List of titles and honours of Charles III facts for kids

Charles in 2019

King Charles III received numerous titles, decorations, and honorary appointments during his time as heir apparent to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. Each is listed below; where two dates are shown, the first indicates the date of receiving the title or award (the title as Prince Charles of Edinburgh being given as from his birth) and the second indicates the date of its loss or renunciation.

Royal and noble titles and styles

Badge of Charles, Prince of Wales

• 14 November 1948 – 6 February 1952: His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Edinburgh
• 6 February 1952 – 8 September 2022: His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall
  • in Scotland: 6 February 1952 – 8 September 2022: His Royal Highness The Duke of Rothesay
• 26 July 1958 – 8 September 2022: His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales
• 8 September 2022 – present: His Majesty The King

As the eldest son of the monarch, he automatically became in England the Duke of Cornwall and in Scotland the Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland upon the accession of his mother as queen. These titles were immediately passed on to his eldest son Prince William on the death of his mother Elizabeth II and his accession to King as Charles III.

In 1958, Letters patent from the then sovereign made Charles the Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, and on 1 July 1969, Charles was invested as such during the investiture ceremony with a coronet and robes placed on him. In 2021, he furthermore inherited the titles Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich upon the death of his father. When he became the British sovereign himself on 8 September 2022, the title of Prince of Wales and all the other latter titles mentioned above merged back with the Crown.

Full style

His Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of His other Realms and Territories King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.

Regnal name

In an announcement following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Minister Liz Truss referred to Charles as King Charles III, the first official usage of that name. Shortly afterwards Clarence House confirmed that he would use the regnal name "Charles III".

There had been speculation that he may choose a different name, because the previous two monarchs named Charles are both associated with negative events in royal history: Charles I was beheaded in 1649, and Charles II reigned during the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. The name Charles III is also associated with the Jacobite pretender, Charles Edward Stuart, who claimed the throne under that name in the 18th century. The most discussed alternative regnal name had been George VII, in honour of Charles' maternal grandfather, although prior to succeeding to the throne, he denied discussing a regnal name.

Unofficial

Canada

 Alberta

• 1977 – :

In Blackfoot: Mekaisto

In English: Red Crow

 Manitoba

• 1986 – : Leading Star

 Nunavut

• 1976 – :

In Inuktitut: Attaniout Ikeneego

In English: The Son of the Big Boss (loosely translates to heir apparent)

 Saskatchewan

• 2001 – :

In Cree: Pisimwa Kamiwohkitahpamikohk

In English: The Sun Looks at Him in a Good Way

Africa

 Tanzania

• 2011 – :

In Maasai: Oloishiru Ingishi

In English: The Helper of the Cows (literally he whom the cows love so much they call for him when they are in times of distress)

Oceania

 Papua New Guinea

• 1952 –  :

In Tok Pisin: Nambawan pikinini bilong Misis Kwin

In English: The number one child belonging to Mrs Queen

 Vanuatu

• 2018 – : High Chief Mal Menaringmanu

Military ranks

 Canada

• 2009 – 2022: Vice-Admiral in the Royal Canadian Navy
• 2009 – 2022: Lieutenant-General in the Canadian Army
• 2009 – 2022: Lieutenant-General in the Royal Canadian Air Force
• 2022 – present: Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces

 New Zealand

• 2015 – present: Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal New Zealand Navy
• 2015 – present: Field Marshal of the New Zealand Army
• 2015 – present: Marshal of the Royal New Zealand Air Force

 United Kingdom

• 8 March 1971 – 1 January 1977: Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force
• 15 September 1971 – 1 September 1972: Acting Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy
• 1 September 1972 – 27 July 1973: Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy
• 27 July 1973 – 1 January 1977: Lieutenant in the Royal Navy
• 1 January 1977 – 14 November 1988: Commander in the Royal Navy
• 1 January 1977 – 14 November 1988: Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force
• 14 November 1988 – 14 November 1998: Captain in the Royal Navy
• 14 November 1988 – 14 November 1998: Group Captain in the Royal Air Force
• 14 November 1998 – 14 November 2002: Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy
• 14 November 1998 – 14 November 2002: Major-General in the British Army
• 14 November 1998 – 14 November 2002: Air Vice-Marshal in the Royal Air Force
• 14 November 2002 – 14 November 2006: Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy
• 14 November 2002 – 14 November 2006: Lieutenant-General in the British Army
• 14 November 2002 – 14 November 2006: Air Marshal in the Royal Air Force
• 14 November 2006 – 16 June 2012: Admiral in the Royal Navy
• 14 November 2006 – 16 June 2012: General in the British Army
• 14 November 2006 – 16 June 2012: Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Air Force
• 16 June 2012 – present: Admiral of the Fleet in the Royal Navy
• 16 June 2012 – present: Field Marshal in the British Army
• 16 June 2012 – present: Marshal of the Royal Air Force in the Royal Air Force

