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King Charles III has been a vocal advocate for many causes throughout his life, from environmental issues and sustainable architecture to interfaith dialogue and the importance of family.
The king's views on these issues reflect not only his personal beliefs but also his dedication to using his position to make a positive impact on society.
Drawing on a selection of his most significant quotes, we explore the monarch's opinions on various topics and the insight they offer into his world view.
Becoming a monarch
King Charles acknowledges the unique position he holds as a future monarch, and he sees it as an opportunity to bring people together and create an atmosphere of dialogue and understanding between different communities.
“As a future king, I shall not be a political figure, but I would like to think that I could bring people together and help to create the right atmosphere for dialogue and understanding between different communities,” he has said.
Throughout his life, King Charles has used his position to give voice to those who are not always heard, and he hopes to continue this as monarch.
He feels a deep sense of duty to serve his country and its people, upholding the values that have been passed down to him.
“It is my deepest wish to do my utmost to serve my country and its people, to uphold the values that have been passed down to me, and to use the experiences and insights I have gained over the years to help make a positive difference in the world,” he has said.
The king is committed to creating a legacy of good.
“I find myself born into this particular position. I'm determined to make the most of it and to do whatever I can to help,” he said. “And I hope I leave things behind a little bit better than I found them.”
Environment
King Charles has long been a passionate advocate for the environment, urging society to address the affects of human actions on the planet.
He has been described as a “green prince” due to his environmental activism, which includes championing sustainable architecture and farming practices.
The king has also spoken out about the need to address climate change as a moral imperative, warning that “we are the first generation to fully understand the consequences of our actions on the planet, and we may be the last to have the chance to do something about it”.
In one of his most powerful statements on the environment, King Charles said: “The greatest challenge we face is to reform our relationship with nature, to put sustainability at the heart of our economy and to recognise that the conservation of nature is not a luxury but a necessity.”
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A photo released by Buckingham Palace as they announced that King Charles III had been diagnosed with cancer. All Photos: Getty Images unless stated -
King Charles attends the Sunday service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate in January -
King Charles and Queen Camilla leaving The London Clinic in January. The King had been receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate. -
King Charles delivers his Christmas message at Buckingham Palace in December 2023 -
King Charles delivers an address at the opening ceremony of the Cop28 Summit in December 2023 in Dubai -
King Charles and Prince William attend the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in November 2023 in London -
King Charles and Queen Camilla at the State Opening of Parliament in November 2023 -
King Charles waters and plants a tree watched by President of Kenya, William Ruto in October 2023 in Nairobi -
King Charles and US President Joe Biden review a guard of honour at Windsor Castle in July 2023 -
Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla during the National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, in July 2023 -
King Charles and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, after his coronation. PA -
King Charles, carrying the Sovereign's Orb and Sceptre, leaves Westminster Abbey after the Coronation in May 2023. AFP -
King Charles III is crowned with St Edward's Crown by The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey in May 2023. PA -
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, centre, with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender during the king's state visit in March 2023 -
King Charles and Camilla during a visit to the Bangladeshi community of Brick Lane, London, in February 2023 -
King Charles welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the leader of the Conservative Party to form a new government in October 2022 -
King Charles during the recording of his first Christmas broadcast at Windsor Castle in December 2022 -
King Charles follows the coffin of Queen Elizabeth as it is carried from Westminster Abbey after her state funeral. AP -
King Charles holds a vigil beside the coffin of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, as it lies in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall. PA -
King Charles greets members of the public as he walks by the gates of Buckingham Palace after the death of Queen Elizabeth. AP -
King Charles shakes hands with British Prime Minister Liz Truss during their first audience at Buckingham Palace -
King Charles III delivers his address to the nation and the Commonwealth from Buckingham Palace after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 -
Prince Charles with Camilla and Prince William during the ceremonial state opening of parliament at the Palace of Westminster in 2022 -
Prince Charles and Camilla on a visit to Giza in Egypt in 2021 -
Prince Charles joined members of the British Asian Trust for a short bicycle ride as they launched the charity's Palaces on Wheels cycling event at Highgrove in 2021 -
Prince Charles walks behind the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin during the funeral of Prince Philip in 2021 -
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles during the state opening of parliament at the Palace of Westminster, London, in 2019 -
Prince Charles, Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry arrive for a Christmas Day church service on the Sandringham estate in December 2018 -
Prince Charles leads Meghan Markle up the aisle during her wedding to Prince Harry in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in 2018 -
Prince Charles and Camilla attend a dinner hosted by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, in Amsterdam in 2013 -
Prince Charles and Harry in front of an Apache helicopter at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, 2011 -
Queen Elizabeth presents Prince Charles with the Royal Horticultural Society's Victoria Medal of Honour at the Chelsea Flower Show, west London, in 2009 -
An official portrait to mark Prince Charles's 60th birthday in 2008 -
Prince Charles and his new bride Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle after their wedding in April 2005 -
Charles with his sons William and Harry on a ski break at Klosters in Switzerland in 2005 -
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles in Avignon during a state visit to France in 1972 -
