OGG IN FOCUS
Prince Charles His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB, AK, ADC
In the May holidays he joined the fifth of the seven GGS parties that I took annually to visit Anglican mission stations and schools in Papua New Guinea – a visit that made a deep impression on him, as on many others (he wrote afterwards of the vitality of Christian faith that we experienced there, resembling that of the Early Church). He then paid visits in Australia. He matured.
Prince Charles, Heir Apparent to the Throne since the death of his grandfather King George VI and the accession of his mother as Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952, when he was just three, came for most of 1966 to GGS in circumstances that in several interrelated ways were highly unusual. For a start, he was the first Heir to go to school in a normal way (his predecessors having been tutored at home). Secondly, his schooling in the United Kingdom – at Gordonstoun in Scotland, where his father, Prince Philip, had been an early boy – was interrupted (in itself, at that time, an unusual occurrence) after it was announced, in October 1965, that he would go on exchange for a time with a boy from Geelong Grammar School (David Manton [P’67], as it turned out).
His guardian, Squadron Leader (later Sir) David Checketts, said “I brought out a boy; I took home a man.”
Academically, he was treated in many ways like the undergraduate that he did become. He was given large assignments to get on with, being tutored by correspondence and telephone when at Timbertop, and personally when at Corio by his tutors, the heads of his A-level subjects: Peter Westcott for English, John Glover for French, and I for his main subject, History (and for the sort of general essays that Cambridge would set, and for some attention to his dynastic destiny, based on the lives of the monarchs since Queen Victoria). He returned to Gordonstoun for a final year, became Guardian (head boy), got a rare Distinction in Scholarship-level History on “the Age of Cromwell” (he is a natural historian and had read a fine paper on Thirdly, it was decided by the School (in effect, the Head Master, Tommy Garnett) that, Charles I to the Historical Society at Corio), although in what would today be called Year and in three years at Trinity College, 12, he would be based at Timbertop (the fact Cambridge – punctuated by a term in Wales that he was two or three years older than the to learn Welsh before his Investiture in July other boys gave rise to the fairly widespread 1969 as Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester – read History, and Archaeology and but mistaken assumption that he was an Anthropology. He graduated well and went Assistant, not a pupil). Fourthly, although on to a career as an officer in the Royal Navy he would from time to time be at Corio (no other pupil has thus been shuttled back and as well as to mounting and multitudinous forth) and a member of the top year-group in royal duties, and to pursuing a wide range of interests and concerns through which he the School, he would be pursuing different studies from the others at Corio since he was has become one of the truly remarkable people of our time. aiming at A-level and S-level results good enough to secure him entry to Cambridge on So much could be written about the his own academic merits. directions taken by his services and his achievements. His books alone deserve While it was announced that he would be attention, especially Harmony: A New coming to us for a term (still then a third of a school year, not yet a quarter), he himself Way of Looking at Our World (Blue Door, knew that during that term, if he wanted to, Harper Collins, London, 2010). One book he could ask for a second term. This he soon reproduces many of his watercolour did, so that, having started at Timbertop late paintings (mostly of landscapes), some of which have appeared on British stamps. At in January, he stayed at the School until he left (from Corio) on July 29 to join his parents Highgrove, his own estate in Gloucestershire, and sister, Princess Anne, in Jamaica for the he has led the way in the creation of a beautiful garden and a highly instructive Commonwealth Games. 38
farm – a blend (like himself) of tradition and innovation. His approach to life, at once spiritual and down-to-earth, is reflected in the building raised beside the garden in celebration of the Millennium: a Sanctuary for prayer and meditation. He is actively involved in helping at least 700 organizations for the public good, nationally and internationally, and in promoting many worthy causes and his own deep interest in our religious heritage, sound education, congenial architecture, good literature, organic farming and gardening, holistic medicine, and other fruits of nature and civilisation. They are too numerous to name, but it would be unthinkable not to mention his Prince’s Trust, which has saved countless thousands of young people from the tragic effects of homelessness, hopelessness, depression, and various addictions. A man of exceptional insight, wisdom, and compassion, he intervenes – some would say interferes – where conscience directs. His position imposes certain restraints, but equally it gives him unique opportunities both to get and to give good advice. So often he speaks the voice of commonsense in counter-balance to the experts; so often he is right. Few in the media seem to understand him or appreciate his work; but he soldiers on uncomplainingly. I sometimes hear regret expressed that his reign – if he outlives his mother – is bound to be a shortish one. My response is a reminder that we have a double blessing: a Queen whose whole life has been one of dedicated and exemplary service, in channels largely constrained by constitutional requirements; and an Heir who has long had the opportunity himself of similarly dedicated service, but service of a freer kind. We are the richer for them both – with a third blessing now apparent: two Princes in whom great promise resides. Prince Charles’s first marriage, for all the tragedy in which it was engulfed, brought not only them but scope and opportunities for humanitarian work to their beautiful mother. His second – which took place just after his return from Australia (including his third revisit to GGS) in 2005 – has brought him peace and happiness, the surest foundation for continuing his life of exceptional service to the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and humanity. Michael Collins Persse Photograph by David Rowley