From suavely-dressed action man to tactful diplomat and tree-hugger in wellies Charles has played bewildering variety of roles in the course of his long wait to be King.
The then Prince of Wales, who initially chose archaeology and anthropology before switching to history, was at Cambridge from 1967 until 1970, becoming the first heir to get a degree.
Did you know that the King starts the morning with headstands or that he was the first royal to scuba dive?Here, in 59 intriguing facts, MailOnline profiles his extraordinary interests and accomplishments
Charles Philip Arthur George was born on November 14, 1948, at Buckingham Palace, christened in the music room by the Archbishop of Canterbury a month later.