King Charles at 78: from the archive, London, 2004 and 2005

London · 2026

Taken London

King Charles III turns 78 today, Saturday 14 November 2026. The day is marked with a special hour-long episode of Sir Elton John's Rocket Hour on Apple Music 1, premiering at 9am. The two recorded it together at the Apple Music Studios in Battersea Power Station to celebrate 50 years of The King's Trust, which the King set up in 1976 as The Prince's Trust (The Independent).

The pictures here come from two London days when he was still Prince of Wales, and from a Prince's Trust gala later in 2005.

Palace Theatre, 13 September 2004

On the evening of 13 September 2004 he left the Palace Theatre in London's West End with Camilla Parker Bowles, now Queen Camilla, after a performance of The Woman in White. He is in black tie with a purple pocket square and a theatre programme in his hands. In the first frame he smiles towards the camera at the stage door, with Camilla laughing beside him. In the second he holds the programme as Camilla turns towards the waiting car. The third shows him at the doorway in profile.

The then Prince of Wales in black tie smiling at a theatre stage door, with Camilla Parker Bowles laughing beside him. — King Charles III, then Prince of Wales, and Camilla Parker Bowles, now Queen Camilla, leave the Palace Theatre, London, after a performance of The Woman in White, 13 September 2004. Credit: Charlie Pycraft / BACKGRID.

The then Prince of Wales in a dinner jacket holding a theatre programme, with Camilla Parker Bowles in a pale floral dress. — The then Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles leave the Palace Theatre, London, 13 September 2004. Credit: Charlie Pycraft / BACKGRID.

The then Prince of Wales at the Palace Theatre, London, 13 September 2004. Credit: Charlie Pycraft / BACKGRID.

East London, 24 February 2005

Five months later, on the morning of 24 February 2005, he was in east London as President of The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment. The Court Circular for that day records a visit to restoration work at Christ Church, Spitalfields, followed by a prize-giving for the Foundation's Craft Scholars at its premises in Shoreditch. In the fourth frame, in a dark overcoat on a wet street, he raises a hand to wave. In the fifth he points upward from a doorway while talking with his hosts.

The then Prince of Wales in a dark overcoat waving on a wet street beside a car. — The then Prince of Wales in east London on a visit as President of The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment, 24 February 2005. Credit: Charlie Pycraft / BACKGRID.

The then Prince of Wales in an overcoat pointing upward in a doorway with three men beside him. — The then Prince of Wales points upward during a visit in east London as President of The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment, 24 February 2005. Credit: Charlie Pycraft / BACKGRID.

A Prince's Trust gala, 16 December 2005

On the evening of 16 December 2005, Camilla Parker Bowles, now Queen Camilla, arrived at a Prince's Trust gala in London. In the sixth frame she steps from the car in a dark velvet coat.

Camilla Parker Bowles, now Queen Camilla, in a long dark velvet coat arriving at a London gala, 16 December 2005. — Camilla Parker Bowles, now Queen Camilla, at a Prince's Trust gala, London, 16 December 2005. Credit: Charlie Pycraft / BACKGRID.

The pictures

Faces of private individuals and a number plate have been blurred. Six frames from the three sets are here. The sets can be licensed through BACKGRID.

Credit: Charlie Pycraft / BACKGRID. Licensing: Backgrid UK Sales, backgrid_uksales@shutterstock.com