This article is missing information about medals and orders received.(January 2022) |
Charles III has received numerous titles, decorations, and honorary appointments, as a member of the British royal family, as heir apparent to Elizabeth II, and as King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms.
Charles was originally styled as "His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Edinburgh" per letters patent issued by his grandfather George VI.[1]
Upon the accession of his mother as queen, as the eldest son of the monarch, Charles automatically became, in England, the Duke of Cornwall and, in Scotland, the Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.[2] As such, he was styled "His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall", except in Scotland, where he was known as "His Royal Highness The Duke of Rothesay" instead.
In 1958, letters patent from the then sovereign made Charles the Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester and,[3] on 1 July 1969, he was invested as such during the a ceremony in which a coronet and robes were placed on him.[4] In 2021, upon the death of his father, Prince Philip, Charles furthermore inherited the titles Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich.[5] When he became the British sovereign himself on 8 September 2022, these titles merged with the Crown.
Title | From | To | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Reason | Date | Reason | |
Duke of Cornwall | 6 February 1952 | His mother's accession (automatically) | 8 September 2022 | Acceded as Charles III (titles transferred to the new heir apparent) |
Duke of Rothesay | ||||
Earl of Carrick | ||||
Baron of Renfrew | ||||
Lord of the Isles | ||||
Prince and Great Steward of Scotland | ||||
Prince of Wales | 26 July 1958 | Granted to the heir apparent | Acceded as Charles III (titles merged with the Crown)[6][7] | |
Earl of Chester | ||||
Duke of Edinburgh | 9 April 2021 | Death of his father (inherited) | ||
Earl of Merioneth | ||||
Baron Greenwich |
In an announcement following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Minister Liz Truss referred to Charles as King Charles III, the first official usage of that name.[9] Shortly afterwards Clarence House confirmed that he would use the regnal name Charles III.[10]
There had previously been speculation that he might choose a different name, because the previous two monarchs named Charles are both associated with negative events in royal history: Charles I was beheaded in 1649 and Charles II reigned during the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. The name Charles III is also associated with the Jacobite pretender, Charles Edward Stuart, who claimed the throne under that name in the 18th century. The most discussed alternative regnal name had been George VII, in honour of Charles' maternal grandfather;[11][12] although, prior to succeeding to the throne, Charles denied discussing a regnal name at all.[13]
Each Commonwealth realm acts as an independent monarchy but in a personal union, as such King Charles has different titles in each realm:
Country | Date | Title |
---|---|---|
Antigua and Barbuda | 8 September 2022
– present |
Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Antigua and Barbuda and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth[14] |
Australia | King Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Australia and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth[15][16][a] | |
The Bahamas | Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth[18] | |
Belize | Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Belize and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth[citation needed] | |
Canada | 8 September 2022
– 8 January 2024 |
English: Charles the Third, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and His other Realms and Territories King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith[19] French: |
8 January 2024
– present |
English: Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Canada and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth French: In spring 2023, the Canadian government introduced a bill changing the monarch's title by dropping the reference to the United Kingdom and the phrase Defender of the Faith.[20] The bill received royal assent on 22 June 2023;[21] a proclamation of the new title was issued on 8 January 2024.[22] | |
Grenada | 8 September 2022
– present |
Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Grenada and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth[23] |
Jamaica | Charles the Third, by the Grace of God of Jamaica and of His other Realms and Territories King, Head of the Commonwealth[citation needed] | |
New Zealand | English: King Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of New Zealand and of His Other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith[24][25] Māori: | |
Papua New Guinea | King Charles the Third, King of Papua New Guinea and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth[26] | |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Saint Christopher and Nevis and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth[27] | |
Saint Lucia | Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Saint Lucia and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth[28] | |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth[28] | |
Solomon Islands | Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Solomon Islands and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth[28] | |
Tuvalu | Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Tuvalu and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth[28] | |
