Charles Philip Arthur George was born at Buckingham Palace in London during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI. He was the first child of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (later Queen Elizabeth II), and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and was delivered by Caesarean section.

Following the death of his grandfather, King George VI, on February 6, 1952, Charles's mother acceded to the throne as Queen Elizabeth II, making Charles the heir apparent at the age of three. He automatically assumed the traditional titles of Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay among others.