The King’s life – from newborn baby prince in his mother’s arms to a crowned monarch sitting on his throne – has been celebrated with a collection of photos from every one of his 75 years.
Charles, who reaches his milestone three-quarter century birthday on Tuesday, is pictured being held in the air as an eight-month old by his proud father the Duke of Edinburgh in 1949.
Childhood portraits show the young future King striding along in a kilt just before his seventh birthday in 1955, and spending time with his family at Windsor Castle in 1959.
Baby Prince Charles is lifted up by his father the then-Duke of Edinburgh, in the grounds of Windlesham Moor, then their country home, in Surrey in 1949 (PA)
Prince Charles, striding along in a kilt, pictured for his seventh birthday in 1955 (PA)
In the collection of images compiled by the PA news agency, the then-Prince of Wales, on the brink of adulthood in 1966, smiles broadly as he stands behind a chair in a library, wearing Balmoral tartan, in a portrait commissioned ahead of his 18th birthday.
The Prince of Wales, wearing the Balmoral tartan, posing for a portrait commissioned for his 18th birthday in 1966 (Godfrey Argent/PA)
The Prince of Wales diving under the ice at Resolute Bay, Canada (PA)
Charles sporting a new beard at Badminton, during the horse trials in 1976 (PA)
The then-Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to Montague, Prince Edward Island, Canada in 1983 (Ron Bell/PA)
The then-Prince of Wales trying his hand at breakdancing, to the delight of youngsters at a disco in Middleton-on-Sea (Ron Bell/PA)
Charles with the Spice Girls at the Royal Gala celebrating the Princes Trust 21st Anniversary in Manchester in 1997 (John Giles/PA)
The then-Prince of Wales speaking to Prince William and Prince Harry before leaving Sandhurst Royal Military Academy after Harry’s Sovereign’s Parade (PA)
The then-Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall hosting a reception for the Elephant Family charity in 2013 (Anthony Devlin/PA)
The King follows the state gun carriage as it carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremonial procession to her state funeral (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Charles seated in the coronation chair, wearing St Edward’s Crown (Aaron Chown/PA)
