Prince Charles: 70 years in 70 pictures

To mark the Prince of Wales' 70th birthday, we present an image from the Press Association archives from every year of his life.

1948

PA Princess Elizabeth holding her infant son, Prince Charles, after his christening ceremony at Buckingham PalacePA
Charles Philip Arthur George was born on 14 November 1948, five years before his mother was crowned Queen.

1949

PA Prince Charles being lifted up by his father The Duke of EdinburghPA
Prince Charles with his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, in the grounds of Windlesham Moor, the country home in Surrey of Princess Elizabeth and the duke at that time.

1950

PA Princess Elizabeth with her two year old son Prince CharlesPA
Charles and his mother watch as a procession including Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands passes Clarence House.

1951

PA King George VI with his grandson Prince CharlesPA
King George VI with his grandson Prince Charles celebrating his third birthday at Buckingham Palace. It was the first photograph of the King taken after his lung operation in September.

1952

PA Prince Charles and the QueenPA
Prince Charles keeping a lookout on his fourth birthday with his mother, who was by then Queen Elizabeth II.

1953

PA Prince Charles aged 5PA
Fifth birthday portrait of Prince Charles.

1954

PA Princess Anne and Prince Charles with their grandmother, the Queen MotherPA
Princess Anne and Prince Charles with their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, in the grounds of the Royal Lodge, Windsor, Berkshire. The picture was taken shortly before they left for Tobruk, Libya, to join their parents the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, homeward bound from the Commonwealth tour.

1955

PA Prince Charles pictured for his 7th birthdayPA
Prince Charles pictured for his seventh birthday.

1956

PA Prince Charles giving a friendly pat to one of the poniesPA
Charles with the ponies at Smith's Lawn, Windsor Great Park, where his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, was playing polo.

1957

PA Prince Charles with his father the Duke of Edinburgh in a motor boatPA
The prince with his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, at the wheel, as they take a motorboat ride up the River Medina at Cowes, Isle of Wight.

1958

PA Prince Charles walking to Cheam School in BerkshirePA
Prince Charles on his way to Cheam School, in Berkshire. He was educated at home until the age of eight.

1959

PA Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh with their two children, Prince Charles and Princess AnnePA
A family portrait at Windsor Castle. With them is Sugar, one of the Queen's pet corgis.

1960

BBC Princess Anne and Prince Charles with Prince Andrew in a pramBBC
Prince Charles and Princess Anne now have a baby brother, Prince Andrew. Here, they take him for a walk in the grounds at Balmoral.

1961

PA Queen Elizabeth II and her son, Prince Charles, out riding at Windsor CastlePA
Out riding at Windsor Castle with his mother, the Queen.

1962

PA Prince Charles with his father the Duke of Edinburgh (left) and Captain Iain Tennant, Chairman of the Gordonstoun Board of GovernorsPA
Prince Charles arrives at his new school, Gordonstoun, alongside his father, the Duke of Edinburgh (left), and Capt Iain Tennant, who chaired the board of governors.

1963

PA Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles, driving to Westminster Abbey for the wedding of Princess Alexandra and Angus OgilvyPA
The Royal Family on their way to Westminster Abbey for the wedding of Princess Alexandra and Angus Ogilvy.

1964

PA Prince Charles with one of the polo ponies at Smith's Lawn, Windsor Great ParkPA
Prince Charles, who had recently recovered from pneumonia in an Aberdeen nursing home, at Windsor Great Park.

1965

PA Prince Charles acting in the dagger scene as MacbethPA
Prince Charles as Macbeth in the Gordonstoun School production of the Shakespeare play. His parents were in the audience with other parents to watch the final performance.

1966

PA A portrait of Prince Charles wearing the Balmoral tartanPA
A portrait of Prince Charles wearing the Balmoral tartan, commissioned for his 18th birthday.

1967

PA Prince Charles accompanied by head porter Mr Bill Edwards at Cambridge UniversityPA
Prince Charles, wearing the Trinity gown of blue silk with black facings, accompanied by head porter Mr Bill Edwards posing on the steps of Neville Court, Cambridge University. The prince was in Cambridge to take up studies in archaeology and anthropology.

1968

PA Prince Charles batting for Lord Brabourne's XI against a team of grand prix driversPA
Prince Charles batting for Lord Brabourne's XI against a team of racing drivers, including Graham Hill, at Mersham, near Ashford, Kent.

1969

PA Queen Elizabeth II investing her son, Prince CharlesPA
Queen Elizabeth II investing her son, Prince Charles, as the Prince of Wales during a ceremony at Caernarfon castle.

1970

PA Prince of Wales rehearsing for the Dryden Society's Trinity College revue at Cambridge UniversityPA
Charles playing the role of a weatherman in rehearsals for a sketch for the Dryden Society's Trinity College revue at Cambridge University.

1971

PA Prince of Wales at the wheel of his Aston MartinPA
Behind the wheel of his Aston Martin DB6 convertible sports car on London's Strand after visiting the Press Association in Fleet Street.

