Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, was just 22 when she gave birth to the future King Charles III on November 14, 1948 at Buckingham Palace. As her eldest son, and therefore heir to the throne, the pair had a close relationship. In more recent years, the former Prince of Wales often joined his mother at official engagements, as well as attending events on her behalf.
Now, King Charles is preparing to be crowned along with his wife, Queen Consort Camilla. In February 2022, his mother—on the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne—had expressed her “sincere wish” that “when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”
Ahead of King Charles’s III coronation, see the most touching photographs of the Queen and Charles together over the years.
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Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, with Prince Charles as a one-month-old. The portrait was taken by Cecil Beaton.
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Princess Elizabeth with Prince Charles as a baby.
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The future Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Charles in the drawing room at Buckingham Palace after his christening ceremony.
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The then Princess Elizabeth, Prince Philip and a six-month-old Prince Charles.
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Princess Elizabeth with Prince Charles as a baby.
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Princess Elizabeth with Prince Charles and Princess Anne as a baby, on their way to Balmoral.
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Princess Elizabeth and Prince Charles at Clarence House, watching a procession during the visit of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands.
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The future Queen Elizabeth II with a young Prince Charles at London Airport.
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The Queen with Prince Charles and Princess Anne at Balmoral.
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The Queen and Prince Charles helping Princess Anne through an open window at Balmoral Castle.
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Princess Elizabeth with Prince Charles in a toy car at Balmoral.
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The Queen with Prince Charles at a polo match at Windsor Great Park.
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The Queen and Prince Charles at Windsor Castle.
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The Queen crowns her son the Prince of Wales at his Investiture at Caernarfon Castle, Wales.
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Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles arrive on Baffin Island during a visit to Canada.
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Prince Charles kisses his mother’s hand following a polo match at Windsor.
Photo: Getty Images17/302002
Prince Charles kisses the Queen’s hand when greeting her at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Photo: Getty Images18/302003
The Queen pictured with Prince Charles and Prince William at Clarence House.
Photo: Getty Images19/302006
The Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at the Braemar Gathering in the Highlands, Scotland.
Photo: Getty Images20/302009
The Queen and Prince Charles at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Photo: Getty Images21/302009
The Queen and Prince Charles with a copy of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother: The Official Biography at Birkhall, on the Balmoral Estate.
Photo: Getty Images22/302012
The Queen and Prince Charles laughing together at the Braemar Gathering.
Photo: Getty Images23/302017
Prince Charles accompanying the Queen at the State Opening Of Parliament.
Photo: Getty Images24/302018
The Queen and Prince Charles at a Buckingham Palace state banquet for King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Maxima.
Photo: Getty Images25/302018
The Queen and Prince Charles at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at Buckingham Palace.
Photo: Getty Images26/302019
Prince Charles with the Queen at the State Opening of Parliament.
Photo: Getty Images27/302019
Another shot of the Queen and Prince Charles at the State Opening of Parliament.
Photo: Getty Images28/302021
The Queen and Prince Charles launching the Queen’s Green Canopy tree-planting initiative at Windsor Castle.
Photo: Getty Images29/302021
The Queen and Prince Charles walking on the Balmoral Estate, ahead of a tree-planting session for the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.
Photo: Getty Images30/302022
The Queen and Prince Charles on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
