Charles III
| Charles III | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Head of the Commonwealth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 The King in 2024
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| King of the Empire of Great Britain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reign | 1 March 2024 - Present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coronation | 13 April 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Edward IX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Heir Apparent | John, Prince of Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | Henry Somerset 11 September 2020 (4 years, 8 days) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Miann, Prince Consort (m. Oct 2022) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issue Detail | The Prince Royal The Viscount Douglas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| House | Somerset | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Father | Prince Matthew, Duke of Somerset | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Protestant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service/ | Royal Air Force British Army Royal Navy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 2021 - Present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Marshal of the Royal Air Force Field Marshal Admiral of the Fleet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charles III (Henry Spencer Charles Alexander; joined 11 September 2020) is King of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland as well as Emperor of the Dominions of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Charles became king upon his brother's abdication on 1 March 2024. At 366 days, Charles was the longest continuously serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales, only surpassed by Princess Elizabeth's cumulative total of 455 days as Princess of Wales. His coronation is scheduled to take place at Westminster Abbey in the spring of 2024.
Early Appointments and Duties
Henry Somerset first arrived to the Empire of Great Britain on 11 September 2020.
Supreme Court of Great Britain (October - November 2020)
Associate Justice: 16 October 2020 - 22 November 2020
On 3 October 2020, King William V nominated Henry to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Great Britain. Citing how he "has worked tirelessly throughout his NS Career in numerous legislative and executive experiences," the House of Lords conducted confirmation hearings between 3-13 October.[1][2] On 16 October, the House of Lords unanimously confirmed Henry as an Associate Justice and he assumed office as part of the Talleyrand Court.[3]
Somerset's inaugural matter on the bench was Advisory Opinion: The Sovereign's Power to Legislate[4], in which the Court ruled that the Sovereign retained their authority to legislate, even when such authority is widely and generally delegated to the Parliament of Great Britain.
Initially designated to hear arguments in Ex parte Hanover re: Non-Standard Legislation, Somerset instead opted to resign from the Court on 22 November 2020 following a change in the court which saw Akillian Talleyrand demoted to Associate Justice, in order to make way for Serafina Sherwood to be appointed as Lord Chief Justice.
Parliamentary Service (January - February 2021)
Speaker of the House of Commons: 13 January 2021 - 25 January 2021
Member of Parliament: 12 January 2021 - 19 February 2021
On 7 January 2021, Henry became a member of the British Workers' Party and stood for election as a parliamentary candidate for the Brighton Pavilion constituency.
Henry was elected Speaker of the House of Commons on 12-13 January 2021 and subsequently assumed office. During his tenure as Speaker, Henry oversaw the development and approval of a new set of Standing Orders. Henry resigned as Speaker on 25 January 2021 but remained in office as the Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavillion until 25 February 2021, when he resigned from that office as well.
Military Service (January - March 2021)
First Sea Lord & Chief of the Naval Staff: 1 January 2021 - 12 March 2021
On 1 January 2021, Henry was appointed First Sea Lord & Chief of the Naval Staff, the professional head of the Royal Navy of Great Britain. During his tenure as First Sea Lord, the Royal Navy undertook a series of operations aimed at restoring activity to the Royal Navy and encourage enlistment within the force. Henry's efforts in the Royal Navy primarily focused on the establishment of basic administrative and training procedures for the Armed Forces, overseeing the establishment of the Basic Military Training Program (BMTP), the development and creation of a Military Decorations system, and the establishment of the Operational Rules and Regulations of the British Navy.
Henry's time as First Sea Lord was also marked by the repeal of the Royal Navy Act (2020), replacing it with a revised version of the Act that granted more direct authority to the First Sea Lord and established oversight and reform procedures across the entire Navy.
