United Kingdom: New crown coin celebrates the 70th birthday of HRH Charles, Prince of Wales

The Royal Mint has released (15th October) the new coins that will commemorate the latest celebration for the Royal Family in 2018, which is the 70th birthday of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, occurring on the 14th November 2018. The portrait of the Prince of Wales has been created by experienced engraver Robert Elderton, whose previous coin designs include the 40th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation in 1993 and a portrait of HRH the Duke of Sussex on his 21st birthday.

The depiction shows a sensitive profile portrait of His Royal Highness facing to the right with the commemorative text H R H THE PRINCE OF WALES, which is placed above the prince’s effigy. For the first time, quarter-ounce platinum coins with a face value of £25 will also be issued and will include the same design as the crown coins. The text 70TH BIRTHDAY is placed below.

The obverse includes the fifth effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Royal Mint Engraver Jody Clark, and has been in use on British circulation and commemorative coins since 2015. The coin’s face value of 5 POUNDS (or 25 POUNDS) is seen on the obverse and is included in the legend around the Queen’s effigy.

The latest commemorative coins marking the 70th birthday of HRH Charles, Prince of Wales, continues the Royal Mint’s long-standing tradition of marking the achievements and milestones of the Royal Family and joins the coins struck in 1998 for the prince’s 50th birthday and his 60th birthday in 2008. As the Prince of Wales celebrates his 70th birthday, he finds himself at the centre of an ever-growing family who will share this special occasion with him.

Denom.	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Maximum Mintage
Five pounds	Cupro-nickel	28.2 g	38.6 mm	Brilliant Unc.	Unlimited
Five pounds	.925 Silver	28.2 g	38.6 mm	Proof	3,500
Five pounds	.925 Silver	56.5 g	38.6 mm	Proof	1000
Five pounds	.9167 Gold	39.9 g	38.6 mm	Proof	300
Five pounds	.9995 Platinum	94.2 g	38.6 mm	Proof	70
25 pounds	.9995 Platinum	7.84 g	20 mm	Proof	650

The Brilliant Uncirculated quality coin is presented in a colourful folder which includes familiar images of Prince Charles during his life, from infant to adult, and informative text about his life. Both of the sterling silver versions are encapsulated and presented in a black-branded custom case, accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity. The gold and platinum examples are presented in custom-polished wood cases and are accompanied by numbered certificates of authenticity. For additional information about these coins and others available from the Royal Mint, please visit their website.

A King-in-Waiting: HRH Charles, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall

Charles was born on the 14th November 1948, almost one year after the wedding of his parents, their Royal Highness’ the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh — his mother also happened to be the heir presumptive to the British throne as the eldest daughter of HM King George VI at the time of his birth. He was named in full Charles Philip Arthur George, carrying the names of both his father and grandfather, respectively. On the 6th February 1952, the lives of all his immediate family changed drastically — his mother on that day became sovereign of the United Kingdom and head of the Commonwealth and his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, would begin a life of support to his wife the Queen. Charles, as the eldest and firstborn son, would one day become the Prince of Wales formally in recognition of his place in the succession. This day came in 1958, when, at the age of 10, he was bestowed with the title. In his 21st year, he was formally invested with his mother the Queen officiating at the historic grounds of Caernarfon Castle. To date, the Prince of Wales has served in this capacity the longest of any of his predecessors, at 60 years. He will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his investiture next year.

Prince Charles was carefully educated at private schools in England and Scotland, additionally having attended school in Australia for a short period of time. He completed his education by earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1971 and thereafter served in the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy from 1971 to 1976. It was at this time that the dashing Prince of Wales began to undertake public engagements on behalf of the Queen both within the country and often abroad.

As Charles was approaching his thirties, speculation grew as to who he would marry, and at this time, there was no shortage of young ladies whom the press began to believe might be the next Princess of Wales — especially since the last lady to bear this title was his great-grandmother, Queen Mary, in 1910. The world was finally introduced to the girl who would become his fiancé on the 14th February 1980. She was a young 19-year-old girl who was the daughter of Earl Spencer and worked with pre-school children. Lady Diana Spencer would capture the hearts of the British people and became one of the most famous women of the 20th century.

The lavish wedding ceremony took place at St. Paul’s Cathedral on the 29th July 1981 with over 2500 invited guests, including just about every crowned head of state in Europe, and an estimated 600 million spectators who watched the ceremony on television. After the glittering ceremony and a carriage ride back to Buckingham Palace, the couple appeared on the palace’s balcony and kissed — it seemed like the romance of the century. Within a year of their marriage, a son named William was born to the couple, and two years later, a second son named Henry — or Harry — as he became known to the family. The Prince of Wales and his new bride travelled across the world and became the most famous couple, with the crowd eager to capture a glimpse of them both, but mostly Princess Diana — or “Lady Di” — as she was affectionately called. The Princess of Wales was stylish, beautiful, young, and seemed to connect with the public in a way which was not always easy for Charles. Ultimately, the marriage broke down after only a few years and it became known that Prince Charles had become involved once more with a woman he had fallen in love with in the early 1970s, the former Camilla Shand, who was known as Mrs. Parker-Bowles.

Much of the work the Prince of Wales had undertaken and his interests were overshadowed by the events occurring in his private life, but finally, in 1992, it was announced that the Royal couple had formally separated, and by 1996, they were officially divorced. The Princess of Wales had lost her style of “Her Royal Highness” and was now known as “Diana, Princess of Wales,” but remained a member of the immediate Royal family — though no longer a member of the Royal House.

Speculation grew as to whether Prince Charles would marry the woman whom he never really stopped loving, despite both having married at different times, but the speculation stopped short when the world learned about the death of Princess Diana on the 30th August 1997 — just one year and two days after her divorce from Prince Charles. The Princess had been travelling with a companion in Paris in an automobile that was being chased by paparazzi when the car hit a wall in an underpass. Three passengers, including Princess Diana, lost their lives that evening.

After the funeral of Princess Diana, where the public outpouring of grief took the royal family by surprise, the task of comforting the two sons of the Royal couple became a priority for Prince Charles who was now a single parent. He resumed his public engagements, and the year after he celebrated his 50th birthday by acknowledging the great work accomplished by the Prince’s Trust, a charity founded in 1976 by the Charles to help vulnerable young people get their lives on track. Their work specifically supports 11 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school. Charles also continued to support humanitarian projects, and along with his two sons, they took part in ceremonies that marked the 1998 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination — one of the first public engagements that included his children after the loss of their mother.

Another primary focus of the Prince’s activities is architecture and urban planning, a subject that he is very passionate about. He is a great supporter in the advancement of New Classical Architecture rather than ultra-modern structures and has asserted that he cares deeply about issues such as the environment, inner-city renewal, and the quality of life.

As he has been the heir to the British throne longer than any of his predecessors, Prince Charles has had a greater amount of time to support various social causes and projects which he has become associated with. Much of his activities have included raising awareness of organic farming, as well as climate change, and has received awards and recognition from environmental groups.

The prince is known to be a talented artist who has worked in watercolours and has authored a number of books, including A Vision of Britain: A Personal View of Architecture in 1989 and the children’s book The Old Man of Lochnagar in 1980. As well as having been bestowed with the title of Prince of Wales, as the heir to the British throne, his other title includes the Duke of Cornwall, and as such, he is entitled to an income generated from royal properties owned in the dukedom. In 1990, the prince set up a commercial company and brand, Duchy Originals, which primarily sells organic food products that are produced locally by farmers in the Duchy of Cornwall. Since its founding, it has become established as a leading organic and natural food brand.

In 2005, the Prince finally proposed to Mrs. Camilla Parker-Bowles, the former wife of Andrew Parker-Bowles, after her divorce became final. They were married in a civil ceremony in Windsor, England, on the 9th April that same year. A church blessing followed on that day, with many senior members of the royal family attending, including the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. With a reception at Windsor Castle for family and close friends, Prince Charles is said to have finally settled down with the woman he has been in love with for decades, and to a semblance of happy domestic life. Mrs Parker-Bowles was thereafter styled as Her Royal Highness, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, and both she and Prince Charles eventually made Clarence House their primary residence in London.

Prince Charles would become a grandfather for the first time in July 2013, with the birth of the first child of Prince William, who was created the Duke of Cambridge upon his marriage to his longtime girlfriend Katherine Middleton in 2011. Two other grandchildren were to follow and as his youngest son recently married in May 2018, it has been announced on the day of the release of this new coin that the prince’s immediate family will increase further, as the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex will welcome their first child in the Spring of 2019. As the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh — both in their 90s — reduce their workloads, the Duke, having retired from public engagements altogether in 2017, his sons and daughters-in-law are assuming greater amounts of engagements and events both within the UK and abroad.

❑

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!