1972

PA Prince of Wales, Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Andrew, and Princess Anne at Buckingham Palace, LondonPA
The Royal Family at Buckingham Palace. Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew have now been joined by a younger brother, Prince Edward.

1973

PA Prince of Wales serving as a sub-lieutenant on the bridge of the frigate MinervaPA
By 1973 Prince Charles was a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy, here on the bridge of the frigate Minerva at Devonport before leaving for routine patrols and exercise around the West Indies.

1974

PA Naval Lieutenant the Prince of Wales being handed his flying helmetPA
A year later, he is about to set off on his first "dual control" flight, with instructor Lt Cdr Alan MacGregor in a Royal Navy Wessex V helicopter.

1975

PA Charles diving under the arctic ice at Resolute Bay, CanadaPA
Under the Arctic ice at Resolute Bay, Canada.

1976

PA Prince of Wales at Badminton, during the Horse TrialsPA
Sporting a new beard at the Badminton Horse Trials.

1977

BBC Prince of Wales on stage with comedy duo Eric Morecambe (left) and Ernie WiseBBC
Comedy duo Morecambe and Wise shared the stage with Prince Charles during their special Royal Charity Show in aid of the Queen's Jubilee Appeal.

1978

PA Prince of Wales surf-sailingPA
Taking to the water, Prince Charles windsurfing during Regatta Week at Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

1979

PA Prince of Wales in a Biggles-style flying outfit at RAF BensonPA
In 1979, Prince Charles fulfilled an ambition to fly a pre-War Tiger Moth biplane, when he took to the skies over RAF Benson in Oxfordshire.

1980

PA Prince Charles after riding in a steeplechasePA
Charles on his 10-year-old Irish chaser, Allibar, at Ludlow, where he finished second in an amateur riders' steeplechase.

1981

PA Prince of Wales and his bride, the Princess of Wales in an open-top carriagePA
Newlyweds, Prince Charles and his bride, Diana, Princess of Wales, make their way to Buckingham Palace after their wedding ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

1982

PA Prince of Wales, holds his newborn son Prince William as they leave St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, LondonPA
In 1982 Prince Charles's first child, Prince William, was born.

1983

PA Prince and Princess Of Wales during a visit to Montague, Prince Edward Island, CanadaPA
The Prince and Princess Of Wales during a visit to Montague, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

1984

PA Prince of Wales and Prince William playing in the garden of Kensington Palace, London.PA
Prince Charles plays with his son Prince William in the garden of their home, Kensington Palace.

1985

PA Charles dancingPA
To the delight of youngsters at a discotheque in Middleton-on-Sea, Sussex, Prince Charles tries his hand at break-dancing. The event was organised by the Prince's Trust.

1986

PA Princess of Wales presenting her husband, the Prince of Wales, with a prize and a kissPA
Prince Charles receives a prize and kiss from his wife after playing for the England II team against Chile, at the Cartier International Polo Spectacular at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire.

1987

PA Prince of Wales negotiating a wire bridgePA
Prince Charles makes his way across a bridge during a trek in the foothills of Ben Nevis with the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team.

1988

PA Prince of Wales wearing his new Royal Navy captain's uniformPA
The prince wearing his new Royal Navy captain's uniform on his 40th birthday.

1989

PA Prince and Princess of Wales with sons Prince William and Prince HarryPA
Prince Harry has now joined the family. They are seen here on holiday in Tresco, Scilly Isles.

1990

PA Prince of Wales (left) riding in a Challenger tank of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (7th Armoured Brigade) with Brigadier Patrick CordingleyPA
While on a visit to British troops in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Prince Charles was given a ride in a Challenger tank by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

1991

PA Prince of Wales joking with a group of unemployed youths during a visit to Warner Holiday Centre, Caister-On_Sea, NorfolkPA
In 1991, he visited a group of unemployed youths taking part in the Prince's Trust scheme, in Caister-On-Sea, Norfolk.

1992

PA Prince and Princess of Wales at the memorial to the Gloucester RegimentPA
Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, are seen during a visit to a memorial to the Gloucester Regiment, who fought with distinction in 1951 during the Korean War, near Seoul, South Korea. It was in 1992 they split, formally divorcing in July 1996, citing "irreconcilable differences".

1993

PA Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Wales appearing thoughtful as they watch the races at EpsomPA
Prince Charles and his mother watch the racing at Epsom on the 40th anniversary of the Queen's coronation.

1994

PA Prince of Wales watching as British paratroopers fall during the drop on Ginkel HeathPA
British paratroopers land on Ginkel Heath to mark the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem, as Prince Charles looks on.

1995

PA Prince of Wales, followed by his sons Prince Harry and Prince WilliamPA
Prince Charles leads his two sons during a toboggan race on the slopes outside their hotel in the Swiss resort of Klosters.

1996

PA Prince of Wales with a traditional Irish blackthorn stick in his handPA
Charles is seen on his own on the Giant's Wishing Chair at the Giant's Causeway, Co Antrim.

