, and four when Elizabeth was crowned.

Charles has described the realisation of his destiny as a “ghastly, inexorable” dawning, rather than a sudden revelation.

But clearly Elizabeth’s coronation in June 1953 marked a turning point, when something of the reality of royalty – certainly its scale and grandeur – left an impression on the young boy.

Charles was there, both at Westminster Abbey and on the balcony of Buckingham Palace afterwards, and in interviews he has said his memories of the occasion are vivid.

Queen Mother Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Princess Margaret attend the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey. Picture: Intercontinentale/AFP

He recalled at the time of his mother’s 80th birthday “thousands of people gathered in The Mall outside Buckingham Palace chanting ‘We want the Queen’ and keeping me awake at night”.

By that time, the preparation for his own future role was already well under way. There were manners to master, as there are for all children, but also the royal protocols, the set of rules that governed how he could address his own mother, and at what point he could enter a room, if he was with the family.

His education was broad, but marked by change. There was a governess until the age of eight, elementary school in west London for two years, boarding at Cheam Preparatory School in Berkshire for four years, and then five years at Gordonstoun, another boarding school in northern Scotland, where he was bullied.

By many accounts, Charles was miserable at Gordonstoun, describing it as “penal servitude”.

Queen Elizabeth II puts a crown on her son, Prince Charles, during his investiture as Prince of Wales in Caernarfon. Picture: Central Press/AFP

But after that came a life-changing experience: six months at the Geelong Grammar campus at Timbertop, in the Victorian highlands. It was his first time in Australia, and quickly it was decided that one term at the school should become two.

Timbertop was a “formative” experience for the then 18-year-old Prince, said Australian Monarchist League national chair Phillip Benwell.

It was here that he came under the tutelage of Michael Collins Persse, who would go on to be a lifelong friend.

“Michael was somebody [Charles] could confide in, somebody he trusted,” Mr Benwell said. “It was said at the time, Charles came to Australia as a boy and returned as a man.”

More education followed, including studies in archaeology and history at the University of Cambridge, and Welsh language and history at University College Wales.

He completed five years with the British navy and air force between 1971 and 1976, military service being virtually a prerequisite for all senior male members of the Royal family.

The Royal family in 1972. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, with their children, Princes Charles (left), Andrew (right) and Edward (centre) and Princess Anne as they celebrate their Silver Wedding anniversary at Buckingham Palace. Picture: AFP

And he’s been far from idle since. He established youth support charity, The Prince’s Trust, in 1976, developed his own lucrative investments, supported hundreds of other charities, campaigned and crusaded for his pet causes such as conservation, organic farming and architecture, raised two boys, and done the hard work of representing the Crown on countless tours.

His wait for the throne was almost endless: 70 years, seven months and two days. A world record.

Mr Benwell said during his long apprenticeship he learnt “wise statesmanship” from his mother and, having travelled extensively through the Commonwealth, he now leads with incredible personal knowledge.

And in the seven and a half months since he was proclaimed King at a meeting of the Privy Council in St James’s Palace, he’s “not put a foot wrong”.

“He’s not stumbled, or had to find his way. The beginning of the reign augurs well for the rest of the reign,” Mr Benwell said.