A new chapter in the history of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms began when King Charles III ascended to the throne on 8 September 2022. Following the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, he is the 62nd British monarch to serve over the past 1200 years. At 73 years old, the former Prince of Wales is the oldest person to assume the throne. As he is Britain's new King, what do we know about his life and journey?

Charles Philip Arthur George is the first child of Queen Elizabeth II who was born on 14 November 1948 at Buckingham Palace. He was born during his maternal grandfather, King George VI’s reign.

King Charles is the eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Princess Anne is the second child born on 15th August 1950, Prince Andrew, born 19th February 1960, and Prince Edward who was born on 10th March 1964.

King Charles is the first heir to receive an outside education because his parents decided to send him to school. He attended many different schools including Gordonstoun in Scotland and Melbourne school for two terms.

The new sovereign was the first heir to get a bachelor’s degree. He continued his study in history, archaeology, and anthropology at Cambridge University from 1967-1970.

In February 1952, his mother Elizabeth II was proclaimed queen throughout the Commonwealth. As Prince Charles is the monarch's eldest son, he automatically became Duke of Cornwall.

Prince Charles was titled Prince of Wales at age 20. He was crowned by his mother on 1 July 1969 at Caernarfon Castle.

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, His Majesty served in the Royal Navy. During his second year at Cambridge University, he was trained at Royal Air Force, learning to fly the Chipmunk aircraft with Air Squadron.

When he was young, His Majesty was an avid player of competitive polo. Though he was occasionally injured, he continued to play until 1992.

Since he was commissioned as a flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force in 1972, King Charles has held substantive ranks in the armed forces in the Commonwealth realms. The ruler of the United Kingdom’s first honorary appointment in the armed forces was in 1969.

Charles and Lady Diana Spencer met in 1977 when she was 19 and he was 31. Within six months of their engagement, they married in St Paul's Cathedral on 29 July.

Princess Charles and Princess Diana’s first son is Prince William who was born on June 21, 1982. He is King Charles III’s heir apparent. On September 15, 1984, their second child, Prince Harry was born.

His Majesty has five grandchildren with whom he shares a tight-knit bond. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are from his elder son Prince William. Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor are his grandchildren from Prince Harry.

King Charles takes his Grandfather’s role seriously. He is close to his grandkids and is known to them as “Grandpa Wales”, a nickname deriving from his role as Prince of Wales.

In 2005, King Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles, They live in an official residence at Clarence Housein London.

Apart from his royal duties, the new sovereign has been a passionate watercolour painter since his youth. He specialises in painting landscapes. His Majesty describes himself as an "enthusiastic amateur".

Similar to his parents and grandparents, King Charles has been known to champion social and charitable causes. He is a president and patron of over 400 charitable organisations.

King Charles III is the oldest person to accede to the British throne. He was officially proclaimed King, on 8 September 2022 at St James's Palace in London, in front of the Accession Council.

After 64 years as the Prince of Wales, he was proclaimed monarch and picked the name King Charles III. He followed the example of his mother and chose his first name as his regnal name.

King Charles III has had an enthusiastic public reception so far and has continued to take on more public duties. As he ascended to the royal British throne, he has to assume his royal duties.