As one of the most publicized and well-known royals in the world, Prince Charles Philip Arthur George has always had a unique existence. He was born on November 14, 1948 to then-Princess Elizabeth and the former Greek prince Philip Mountbatten at Buckingham Palace. In 1951, the ascention of his mother to the British throne ensured that Charles would always live under close public scrutiny.

The young Prince began his education at Cheam School, and later moved on to Gordonstoun in Scotland. Gordonstoun, which includes Prince Philip, his sons Princes Andrew and Edward, and his grandchildren Peter and Zara Phillips among its other royal alumni, was a notoriously bad experience for Charles. He did not adapt well to the Spartan living conditions and rough physical activity that his father had loved as a student. Trained as a royal, though, he finished school and went on to become the first member of the royal family to attend school overseas at Geelong Church of England Grammar School in Melbourne, Australia in 1966. He returned to Britain to enroll in Trinity College, University of Cambridge, where he studied archaeology, anthropology, and history until 1970.

The Prince has many years of experience serving in the British military. From 1971-1976, he actively served in the Royal Navy, and currently holds the "two star" rank in the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and the British Army.

After years of speculation regarding his future bride, Charles married Lady Diana Frances Spencer on July 29, 1981. Though Diana was a commoner, she came from an aristocratic background that included royal ancestors. She became known as the world's most photographed woman, and through their marriage, she upstaged her husband in both glamour and in her humanitarian efforts. Together they had two children, Princes William and Henry, but even this could not prevent the breakdown of the union. With accusations of infidelity on both sides, the couple separated in 1992, and divorced on August 28, 1996. Only a year later, in August 1997, Princess Diana was killed in a Paris car accident.

Like all the royal family, Prince Charles is involved with a number of charities. One of the most recognizable is the Prince's Trust, which helps disadvantaged youth start their own businesses. Among his interests are hunting, shooting, fishing, polo, skiing, painting, writing, and reading. He also is an advocate of environmental issues. Since Diana's death, the Prince has made an attempt to be a more warm and loving father to his sons, something he lacked as a child. He has said many times before that he does not plan to give up his place in succession to the throne, and though it seems he will be Prince of Wales for many years to come, one day he will reign as Charles III.

As the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth, Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise, the Princess Royal of England, has never quite received the media attention that followed her brothers. Anne was born on August 15, 1950 at Clarence House in London. Only a year after Anne was born, her mother's ascention to the throne would impact the rest of her life.

In her youth, Anne attended Benenden School in Kent. She would soon become an avid equestrian who was good enough in her sport to compete in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Anne married Captain Mark Phillips on November 14, 1973. In the early months of their marriage, Anne was the target of an attempted kidnapping. Though her bodyguard was shot in the incident, Anne suffered no physical harm. In 1977, the Princess gave birth to her son Peter. Zara, her daughter, followed in 1981. Captain Phillips, at Anne's request, was never given a title, and therefore Anne's children also have no titles. Like her brothers, however, Anne's marriage did not last. She divorced Captain Phillips in April 1992, and on December 12 of that year, remarried Captain Timothy Laurence, her current husband.

The Princess is also involved in charity as part of her royal duties. She is president of the Save the Children Fund, among other activities. Though she is less known than her brothers, Princess Anne is still one of the royal family's key members.

Ten years passed before the next royal child, Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward, was born on February 19, 1960 at Buckingham Palace. The child would grow up to assume the title of Duke of York and be entangled in much of the scandal that has plagued his family.

Until age thirteen, Prince Andrew attended Heatherdown Preparatory School in Ascot. Then he followed his brother to Gordonstoun, where he is said to have had a better experience. The Prince then completed an exchange in Ontario, Canada at Lakefield College, the same school that Crown Prince Felipe of Spain also attended later. Andrew then continued his studies by joining the Royal Navy and attending the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. This would become a career spanning two decades as a helicopter pilot. The Prince is even a combat veteran, seeing action in the Falkland Islands war against Argentina in the early 1980's. He still serves in the Royal Navy, though he plans on retirement early in the next century.

The Prince was seen dating a number of the world's most beautiful women before finally settling on Sarah Ferguson, also known as "Fergie." He married Sarah at Westminster Abbey on July 23, 1986. His marriage to the firey redhead only lasted ten years, but produced two daughters-- ten year old Beatrice and her younger sister Eugenie.

Andrew, despite his career in the Royal Navy, fulfills many royal engagements every year. He is also very athletic, playing squash and golf. Like most royals, he also enjoys skiing. Since his divorce, public pressure on Prince Andrew has subsided, and he enjoys a very friendly relationship with his ex-wife. Prince Andrew is one of the most well-known and well-liked members of the royal family.

As the least well-known of Queen Elizabeth's four children, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and the man who only wishes to be known as "Edward Windsor," enjoys a bit more amonimity than others in the royal family. Edward Anthony Richard Louis was born on March 10, 1964. As a child, Edward attended Heatherdown Preparatory School. Like his brothers before him, Edward then went on to Gordonstoun, which had become coeducational and signifigantly changed by the time Edward was a student there. He later went to Jesus College, University of Cambridge to study history, and graduated in 1986.

Edward is distinct from other members of the royal family because he has a career not related to military service. After discovering he did not enjoy the Royal Marines, Edward was employed by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theater Company. He later broke off to form his own television production company, Ardent Productions Limited, in 1993 of which he is Director of Production. His documentary, Edward on Edward, with himself discussing the Duke of Windsor, earned him a deal with the American television station CBS and started his company on the road to success.

On June 19, 1999 Prince Edward became the last of the Queen's children to marry when he took Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones as his bride in St. George's Chapel, Windsor. The Prince met Sophie at a photocall for the Prince Edward Summer Challenge, a charity event, in 1993. Upon their marriage, Prince Edward was given the title of Earl of Wessex, a title that has not been used since William the Conqueror defeated the last Earl at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. In recent years controversy has surrounded the Earl and Countess over conflicts between their public roles and private business interests, causing the pair to give up their private companies and focus on life as working royals. The couple remains childless, with the Countess losing their first baby in December 2001 due to an ectopic pregnancy.

The Prince enjoys horseback riding, sailing, skiing, badminton, and the little- known game of Real Tennis. He is also involved in many charities, such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, started by his father, Prince Philip. Because of this work, it has been announced that upon his father's death Edward will receive the title Duke of Edinburgh. Surprisingly, Edward is said to be Philip's favorite child. Edward, the boy who was once known as "Nig Nog," seems to be one of the happier members of the British Royal Family.

Click here to read about Princes William and Harry.

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