As we celebrate King Charles’ coronation this month, we take a look at some of his treasured moments in Hampshire
1960
One of the first times the young Prince Charles is seen in Hampshire he is a guest at the wedding of Pamela Mountbatten and David Hicks at Romsey Abbey on January 13. Together with Princess Anne, he is seen here aged 12, at the sidelines, as relatives around him enjoy the couple’s reception.
1967
His Royal Highness has been seen and photographed many times in and around the waters of the Solent, accompanying his father, the Duke of Edinburgh and also, in one particular image, trying his hand at windsurfing. Here he is seen at the helm of the Flying Fifteen Labrador, with boat designer Uffa Fox, during Cowes Week on August 2.
1970
Three years later, Prince Charles is back in the county when he accompanied Prince Phillip as he officially opened Basingstoke Sports Centre on December 4. Here he is seen sharing a joke with director Bill Leadbetter.
1979
This is quite the bumper year for Royal visits from the prince, starting with a visit to forklift truck manufacturer Lansing Bagnell in Basingstoke and followed by a reception at Portsmouth’s Guildhall Square after receiving Freedom to the City on March 4. He then took a dive in the Solent to see the wreck site of the Mary Rose before being pictured at the wedding of Lord Romsey and Penelope Eastwood at Romsey Abbey on October 21; trying not to look amused by the sign being held up reading ‘Come on Charlie, you are next’. How significant that is now.
1981
The Prince of Wales admires the pictures upon the wall as he visits Broadlands to open the Mountbatten Exhibition on May 9, to commemorate the lives of Lord Mountbatten and Lady Edwina with displays of medals, uniforms, and mementos.
2007
HRH Prince Charles and Mrs Mary Fagan JP, the then Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, are seen here paying their respects at the end of the dedication of the Army Air Corps Memorial Service in Middle Wallop as part of their 50th Anniversary celebrations on September 17.
2008
The following year on May 18, in his role as Air Chief Marshal of the RAF, HRH Prince Charles visits RAF Odiham to present operational medals to RAF personnel who have recently returned from deployments.
2011
On May 26, Charles adds to the many visits made by the Royal family to Exbury Gardens and Railway as he and Camilla, the Princess of Wales meet owners the de Rothchilds to explore the gardens and enjoy the steam railway, which His Royal Highness takes under control as he steps behind the wheel with Leopold de Rothschild by his side.
2014
The Prince of Wales inspects continuing conservation work during a visit to the new £35 million Mary Rose Museum at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, housing the remains of the Tudor Warship, The Mary Rose. The Prince recalled his days of diving in the ‘lentil soup’ of the Solent 40 years ago at The Mary Rose wreck site as he visited the new museum. Charles, who is president of the Mary Rose Trust, was accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall during his visit to the purpose-built museum on February 26.
2015
The following year, on July 1, Prince Charles was in Fareham declaring the official opening of the HM Coastguard National Maritime Operations Centre alongside Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson.
2022
Bringing us up to date, Prince Charles was forced to miss the scheduled unveiling of a new statue, Licoricia, in Winchester, following testing positive for Covid 19 in February. However, with determination, he was back again the following month to see the statue for himself, and officially open the city’s new cultural hub, The Arc.