University degrees

Country	Date	School	Degree
England	1970	University of Cambridge	Bachelor of Arts (BA)
England	1975	University of Cambridge	Master of Arts (MA Cantab)
Scotland	2001	University of Glasgow	Doctor of Laws

Commonwealth of Nations

Titles

On 20 April 2018, the Commonwealth Heads of Government agreed that Charles will succeed his mother as Head of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth realms

Country	Date	Appointment	Ribbon	Post-nominal letters
England and Wales	26 July 1958	Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter		KG
United Kingdom	6 December 1973	Personal Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The Queen		ADC
United Kingdom	10 December 1974	Great Master and Principal Knight of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath		GCB
Scotland	11 February 1977	Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle		KT
Australia	14 March 1981	Knight of the Order of Australia		AK
New Zealand	1983	Extra Companion of the Queen's Service Order		QSO
Saskatchewan	24 April 2001	Honorary Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit		SOM
Commonwealth realms	27 June 2002	Member of the Order of Merit		OM
Papua New Guinea	3 November 2012	Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu		GCL
Canada	18 May 2014	Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada		PC
Canada	1 July 2017	Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Canada		CC
Canada	18 May 2022	Extraordinary Commander of the Order of Military Merit		CMM

Decorations and medals (Shown in Order Given not Precedence)

Country	Date	Appointment	Ribbon	Post-nominal letters
United Kingdom	2 June 1953	Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
United Kingdom	6 February 1977	Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
Canada	1982	Canadian Forces Decoration and 3 clasps		CD
New Zealand	1990	New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal
United Kingdom	6 February 2002	Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
Saskatchewan	2005	Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan
United Kingdom	6 February 2012	Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
New Zealand	2012	New Zealand Armed Forces Award
Papua New Guinea	3 November 2012	Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (Papua New Guinean version)
United Kingdom	11 October 2016	Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and 3 clasps
United Kingdom	6 February 2022	Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal

Awards

Country	Date	Decoration	Post-nominal letters
Canada	20 May 2014	Honorary Confederation Centre of the Arts Symons Medal

Other Commonwealth countries

Appointments

Country	Date	Decoration	Ribbon	Post-nominal letters
Malawi	16 April 1985	Grand Commander, the Order of the Lion of Malawi
Ghana	6 November 2018	Honorary Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana		CSG
Barbados	30 November 2021	Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados		FB

Foreign honours

Appointments

Country	Date	Appointment	Ribbon	Post-nominal letters
Finland	15 July 1969	Commander Grand Cross, the Order of the White Rose of Finland
Japan	5 October 1971	Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
The Netherlands	11 April 1972	Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg	13 June 1972	Grand Cross, the Order of the Oak Crown
Denmark	30 April 1974	Knight of the Order of the Elephant		RE
Kingdom of Nepal	23 February 1975	The Most Glorious Order of the Benevolent Ruler
Kingdom of Sweden	23 May 1975	Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim		RSerafO
Brazil	8 March 1978	Grand Cross, the Order of the Southern Cross
Kingdom of Norway	1 July 1978	Grand Cross with Collar, the Order of St Olav
Egypt	12 August 1981	First Class- Grand Cordon of the Order of the Republic
The Netherlands	16 November 1982	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau
France	23 October 1984	Grand Cross of the National Order of the Legion of Honour
Bahrain	November 1986	The Order of al-Khalifa, 1st class
Qatar	November 1986	Collar, the Order of Merit
Kingdom of Spain	18 April 1986	Knight Grand Cross of the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Carlos III
Template:Country data Kingdom of Saudi Arabia	24 March 1987	The King Abdul Aziz Order of Merit, 1st class
Kuwait	November 1993	The Order of Mubarak the Great, 1st class
Mexico	2015	Sash of Special Category of the Order of the Aztec Eagle
France	16 March 2017	Commander of the Order of Agricultural Merit
Romania	29 March 2017	Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania

Wear of orders, decorations, and medals

The ribbons worn regularly by King Charles III in undress uniform are as follows:

Ribbons of King Charles III

With medals, Prince Charles normally wears the breast stars of the Garter, Thistle, and Bath. When only one should be worn, he wears the Order of the Garter star, except in Scotland where the Scottish Order of the Thistle star is worn. Foreign honors are worn in accordance with British customs and traditions when applicable.

