FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1979
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES
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HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES, ELDEST SON OF QUEEN ELIZABETH I AND PRINCE PHILIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH, IS HEIR APPARENT TO THE THRONE.
THE PRINCE WAS BORN AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1948, IN THE 12TH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF HIS GRANDFATHER KING GEORGE VI. AT HIS CHRISTENING BY THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY HE WAS GIVEN THE NAMES OF CHARLES PHILIP ARTHUR GEORGE.
WHEN ON THE ACCESSION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH IN 1952 HE BECAME HEIR APPARENT, PRINCE CHARLES AUTOMATICALLY BECAME DUKE OF CORNWALL UNDER A CHARTER OF KING EDWARD 111 WHICH, ISSUED IN 1337, GAVE THAT TITLE TO THE SOVEREIGN'S ELDEST SON.
HE ALSO BECAME, IN THE SCOTTISH PEERAGE, DUKE OF ROTHESAY EARL OF CARRICK AND BARON RENFREW, LORD OF THE ISLES, AND PRINCE AND GREAT STEWARD OF SCOTLAND. (HIS CREATION AS PRINCE OF WALES AND EARL OF CHESTER, HOWEVER -- À MATTER FOR THE SOVEREIGN'S PLEASURE - DID NOT COME FOR ANOTHER SIX YEARS).
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS WAS EDUCATED AT CHEAM SCHOOL (A PREPARATORY SCHOOL WHICH HAD BEEN ATTENDED BY THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH) AND AT GORDONSTOUN, ON THE MORAY FIRTH (WHICH HIS FATHER HAD ALSO ATTENDED). HERE THE PRINCE WON THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AWARD IN 1964 AND 1965, WINNING A BRONZE ON THE FIRST OCCASION AND A SILVER ON THE SECOND.
HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE GORDONSTOUN CADET FORCE, AND UNDERTOOK SEA TRAINING WITH THE ROYAL NAVY AT PORTSMOUTH. HE ENJOYED ACTING, TAKING THE TITLE ROLE IN A SCHOOL PRESENTATION OF +MACBETH+.
AT THE END OF JANUARY 1966 THE PRINCE LEFT BRITAIN TO SPEND PART OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IN AUSTRALIA AS AN EXCHANGE STUDENT AT THE GEELONG CHURCH OF ENGLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL, MELBOURNE - THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY TO ATTEND AN OVERSEAS COMMONWEALTH SCHOOL.
HIS SIX MONTHS THERE WERE SPENT AT TIMBERTOP, ABOUT 180 MILES FROM THE MAIN SCHOOL IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE VICTORIAN ALPS. THERE THE BOYS ARE ENCOURAGED TO LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES AND TO EXPLORE THE SURROUNDING BUSH COUNTRY- THE PRINCE WAS ALSO CHARGED WITH THE SUPERVISION OF BOYS FROM 14 TO 15 YEARS OLD.
WHILE IN AUSTRALIA KIS ROYAL HIGHNESS VISITED MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. HE SPENT A WEEKEND IN THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER, QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER, DURING HER OFFICIAL VISIT TO AUSTRALIA, AND LATER VISITED CANBERRA, QUEENSLAND (INCLUDING THE GREAT BARRIER REEF) AND NEW SOUTH WALES. IN MAY HE WAS ONE OF A GROUP FROM THE SCHOOL TO VISIT THE MARTYRS' MEMORIAL SCHOOL IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA.
/IN AUGUST