United Kingdom | English: Charles the Third, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of his other Realms and Territories, King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith[29] Welsh: |
The King's full British styles and titles were read out at the state funeral of his mother by David White, Garter Principal King of Arms, as follows:
Let us humbly beseech Almighty God to bless with long life, health and honour, and all worldly happiness the Most High, Most Mighty and Most Excellent Monarch, our Sovereign Lord, Charles III, now, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of His other Realms and Territories King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, and Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.[31]
On 20 April 2018, the Commonwealth Heads of Government agreed that Charles would succeed his mother as Head of the Commonwealth,[32] which he did on her death on 8 September 2022.[33]
Region | Date | Title | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
Duchy of Lancaster | 8 September 2022
– present |
Duke of Lancaster | [34][35] |
Scotland | King of Scots | [36] | |
Gibraltar | King of Gibraltar | [37][b] | |
Guernsey | Duke of Normandy and King in right of the Bailiwick of Guernsey | [39] | |
Jersey | Duke of Normandy and King in right of the Bailiwick of Jersey | ||
Isle of Man | Lord of Mann | ||
Braemar, Scotland | Chieftain of the Braemar Gathering | [40][41] | |
England | Seigneur of the Swans | [42][43][44] |
Region | Title | |
---|---|---|
Alberta | In Blackfoot: Mekaisto
In English: Chief Red Crow |
[45][46] |
Manitoba | Leading Star | [47] |
Nunavut Saskatchewan |
In Inuktitut: Attaniout Ikeneego
In English: The Son of the Big Boss (loosely translates to heir apparent) |
[48] |
Region | Title | Ref |
---|---|---|
Samoa | In Samoan: Tui Taumeasina
In English: King of Taumeasina |
[49][50][51][52] |
In Samoan: Toa'iga o Tumua
In English: Paramount chief | ||
Tanzania | In Maasai: Oloishiru Ingishi
In English: The Helper of the Cows (literally he whom the cows love so much they call for him when they are in times of distress) |
[53] |
Papua New Guinea | In Tok Pisin: Nambawan pikinini bilong Misis Kwin
In English: The number one child belonging to Mrs Queen |
[54][55] |
Vanuatu | High Chief Mal Menaringmanu | [56][57][58] |
Flag | Date | Appointment | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
Canada | |||
8 September 2022 – present | Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces | [80] | |
New Zealand | |||
8 September 2022 – present | Head of the Armed Forces | [81] | |
United Kingdom | |||
8 September 2022 – present | Head of the Armed Forces | [82] |
Flag | Date | Appointment | Service | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Canada | ||||
23 May 2012 – 28 April 2023 | Honorary Commissioner | Royal Canadian Mounted Police | [83] | |
28 April 2023 – present | Commissioner-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police | [83] |
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
United Kingdom
Country | Date | School | Degree |
---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 1970[110] | University of Cambridge | Bachelor of Arts (BA)[111] |
United Kingdom | 1975[110] | Master of Arts (MA Cantab)[111] |
This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2024) |
Country | Date | Appointment | Ribbon | Post-nominal letters |
---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 26 July 1958 – 8 September 2022 | Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter[112] | KG | |
8 September 2022 – present | Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Garter | |||
10 December 1974 – 8 September 2022 | Great Master and First and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath[113] | GCB | ||
8 September 2022 – present | Sovereign of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath | |||
11 February 1977 – 8 September 2022 | Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle[114] | KT | ||
8 September 2022 – present | Sovereign of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle | |||
20 December 1977 – 8 September 2022 | Member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council[115] | PC | ||
8 September 2022 – present | Sovereign of the Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick | |||
Sovereign of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George | ||||
Sovereign of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire | ||||
Sovereign of the Distinguished Service Order | ||||
Sovereign of the Imperial Service Order | ||||
Sovereign of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India | ||||
Sovereign of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire | ||||
Sovereign of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India | ||||
Sovereign of the Order of British India | ||||
Sovereign of the Indian Order of Merit | ||||
Sovereign of the Order of Burma | ||||
Australia | 14 March 1981 – 8 September 2022 | Knight of the Order of Australia[116] | AK | |
8 September 2022 – present | Sovereign Head of the Order of Australia | |||
New Zealand | 1983 – 8 September 2022 | Extra Companion of the Queen's Service Order | QSO | |
8 September 2022 – 3 May 2024 | Sovereign Head of the Queen's Service Order | |||
3 May 2024 – present | Sovereign Head of the King's Service Order | |||
8 September 2022 – present | Sovereign of the Order of New Zealand | |||
Sovereign of the New Zealand Order of Merit | ||||
Saskatchewan | 24 April 2001 – present | Honorary Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit[117] | SOM | |
Commonwealth realms[c] | 27 June 2002 – 8 September 2022 | Member of the Order of Merit | OM | |
8 September 2022 – present | Sovereign of the Order of Merit | |||
Sovereign of the Royal Victorian Order | ||||