Return to Great Britain
Her Majesty's Government (October - December 2022)
Downing Street Chief of Staff: 10 October 2022 - 12 October 2022
Foreign Secretary: 12 October 2022 - 17 October 2022
Home Secretary: 17 October 2022 - 12 December 2022
First Secretary of State: 6 November 2022 - 12 December 2022
Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition (December 2022)
Leader of the British Royalist Party: 3 December 2022 - 17 December 2022
Leader of the Opposition: 8 December 2022 - 17 December 2022
Military Service (October 2022 - January 2023)
Executive Officer of the Royal Navy: Acting: 5 October 2022 - 15 October 2022, 5 October 2022 - 2 January 2023
Parliamentary Service (October 2022 - January 2023)
Lord of Parliament: 7 October 2022 - 3 December 2022
Member of Parliament: 3 December 2022 - 26 December 2022
Lord of Parliament: 26 December 2022 - 8 January 2023
Prince Royal
Prince Royal: 2 January 2023 - 1 March 2023
Henry was created Prince Royal & Duke of Clarence on 2 January 2023 by Elizabeth III.
Parliamentary Service (January - March 2023)
Lord Speaker: 21 January 2023 - 15 August 2023, 19 September 2023 - 16 October 2023
Lord of Parliament: 21 January 2023 - 15 August 2023
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales: 1 March 2023 - 1 March 2024
Henry was created Prince of Wales & Duke of Cornwall on 1 March 2023 by Edward IX.
College of Arms (March - June 2023)
Lord Lyon: 2 March 2023 - 25 April 2023
King of Arms: 25 April 2023 - 29 June 2023
Military Service (June - July 2023)
Lord High Constable & Chief of the Air Staff: 27 June 2023 - 27 July 2023
Parliamentary Service (March - October 2023)
Lord of Parliament: 19 September 2023 - 16 October 2023, 20 November 2023 - 1 January 2024
Reign
Titles, styles, honours and arms
Titles and styles
| Styles of Charles III | |
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| Reference style | His Majesty |
| Spoken style | Your Majesty |
| Alternative style | Sir or Sire |
Throughout his life in Great Britain, Charles has held various titles and military positions throughout the Empire. Upon his return to Great Britain in September 2022, Charles succeeded Angus Stewart as 2nd Baron Brabourne in October 2022. On 3 December 2022, he was subsequently created Viscount Middleton by Elizabeth III. These titles merged into the Crown when Charles became Prince Royal.
Upon his creation as Prince Royal in January 2023, Charles automatically became, in England, the Duke of Clarence and, in Ireland, the Earl of Hillsborough. As such, he was styled "His Royal Highness The Prince Royal", except in Ireland, where he was known as "His Royal Highness The Earl of Hillsborough" instead. Following the accession of Edward IX in March 2023, Charles was created Prince of Wales and automatically became, in England, the Duke of Cornwall and, in Scotland, the Duke of Rothesay. As such, he was styled "His Royal Highness The Prince Royal", except in Scotland, where he was known as "His Royal Highness The Duke of Rothesay" instead.
As King, Charles is known as "His Majesty The King", a shortened version of the official style of "His Britannic Majesty The King-Emperor". Charles's full style is: Charles the Third, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King and of His Other Realms and Territories Beyond the Seas Emperor, Head of the Royal House of Somerset, Supreme Head and Governor of the Church of England, Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith and of all these Realms and Domains the Most Excellent Ruler and Successor.
Arms
Royal coat of arms of the Empire of Great Britain
Royal coat of arms of the Empire of Great Britain for use in Scotland
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Banners, flags and standards
The royal standard of the Empire of Great Britain is used to represent the King in the Empire and on official visits overseas, with each Realm having its own unique Royal Standard. It is the royal arms in banner form undifferentiated.
Royal Standard
Royal Standard as Emperor of Australia
Royal Standard as Emperor of Canada
Royal Standard as Emperor of New Zealand
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Issue
| Name | Adoption |
|---|---|
| Tobias, Prince Royal | 17 May 2023 (1 year, 125 days) |
| William, Viscount Douglas | 18 December 2023 (276 days) |