Honorary military appointments

 Australia

• 1977 –: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps

 Canada

• 1977 –: Colonel-in-Chief of Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
• 1977 –: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles
• 1977 –: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Regiment of Canada
• 1985 –: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Dragoons
• 2004 –: Colonel-in-Chief of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
• 2005 –: Colonel-in-Chief of the Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own)
• 1977 –: Colonel-in-Chief of the Air Reserve Group
• 2012 –: Honorary Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• 2015 –: Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Navy (Fleet Atlantic)
• 2022 –: Honorary Canadian Ranger

 New Zealand

• 1977 –: Air Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal New Zealand Air Force

 Papua New Guinea

• 1984 –: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment

 United Kingdom

Charles as Colonel of the Welsh Guards, Trooping the Colour, 2012

• 1969 – 2006: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Regiment of Wales
• 1975 –: Colonel, Welsh Guards
• 1977 – 2007: Colonel-in-Chief of the Cheshire Regiment
• 1977 – 1994: Colonel-in-Chief of the Gordon Highlanders
• 1977 – 1994: Colonel-in-Chief of the 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)
• 1977 –: Colonel-in-Chief of the Parachute Regiment
• 1985 – 1992: Colonel-in-Chief of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards
• 1992 –: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Dragoon Guards
• 1992 –: Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps
• 1994 –: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Gurkha Rifles
• 1994 – 2006: Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)
• 2000 –: Royal Honorary Colonel of the Queen's Own Yeomanry
• 2003 –: Colonel-in-Chief of The Queen's Dragoon Guards
• 2003 – 2006: Colonel-in-Chief of the King's Regiment
• 2003 – 2006: Colonel-in-Chief of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
• 2006 –: Royal Colonel of the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
• 2006 –: Royal Colonel of the 51st Highland, 7th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
• 2007 –: Colonel in Chief of the Mercian Regiment
• 1993 –: Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force Valley
• 2006 –: Commodore-In-Chief of Plymouth, Royal Naval Command
• 2006 –: Honorary Commodore of Her Majesty's Coastguard
• 2019 –: Commodore-in-Chief, Aircraft Carriers

Non-national titles and honours

Member and fellowships

Country	Date	Organisation	Position
United Kingdom	1978 –	Royal Society	Royal Fellow (FRS)
United Kingdom	2000 –	Royal Asiatic Society	Fellow (FRAS)

Scholastic

Country	Date	School	Position
England	2007	Liverpool John Moores University	Honorary Fellow

Honorary degrees

Country	Date	School	Degree
England	1981	Royal College of Music	Doctor of Music (D.Mus.)
New Zealand	1981	University of Otago	Doctor of Literature (LittD)
Canada	1983	University of Alberta	Doctor of Laws (LLD)
Canada	1991	Queen's University at Kingston	Doctor of Laws (LLD)
England	2007	University of Chester	Doctor of Letters (DLitt)
Scotland	2004	Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama	Doctor of the Academy
India	2013	Forest Research Institute	Doctor of Science (D.Sc.)
Romania	31 May 2014	University of Bucharest	Doctorate
Romania	29 May 2017	Babeș-Bolyai University	Doctorate

Freedom of the City

• 5 July 1969: Cardiff
• 1970: Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
• 1971: London
• 1977: Calgary
• 3 April 1979: Portsmouth
• 8 June 1989: Northampton
• 24 May 1994: Swansea
• 24 October 2002: Ripon

Foreign

• 2011: Madrid
• 2021: Athens

Honorific eponyms

Geographic locations

• Australian Antarctic Territory: Prince Charles Mountains
•  British Antarctic Territory: Prince Charles Strait

Structures

Buildings

•  Fiji: Prince Charles Park, Nadi
•  Hong Kong: Prince of Wales Hospital, Sha Tin
•  Queensland: The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane

Former

•  British Hong Kong: Prince of Wales Building, Admiralty (renamed in 1997)

Awards

• Prince of Wales Prize for Municipal Heritage Leadership

Species

•  Ecuador: Hyloscirtus princecharlesi, or the Prince Charles Stream Tree Frog

Interest awards

See also

• List of titles and honours of Queen Elizabeth II
• List of titles and honours of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
• List of titles and honours of King George VI
• List of titles and honours of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
• List of titles and honours of Mary of Teck
• List of titles and honours of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
• List of honours of the British Royal Family by country