Sovereign of the Order of the Companions of Honour | ||||
Papua New Guinea | 3 November 2012 – 8 September 2022 | Royal Chief of the Order of Logohu[118] | GCL | |
8 September 2022 – present | Sovereign of the Order of Logohu | |||
Sovereign of the Order of the Star of Melanesia | ||||
Canada | 18 May 2014 – 8 September 2022 | Member of Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada[119] | PC | |
1 July 2017 – 8 September 2022 | Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Canada[120][121] | CC | ||
8 September 2022 – present | Sovereign of the Order of Canada | |||
18 May 2022 – 8 September 2022 | Extraordinary Commander of the Order of Military Merit[122][123] | CMM | ||
8 September 2022 – present | Sovereign of the Order of Military Merit | |||
Sovereign of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces | ||||
International | Sovereign Head of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem | |||
Antigua and Barbuda | Sovereign of the Order of the National Hero | |||
Sovereign of the Order of the Nation | ||||
Sovereign of the Most Illustrious Order of Merit | ||||
Sovereign of the Order of Princely Heritage | ||||
The Bahamas | Sovereign of the Order of Merit of the Bahamas | |||
Belize | Sovereign of the Order of the National Hero | |||
Sovereign of the Order of Belize | ||||
Sovereign of the Order of Distinction | ||||
Grenada | Sovereign of the Prestige Order of the National Hero | |||
Sovereign of the Most Distinguished Order of the Nation[d] | ||||
Sovereign of the Order of Grenada | ||||
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Sovereign of the Order of the National Hero | |||
Sovereign of the Order of St Christopher and Nevis | ||||
Saint Lucia | Sovereign of the Order of Saint Lucia | |||
Tuvalu | Sovereign of the Tuvalu Order of Merit | |||
Solomon Islands | Sovereign of the Order of the Solomon Islands | |||
4 June 2024 – present | Star of the Solomon Islands[124] | SSI |
Country | Date | Decoration | Ribbon | Post-nominal letters |
---|---|---|---|---|
Malawi | 16 April 1985 | Grand Commander, the Order of the Lion of Malawi[125] | ||
Brunei | 1996 | Member of the Most Esteemed Family Order of Laila Utama[citation needed] | DK | |
Ghana | 6 November 2018 | Honorary Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana | CSG[126] | |
Barbados | 30 November 2021 | Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados[127][128] | FB |
Country | Date | Appointment | Ribbon | Post-nominal letters |
---|---|---|---|---|
Finland | 15 July 1969 | Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland[125] | ||
Japan | 5 October 1971 | Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum[125] | ||
25 June 2024 | Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum[129] | |||
Netherlands | 11 April 1972 | Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown[125] | ||
Luxembourg | 13 June 1972 | Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown[125] | ||
Denmark | 30 April 1974 | Knight of the Order of the Elephant[125] | RE | |
Kingdom of Nepal | 23 February 1975 | Member of the Most Glorious Order of Ojaswi Rajanya[125] | ||
Sweden | 23 May 1975 | Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim[125] | RSerafO | |
Brazil | 8 March 1978 | Grand Cross of the National Order of the Southern Cross[125] | ||
Norway | 1 July 1978 | Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav[125] | ||
Egypt | 12 August 1981 | Grand Cordon of the Order of the Republic[130] | ||
Netherlands | 16 November 1982 | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau[131] | ||
France | 23 October 1984 | Grand Cross of the National Order of the Legion of Honour[125] | ||
Bahrain | 16 November 1986 | Member, 1st Class, of the Order of Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa[125] | ||
Qatar | 14 November 1986 | Collar of the Order of Merit[125] | ||
Spain | 18 April 1986 | Knight Grand Cross of the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III[132] | ||
Saudi Arabia | 24 March 1987 | Member, 1st Class, of the King Abdul Aziz Order of Merit[125] | ||
Portugal | 27 April 1993 | Grand Cross of the Military Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz[133] | ||
Kuwait | 9 November 1993 | Member, 1st Class, of the Order of Mubarak the Great[125] | ||
Hungary | 3 March 2010 | Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary[134] | ||
Mexico | 9 September 2015 | Sash of Special Category, of the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle[135] | ||
France | 16 March 2017 | Commander of the Order of Agricultural Merit[136] | ||
Romania | 29 March 2017 | Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania[137] | ||
Armenia | 19 October 2018 | Order of Friendship[138] | ||
Germany | 29 March 2023 | Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany[139] | ||
Portugal | 15 June 2023 | Grand Collar of the Ancient and Most Noble Military Order of the Tower and of the Sword, of the Valour, Loyalty and Merit[140] | GColTE | |
South Korea | 21 November 2023 | Recipient of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa[141] | GOM |
Country | Date | Decoration | Ribbon |
---|---|---|---|
Kingdom of Nepal | 24 February 1975 | King Birendra Coronation Medal[142] | |
Netherlands | 30 April 2013 | King Willem-Alexander Inauguration Medal[143][144] |
The ribbons worn regularly by Charles in undress uniform are as follows:[145]
With medals, Charles normally wears the breast stars of the Garter, Thistle, and Bath. When only one should be worn, he wears the Order of the Garter star, except in Scotland where the Scottish Order of the Thistle star is worn. Foreign honours are worn in accordance with British customs and traditions when applicable.