1997

PA The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince William, Earl Spencer, Prince Harry and the Prince of Wales during the funeral procession to Westminster AbbeyPA
The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince William, Earl Spencer, Prince Harry and the Prince of Wales turn on to Horse Guards Parade as they follow behind the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales, during the funeral procession to Westminster Abbey. Following the death of the princess in a car crash in Paris, in 1997, the prince insisted that she be given a royal funeral.

1998

PA Prince of Wales smiling at his mother Queen Elizabeth IIPA
He celebrated his 50th birthday in 1998, with his mother, the Queen, at a reception in his honour at Buckingham Palace.

1999

PA Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles stepping out in public together for the first time at the Ritz Hotel in LondonPA
A year later, Prince Charles was seen in public for the first time with Camilla Parker Bowles, who later became his wife.

2000

PA Prince of Wales laughing with the local Rasta community at the Trenchtown community centre in Kingston, JamaicaPA
During a tour of the Caribbean, Prince Charles donned a rasta cap, causing much laughter among the locals at the Trenchtown community centre in Kingston, Jamaica.

2001

PA Queen Mother sharing a joke with her grandson the Prince of WalesPA
Prince Charles and his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, were very close and here he shares a joke with her during the unveiling of an Aberdeen Angus sculpture at the Grampian Transport Museum in Aberdeenshire.

2002

PA Prince of Wales standing vigil beside the Queen Mother's coffin in Westminster Hall in LondonPA
In 2002, the prince stood vigil at his grandmother's coffin in Westminster Hall in London on the eve of her funeral.

2003

PA Three generations of the British Royal family - Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, their oldest son, the Prince of Wales, and his oldest son, Prince William, at Clarence House in LondonPA
Three generations of the British Royal family - Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, their eldest son, the Prince of Wales, and his elder son, Prince William, at Clarence House in London before a dinner to mark the 50th anniversary of her coronation.

2004

PA Prince of Wales with his eldest son Prince WilliamPA
Prince Charles and his elder son, Prince William, share a joke with the media on the Madrisa ski slopes, above the Swiss village of Klosters.

2005

PA Prince of Wales leaving St George's Chapel, Windsor with the Duchess of Cornwall after a Service of Prayer and Dedication on the day of their marriagePA
In 2005, the Prince of Wales married Camilla Parker Bowles, who became the Duchess of Cornwall, at Windsor's Guildhall.

2006

PA Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall with Prince William and Prince HarryPA
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall with his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy after the Sovereign's Parade that marked the completion of Prince Harry's officer training.

2007

PA The Duke of York, the Princess Royal, the Earl of Wessex, and (left to right, front row) the Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, at Clarence House for a dinner to mark the forthcoming Diamond Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of EdinburghPA
In 2007, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary. Here, the family pose for a picture before a formal dinner.

2008

PA Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at the Mey Highland games in CaithnessPA
Prince Charles and his wife enjoy the Mey Highland Games in Caithness.

2009

PA Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall on the Galapagos IslandsPA
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall on the Beach of North Seymour Island, which is part of the Galapagos Islands, in the Pacific Ocean.

2010

PA Prince of Wales in a British military helicopter over AfghanistanPA
The Prince of Wales looks through the window of a British military helicopter as he travels to Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan.

2011

PA Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall taking their seats at Westminster AbbeyPA
In 2011, his elder son, Prince William, married Kate Middleton. Here, the prince sits with the Duchess of Cornwall and his parents in Westminster Abbey waiting for the ceremony to begin.

2012

PA Duke of Cambridge showing the Prince of Wales at RAF Valley on AngleseyPA
Prince William, now the Duke of Cambridge, shows his father one of the Sea King helicopters he captains at RAF Valley on Anglesey.

2013

PA Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall with face masksPA
The prince and duchess host a reception for the Elephant Family, a charity working to save the Asian elephant from extinction in the wild.

2014

PA Prince of Wales (centre) raising his glass to D-Day veteransPA
The prince raises a glass to D-Day veterans at a community centre in Ranville, Normandy, as part of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day campaign.

2015

PA The royal family on the balcony at Buckingham PalacePA
The Duchess of Cornwall, the Prince of Wales, Prince George, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony at Buckingham Palace following Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade.

2016

PA Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales, during a visit to Poundbury, a new urban development on the edge of DorchesterPA
Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales in Poundbury, his model town in Dorset. Prince Charles designed the village on the outskirts of Dorchester after outlining his plan in his 1989 book, A Vision of Britain.

2017

PA Prince of Wales takes the salute during the Royal Edinburgh Military TattooPA
The Prince of Wales, known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, takes the salute during the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle.

2018

PA Prince of Wales walking Meghan Markle up the aisle of St George's Chapel at Windsor CastlePA
And one for luck, the 71st image that brings us up to date. The Prince of Wales walks Meghan Markle up the aisle of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for her wedding to his son Prince Harry.
Chris Jackson/Clarence House/PA  Prince Louis, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Sussex and the Duchess of Sussex. (front row left to right) Prince George, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Princess Charlotte, in the gardens of Clarence HouseChris Jackson/Clarence House/PA
But why stop now? Here is one more picture released to mark Prince Charles' birthday. It shows three generations of royals, as Charles sits with his wife, children and grandchildren.

All photographs from the archives of the Press Association