David Saffer looks back at the timeline of King Charles III’s assention to the throne

1971-2 Joins Royal Navy. Serves on HMS Norfolk then HMS Minerva.

1974 Serves on HMS Jupiter, qualifies as helicopter pilot, joins 845 Naval Air Squadron on HMS Hermes. Makes first speech in House of Lords.

1975 Awarded Master of Arts Degree at Cambridge University.

1976 The Prince’s Trust founded. Serves on HMS Bronington

1977 Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip Silver Jubilee.

1979 IRA assassinate Lord Louis Mountbatten off West coast of Ireland.

Northern Ireland to celebrate Diamond Jubilee, Prince Charles and Camilla visit Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Prince William and Kate visit Tuvalu.

2013 Prince William and Catherine’s first child, George born, third in line to throne.

2015 Prince William and Catherine second child, Charlotte born. Queen Elizabeth becomes longest reigning monarch after surpassing Queen Victoria.

1948 November 14, Charles Philip Arthur George born 9.14pm at Buckingham Palace. First child of Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

1949 Charles and his parents move to Clarence House, London.

1950 Charles’s sister Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise born at Clarence House.

1952 January 31, Princess Elizabeth and Philip begin tour of East Africa, Australia and New Zealand. February 6, Queen Elizabeth II ascends to the throne following death of King George VI. Funeral of King George VI at St George’s Chapel Westminster Abbey.

1953 Great-grandmother Queen Mary death. June 2, Charles attends Queen Elizabeth II coronation at Westminster Abbey and appears on balcony of Buckingham Palace. First coronation to be televised. Prince Charles becomes Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Lord of the Isles and Baron Renfrew.

1956 Attends Hill House School, London.

1957 Philip, Duke of Edinburgh granted HRH. Charles attends Cheam Preparatory School, Berkshire.

1958 Created Earl of Chester and Prince of Wales.

1960 Charles’s brother Andrew Albert Christian Edward born at Buckingham Palace.

1961 Attends Gordonstoun School in Scotland.

1964 Charles’s brother Edward Anthony Richard Louis born at Buckingham Palace.

1966 Spends two terms at Geelong School in Australia and visits Papua New Guinea.

1967 Studies anthropology and archaeology at Trinity College, Cambridge University. Attends University of Wales, Aberystwyth where he studies Welsh for a term.

1968 Begins flying lessons with Royal Air Force

1969 Made Knight of the Garter. July 1, Charles invested as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle.

1970 Takes seat in House of Lords. Charles graduates with a BA degree.

1981 February 24, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Frances Spencer engagement. July 29, Marriage at St Paul’s Cathedral. Newlyweds make their home at Kensington Palace and Highgrove House.

1982 Birth of Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, second in line to throne.

1984 Birth of Prince Harry Charles Albert David

1986 Marriage to Princess Diana breaks down.

1992 PM John Major announces Charles and Diana’s separation in Parliament. Windsor Castle fire. Queen Elizabeth ‘annus horribilis’ speech.

1994 Charles gives up flying after crashing a BAe 146 aircraft in Henredes

1996 Charles and Diana formally divorce.

1997 31 August, Lady Diana Spencer killed in car crash. Charles flies to Paris with Diana’s sisters to retrieve her body back to Britain for funeral.

2002 Death of Princess Margaret and Queen Mother.

2005 Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles engagement then civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall. Queen and Prince Philip attend a blessing.

2007 Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip celebrate diamond wedding anniversary.

2011 Prince William marries Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey.

2012 Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visit England, Scotland, Wales and

2016 Queen Elizabeth turns 90 years of age.

2018 Prince William and Catherine’s third child, Louis born, third in line to throne. Prince Harry marries Megan Markel at St George’s Chapel.

2019 Queen Elizabeth hosts event to mark 50th anniversary of Charles’ investiture as Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace. Prince Harry and Meghan’s first child, Archie is born.

2020 Prince Harry and Meghan step back as senior royals.

2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s death. Prince Harry and Meghan’s second child, Lilibet Diana is born.

2022 Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. September 8, Charles becomes King Charles III following death of Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral Castle. Camilla made Queen Consort and William is Prince of Wales. September 19, King Charles III and Camilla Queen Consort attend funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle.

2023 May 6, Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey.