As the leading producer of custom rubber watch straps, Rubber B consistently strives to innovate and improve on our existing product catalog, which features custom rubber watch straps for watches from leading watchmakers around the globe, such as Rolex, Tudor, Panerai, and Audemars Piguet.
For this particular blog entry, we are going to be running a new entry in our ongoing series about the British royal family. With Queen Elizabeth II in the news quite frequently this year due to it being the 70th anniversary of her ascension to the throne, it seemed like an excellent time to look at another member of the royal family with a penchant for collecting watches: Prince Charles.
While many people are familiar with the Prince of Wales, what many are not likely to know is that he is, and has been for many years, an enthusiastic collector of high-quality timepieces. Therefore, let’s take a closer look at the life, achievements, and watch collection of England’s next king.
Who is Prince Charles?
Prince Charles, whose full name is Charles Phillip Arthur George Windsor, was born on November 14, 1948, to Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip of England. He was the first child of the couple, and at the age of 4, he would witness his mother’s coronation as the Queen of England.
Throughout his history, Prince Charles has demonstrated a quietly rebellious streak when it comes to royal protocol, something which he apparently developed at a young age. At the time, it was common for most royal children to be privately tutored, but Charles demonstrated an interest in going to school, making him the first heir apparent to be educated in that manner.
Prince Charles Early Years
He would later demonstrate his desire to deviate from royal protocol again when, after completing his A-levels, he went straight to university instead of joining the Royal Air Force, which is customary for young men in the royal family. Though he would attend several universities over the course of his career, studying archeology, anthropology, and history, he would eventually graduate from Cambridge with a bachelor of arts, making him the first royal to ever earn a university degree.
In the early 1970s, Charles would follow in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather and complete service in the English military, serving time with both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. He trained primarily as a pilot but stopped flying in the mid-1990s after crash-landing a plane in the Hebrides.
Marriage to Princess Diana
One of the most publicized times in Prince Charles’s life came during the 1980s, during his courtship of Lady Diana Spencer, who would become better known around the world as Princess Diana, or the “People’s Princess,” as she was often referred to in England and by the prince.
The couple would go on to have two children, William and Harry, both of whom have since entered into high-profile marriages in their own right. Unfortunately, there was a 13-year age gap between the couple, and Charles had previously had a long-term relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles, which he was forced to end due to attending to his military duties.
It has long been believed that Charles had actually wanted to ask Camilla to marry him, but that he did not do so because he knew his family would not approve of the match. This led to a fraught, unhappy marriage with Diana, which would end in divorce in August of 1996. Tragically, she would die in Paris the following year due to injuries she received from a car crash, causing many around the world to mourn her.
What is Prince Charles Currently Working on Now?
Today, Prince Charles is married to Camilla and works tirelessly to oversee a number of charitable causes. He has been an ardent environmentalist since the 1970s, and at the time, many in the press and in the general public thought his passion for the environment was somewhat eccentric. Today, however, he is now believed to be well ahead of his time on many of those issues and has been applauded for his public stances on the matter.
What Kinds of Watches are in Prince Charles’s Collection?
Prince Charles is also an ardent watch collector and has been so for several decades. Most recently, he has been sporting a Parmigiani Fleurier Toric chronograph. He has worn this piece to several high-profile events, including Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle.
He is also known to favor a Patek Philippe Calatrava Disco Volante and owns a Hamilton RAF Pilot’s Chronograph 924-3306 as well, among other pieces.
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If you would like to learn more about our complete list of products, shipping policies, pricing, or have questions about our custom rubber watch straps, please visit the Rubber B website today for more information. One of our valued associates will be happy to answer your inquiry in a timely manner.
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