Country | Date | Organisation | Position |
---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom (England and Wales) | 1975 – present | Marylebone Cricket Club | Honorary Life Member[146] |
1975 – present | Honourable Society of Gray's Inn | Royal Bencher[147] | |
1978 – present | Royal Society | Royal Fellow (FRS)[148][149] | |
2000 – present | Royal Asiatic Society | Fellow (FRAS)[150] | |
Foreign Press Association | Honorary Member[151] |
The Worshipful Company of Carpenters installed Charles as an Honorary Liveryman "in recognition of his interest in London's architecture."[152] Charles is also Permanent Master of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights, a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Drapers, Honorary Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, Honorary Freeman and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers, Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Farmers, Honorary Member of the Court of Assistants of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, and a Royal Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners.[153]
Country | Date | School | Position |
---|---|---|---|
England | 1988 | Trinity College, Cambridge[154] | Honorary Fellow |
2007 | Liverpool John Moores University[155] | ||
2020 | Kellogg College, Oxford[156] | Bynum Tudor Fellow |
Country | Date | School | Degree |
---|---|---|---|
England | 1981 | Royal College of Music[157] | Doctor of Music (DMus) |
New Zealand | 1981 | University of Otago[158] | Doctor of Literature (LittD) |
Canada | 1983 | University of Alberta[159] | Doctor of Laws (LLD) |
Italy | 1987 | University of Bologna[160] | Doctor of Literature and Philosophy (DLitt et Phil) |
Canada | 1991 | Queen's University at Kingston[161] | Doctor of Laws (LLD) |
England | 1998 | University of Durham[162] | Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) |
Scotland | 2001[163] | University of Glasgow[163] | Doctor of Laws (LLD) |
England | 2007 | University of Chester[164] | Doctor of Letters (DLitt) |
Scotland | 2004 | Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama[165] | Doctor of the Academy |
India | 2013 | Forest Research Institute[166][167] | Doctor of Science (DSc) |
Romania | 31 May 2014 | University of Bucharest[168] | Doctorate |
29 May 2017 | Babeș-Bolyai University[169] |
Appointer | Date | Appointment |
---|---|---|
Kīngitanga | 2023 | Member Supreme Class of the Order of King Pootatau Te Wherowhero[170] |
Former
The Governor of Gibraltar is the representative of the Queen of Gibraltar, Queen Elizabeth II.
Prince Charles, George VI's grandson, was at Ms. Jean's side in Ottawa, also wearing a green Canadian Forces army uniform as lieutenant-general of all three services of the Canadian Forces.
The Command-in-Chief of the Land and Naval Militia, and of all Naval and Military Forces, of and in Canada, is hereby declared to continue and be vested in the Queen
In an announcement from Buckingham Palace, Charles, who will hold the appointment of Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiments of the Household Division, is making Kate the Colonel of the Irish Guards.
Commonly known as the Sappers, the Corps was founded in 1716 and gained the 'Royal' prefix in 1787.
His Majesty trained and served alongside the Royal Marines during his Naval career.