Prince Charles learns a soul dance routine at St George's Secondary School in Maida Vale, west London, in 1978 -
Prince Philip, Prince William, Earl Spencer, Prince Harry and Prince Charles follow the coffin of Princess Diana at her funeral in London in September 1997 -
Diana and Prince Charles pose with their sons, Princes William and Harry, on Prince William's first day at Eton College in 1995 -
Prince Charles and Diana on a visit to Nottingham in 1985 -
Diana and Prince Charles with Prince Harry leave St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, in 1984 -
Prince Charles and his wife Diana with their baby son, Prince William, at home in Kensington Palace in 1983 -
Prince Charles and Diana with son William in 1983 -
Prince Charles and Diana on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day in 1981 -
Prince Charles at a polo event in Windsor Great Park, accompanied by the queen and Prince Edward, in 1971 -
Prince Charles leaving Caernarfon Castle after his investiture as Prince of Wales, in Gwynedd, 1969 -
Prince Charles during a tour of Wales in 1969 -
Prince Charles playing cricket in 1968. He was playing for Lord Brabourne against a team of Grand Prix racing drivers. -
Prince Charles and Princess Anne at Windsor Great Park in 1968 -
Prince Charles at the University of Cambridge in 1967, where he was beginning his term at Trinity College -
Queen Elizabeth and her family travel to Sandringham in 1966. Prince Andrew is on her lap, the Duke of Edinburgh to her left with Princess Anne on his lap, and Prince Charles, right -
Prince Charles, walking a Corgi, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and their nanny Mabel Anderson at Euston Station, London, in 1963 -
US President Dwight D Eisenhower, centre, with the British royal family, left to right, Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, at Balmoral Castle in 1959 -
Queen Elizabeth watches her son Prince Charles driving a toy car in the grounds of Balmoral Castle in 1952 -
A young Prince Charles is perched on the lap of his father the Duke of Edinburgh, while his mother Queen Elizabeth II looks on in the grounds of Windlesham Moor in 1949
Architecture
With a keen interest in architecture, King Charles has spoken of the need to create structures that are both sustainable and respectful of their surroundings.
The king has been a strong proponent of architecture that respects the past while looking to the future. He believes that architecture should create harmony between people and their environment and promote a sense of community.
“Architecture is the most public of all the arts,” he said. “It has an effect on the lives of everyone who comes into contact with it.”
The king stresses the importance of drawing on the best of our architectural heritage to inform contemporary design, while also incorporating sustainable practices.
He said: “Architecture should be rooted in the past, and yet be part of our own time and forward-looking. We must not be afraid to draw on the best of our architectural heritage to inform the design of the buildings we create today.”
In line with his commitment to sustainability, he has emphasised the need for buildings that are designed to last and respect the character of their surroundings.
He has said: “The creation of genuinely sustainable buildings that are designed to last, that are adaptable and that respect the character of the places in which they are built is of the utmost importance, not only for the well-being of those who will live and work in them, but also for the health of the planet.”
Islam
King Charles has been a vocal advocate for promoting understanding and appreciation of Islamic culture.
He recognises the significant contributions made by the Islamic world to art, science, and humanities, and has called for a greater acknowledgement of this in the West.
“We must foster greater understanding between the Islamic world and the West so that we can work together to confront the many challenges facing our global community,” he has said.
The king believes that the conflicts we see in the world are not caused by religion, but rather by the abuse of religion and the manipulation of people's innate spiritual yearning.
He says Islam has contributed many gifts to the world, such as majestic arches and soaring spires, timeless poetry, elegant calligraphy, and places of peaceful contemplation. He has emphasised that the Islamic world is not monolithic, but a diverse tapestry of cultures and traditions woven together by the teachings of Islam.
In his efforts to foster greater understanding, King Charles has said it is important for people in the western world to understand how the Islamic world views them.
“If there is much misunderstanding in the West about the nature of Islam, there is also much ignorance about the debt our own culture and civilisation owes to the Islamic world,” he has said
The king believes that we need to recover the depth, subtlety, generosity of imagination, and respect for wisdom that marked Islam in its great ages to overcome misunderstandings and work towards mutual understanding and peace.
Middle East
The king also recognises the importance of the Middle East, not just because of its strategic location and abundant resources, but also because of its profound historical and cultural significance.
He believes that lasting peace in the region can only be achieved through dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect among its diverse communities and faiths.
As he has said: “I have long believed that the only way to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East is through dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect between the different communities and faiths that call the region home.”
The king regards himself as a unifying force that brings people together and creates an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and understanding.
In this capacity, he wishes to encourage the protection and preservation of the Middle East's cultural heritage.
He has said: “The Middle East's rich cultural heritage is a testament to the region's diversity and the enduring strength of its people. We must work together to protect and preserve this heritage for future generations.”
Family
King Charles holds family values close to his heart. He once said: “Family is the bedrock of any society, and I am fortunate to have been blessed with a loving and supportive family. They have been my source of strength and inspiration throughout my life.”
He believes it is important to instil values such as kindness, empathy, and respect for others in our children.
“It is our duty as parents to nurture, guide, and support our children, providing them with the tools they need to navigate the challenges of life and become responsible, compassionate adults,” he has said.
As a grandparent, King Charles recognises the importance of spending time with loved ones.
“Being a grandparent is a unique joy and privilege, and it is a delight to see the world through the eyes of my grandchildren,” he has said.
“Their happiness, curiosity, and wonder remind me of the importance of cherishing the simple moments and the enduring bonds of family.”
