Charles III celebrates his 76th birthday on November 14, a birthday that comes amid serious health problems, as he was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.
However, he is not the only one in the royal family who has had to face this tough battle; his daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, has as well.
This has marked a challenging year for the British family, with even Prince William recently mentioning that this has been the most difficult year of his life.
Despite his diagnosis, Charles resumed his royal duties just a few months after receiving the news and has slowly been increasing his workload. In fact, he recently made his first trip abroad, visiting Australia and Samoa.
Curious facts about Charles III
The king, born 76 years ago and father of Princes William and Harry, had to wait 73 years to assume the role that was destined for him: to be king.
An interesting fact about his birth is that, for the first time since the 17th century, there were no politicians present at the birth, something that used to be done to certify the legitimacy of the child.
In those 30 long hours, Queen Elizabeth II was accompanied only by her sister, Princess Margaret, and her mother, Queen Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.
Charles was not a brilliant student. He was sent to Gordonstoun, a school in Scotland, which he himself would describe years later as hell on earth.
When he entered Cambridge University, his admission generated controversy because of his mediocre academic record.
From a young age, he showed interest in alternative therapies and other religions. He crossed paths with Laurens Van Der Post, a South African journalist who became his guru and who influenced him in his beliefs about pseudosciences.
This fascination with mysticism worries his doctors, who fear that he is ignoring conventional medicine in his cancer treatment.
Among other curious facts, Charles does not eat lunch and avoids chocolate, coffee, and garlic.
From the age of two months, he spent barely 15 minutes a day with his parents and spent most of his time with his nannies.
He is also a successful British artist, speaks Welsh, French, and German fluently, and his U.S. Secret Service code name is “Unicorn,” the national animal of Scotland.
And yes, he talks to trees, something he considers crucial to his connection with nature. Clarence House has also shared that, after planting a tree, he often gives a branch a “friendly shake” to wish it well.
Charles has an eco-friendly Aston Martin that runs on British white wine and cheese waste.
In another curious episode, President Nixon dreamed of Charles marrying his daughter, Tricia. So he decided to send Charles to a baseball game, thinking it would be a good way to bring them closer.
Although he is an experienced pilot, Charles had a minor incident with the Queen’s BAE 146 aircraft on the island of Islay, where he landed inelegantly and blew out three tires. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
So there we have it: a king who has dealt with personal challenges and, in his own unique way, continues to fulfill his royal duties.