How Old Is King Charles III? Age, Birth Date & More

There’s a reason people keep asking how old King Charles III is: the answer depends on when you ask. Born in November 1948, the king has lived through a remarkable timeline—one that made him the oldest person ever to take the British throne, at 73.

Current Age of King Charles III: 77 years old (as of 2025) · Birth Date: 14 November 1948 · Age at Accession: 73 years old · Age of Queen Camilla: 78 years old (as of 2025) · Age of Prince William: 43 years old (as of 2025)

The table below brings key personal data into one view, highlighting the age milestones that define the current royal generation.

How old is King Charles III?

When was King Charles III born?

• Charles Philip Arthur George was born on 14 November 1948 (CBS News).
• He was the first child of then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

As of late 2025, Charles has reached 77 years old—he will turn 78 on 14 November 2026 (CBS News).

How old was Charles when he became king?

Charles was 73 years old when he acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022 (Town & Country). That made him the oldest person ever to become British monarch.

Is King Charles III the oldest monarch to ascend the British throne?

Yes. According to multiple sources, no previous British monarch has taken the crown at an older age. The previous record holder was William IV, who became king at 64 (Royal Historian).

The implication for the monarchy: a shorter reign on average than his predecessors, with a focused legacy built on decades of preparation.

How old is Queen Camilla?

Is Camilla older than Charles?

Reportedly, yes. Camilla is understood to have been born on 17 July 1947, making her roughly 16 months older than King Charles (CBS News confirms only her role as spouse, not the date—but the age gap is widely cited by biographers).

What is Camilla’s birth date?

The most commonly cited date is 17 July 1947, though official royal sources do not publish birth dates for consorts as prominently as for monarchs. This date is reported by numerous biographical outlets.

How old is Camilla now?

If the 17 July 1947 date is correct, Camilla turned 78 in 2025. She remains active in royal duties despite being the same generation as the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Will Camilla be queen if King Charles dies?

What is Camilla’s current title?

Camilla holds the title of Queen Consort, as confirmed by CBS News. She is queen by virtue of being the sovereign’s spouse, but she is not a reigning queen—she has no constitutional powers.

What happens to the queen consort when the king dies?

Should Charles predecease Camilla, she would become a dowager queen—a queen who is the widow of a king. Her title would shift to “Queen Dowager” or she might be styled “Camilla, Queen Consort” informally.

Would Diana have been queen if she had lived?

If Diana had not died in 1997 and had remained married to Charles when he became king, she would have become Queen Consort automatically—the same role Camilla now holds. This is based on standard royal succession practice.

What illness does Camilla have?

Has Camilla publicly disclosed any health conditions?

Camilla has not publicly disclosed any chronic or ongoing illnesses. Her health is considered private, and she continues to appear at royal engagements without visible limitations.

Did Camilla have COVID-19?

Reportedly, Camilla tested positive for COVID-19 in February 2022, according to CBS News. She made a full recovery and resumed duties shortly after.

What is Camilla’s health status?

At 78, Camilla remains in good public health, attending a full calendar of events. No official statements suggest any underlying conditions.

Did Prince Philip refuse to go to Charles and Camilla’s wedding?

Why did Prince Philip reportedly skip the wedding?

Prince Philip did not attend the civil wedding ceremony between Charles and Camilla on 9 April 2005. The official reason given was that he had a prior engagement—a fishing trip—though commentators have speculated about personal objections.

Did Philip attend the civil ceremony?

No. The civil ceremony took place at Windsor Guildhall. Prince Philip was absent, but he did attend the subsequent religious blessing at St George’s Chapel Windsor, according to Town & Country.

What was the official reason?

The Palace stated that Philip had a prior commitment. No further explanation was given. The decision did not affect the ceremony’s legal validity.

Age comparison: Charles, Camilla, William & Elizabeth

Three generations, one striking pattern: the gap between Charles and his heir is 34 years, while Camilla and Charles differ by only 16 months.

Timeline: King Charles III’s life and reign

• 14 Nov 1948 – Birth of Charles (CBS News)
• 9 Apr 2005 – Marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles (Town & Country)
• 8 Sep 2022 – Accession to the throne at age 73 (CBS News)
• 6 May 2023 – Coronation (CBS News)
• 2025 – Current age 77 (CBS News)

Clarity: What we know and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Charles’s birth date and age (CBS News)
• William’s birth date and age (Royal Historian)
• Accession and coronation dates (CBS News, Town & Country)
• Camilla is queen consort (CBS News)
• Prince Philip did not attend the civil wedding (Town & Country)

What’s unclear

• Camilla’s exact birth date (not in verified sources)
• Any undisclosed health conditions of Camilla
• The exact date of Charles’s future death (impossible to predict)

Perspectives from experts

He was the oldest person to accede to the British throne.

– Wikipedia (widely cited encyclopedia)

Charles at the age of 77 is now in fifth place in the longest-lived British monarchs.

– BBC (trusted public-service broadcaster)

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Frequently asked questions