This is dedicated to all human survival modes. Robust health is essential if we want to meet our goals in this life. It is never too late to be wise. It is never too early to revise.
One important aspect of the ancient TaNaK order of the Hebrew Bible is that the 12 prophetic works of Hosea through Malachi, sometimes referred to as the Minor Prophets, were designed as a single book called The Twelve. Habakkuk is the eighth book of The Twelve.
Prophet Habakkuk lived in the final decades of Judah, Israel’s southern kingdom. It was a time of injustice and idolatry, and he saw the rising threat of the Babylonian empire on the horizon. Unlike the other Hebrew prophets, Habakkuk doesn’t accuse Israel or even speak to the people on God’s behalf. Instead, all of his words are addressed to God. The book of Habakkuk tells us about Habakkuk’s personal struggle to believe that God is good when there is so much tragedy and evil in the world.
Many of Habakkuk’s words are actually poems of lament, similar to the lamentations in the book of Psalms. In a lament, the poet lodges a complaint to draw God’s attention to the suffering and injustice in the world and then demands that God do something. Knowing this is actually the key to understanding the design and message of this short book.
Chapters 1 and 2 are framed as a back-and-forth argument between Habakkuk and God. The prophet lodges two complaints (Hab. 1:2-4, 1:12-2:1), to which God offers two responses (Hab. 1:5-11, 2:2-5).
Who Wrote the Book of Habakkuk?
The book of Habakkuk is seen as a collection of messages given by Habakkuk throughout his prophetic life. However, the author is not explicitly stated within the book.
Context
The events described in the book of Habakkuk take place in Judah, Babylon, and Egypt, before the Babylonian siege (587/586 B.C.E.) and subsequent exile.
Literary Styles
Habakkuk contains mostly poetry with some prose-discourse.
Key Themes
● Hope for the future when God restores all humanity
● Exercising faith in the face of chaos
● The tension between injustice and God’s care for his world
Structure
Habakkuk is divided into three parts. Habakkuk 1-2:5 contains Habakkuk’s lament over Israel’s injustice.
Habakkuk 2:6-20 details the woes God pronounces against Babylon.
Finally, Habakkuk 3 concludes with the call to trust God and his ultimate justice.
Habakkuk 1-2a: Habakkuk Laments Israel’s Injustice and God Responds
Habakkuk’s first complaint in verses 1:2-4 is that life in Israel is horrible. The Torah is neglected, resulting in violence and injustice, and all of it is being tolerated by Israel’s corrupt leaders. Habakkuk is crying out, asking God to do something, but nothing is changing.
All of a sudden, God responds (Hab. 1:5-11), saying that he is aware of the deep corruption among his covenant people and that he’s summoning the armies of Babylon to bring justice down on rebellious Israel. Similar to the message of Micah and Isaiah, God says that he will use this terrifying empire to devour Israel because of their injustice and evil.
Habakkuk has a problem with this answer and offers up his second complaint (Hab. 1:12-2:1). Babylon, he says, is even worse than Israel. They are even more violent and corrupt; they’ve deified their own military power and treat humans like animals, gathering them up like fish in a net. They devour nations and people groups to further build their empire. Habakkuk asks, How can such a holy, good, and just God possibly use such corrupt people as his instruments in history? He demands an explanation and depicts himself as a watchman on the city walls, awaiting God’s response.
God tells Habakkuk to get some tablets and write down all that he sees and hears, sending him a vision about an appointed time in the future that may seem slow in coming but that will come. God also tells him that the “righteous person will live by their faith” (Hab. 2:4) in the hope presented in this vision.
What exactly is the divine promise that Habakkuk is to write down? God will one day bring Babylon down using the never-ending cycle of revenge and violence created by nations like Babylon. The fact that God may, for a time, use a corrupt nation like Babylon doesn’t mean that he endorses everything they do. He holds all nations accountable to his justice, and Babylon will fall along with any nation that acts like them.
Habakkuk 2b: Woes Against Babylon
God’s promise is then elaborated by a series of five “woes” that describe the typical forms of oppression and injustice perpetrated by nations like Babylon. The first two target unjust economic practices, like how wealthy people charge ridiculous interest to keep others trapped in debt, building their own wealth through crooked means. The third woe is a critique of slave labor and those who treat humans like animals, threatening them with violence if they aren’t productive enough. The fourth woe targets the abuse of alcohol by irresponsible leaders. While others suffer under their bad leadership, they’re partying and wasting their wealth on sex and booze. The last woe exposes the idolatry driving such nations. They have made money, power, and national security into gods, offering allegiance to them at all costs and becoming slaves to their own empire.
Now, the practices described here aren’t unique to Babylon, and that’s the point. Given the human condition, most nations will eventually become Babylon. God’s answer to Habakkuk becomes God’s answer to all later generations, to anyone who lives in a world ruled by other Babylons. This leaves us with an unsettling, open question: Will God let this cycle go on forever, letting Babylon-like empires ruin each other and his world?
The Evil Behind Babylon
Pharaoh vs. the Warrior God
Can We Trust God in Difficult Times?
Habakkuk 3: Trust in God and His Ultimate Justice
This question is what the last chapter is all about. It opens with a prayer of Habakkuk, where the prophet begins by pleading with God to act in the present like he has in the past, bringing down corrupt nations. “Renew your work in our days” (Hab. 3:2). What follows is an ancient poem that describes a powerful and terrifying appearance of God through clouds, fire, and earthquake. It’s very similar to the opening poems of Micah and Nahum, as well as the appearance of God at Mount Sinai in Exodus 19-20. When the Creator shows up to confront human evil, it will get everyone’s attention.
Habakkuk continues by describing the future defeat of evil among the nations as a future exodus. Just like God came as a warrior and split the sea in his battle against Pharaoh, Habakkuk says that God will once more bring his judgment down on the “head of the evil house.” Pharaoh, like Babylon, serves as an archetype of violent nations. At the same time, when God confronts evil, he will “save his people, and his anointed one” (Hab. 3:13), a reference to the coming king from the line of David. In this poem, the Exodus story of the past has become an image of a future exodus God will perform. He will once again defeat evil and bring down the Pharaohs and Babylons of the world, bringing justice to all people and rescuing the oppressed and innocent.
It’s this promise that enables Habakkuk to end the book with hopeful praise. Even if the world is falling apart from food shortages, drought, war, or whatever, he will choose to trust and take joy in the covenant promise of God. By the end of the book of Habakkuk, the prophet becomes a shining example of how “the righteous live by faith.” He recognizes just how dark and chaotic the world and our lives can become, but he also sees how this invites us into the journey of faith, trusting that God loves this world more than we can imagine and that he will one day deal with its evil.
What's the Biblical Vision of Justice?
Big Idea
Habakkuk sees the darkness of the world as an invitation to have faith in God’s promise to one day set things right. Living with such faith means trusting that God loves this world and works to one day eradicate all evil forever.
The Prince of Wales visits Wrexham to mark St. David's Day
Published
The Prince of Wales has visited Wrexham on St. David’s Day to celebrate Welsh culture and the city’s vibrant community spirit.
His Royal Highness first travelled to the Turf pub next to Wrexham AFC, where he was greeted by club co-owner Rob McElhenney, and heard about the positive impact the venue and the club has had on the local community. The Prince of Wales then visited the Racecourse Ground to hear about the club’s redevelopment and historic rise over the past three years since the takeover by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. The year 2020 purchase of the club by Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds and American actor Rob McElhenney and the attendant publicity from the docuseries Welcome to Wrexham had a significant impact on the club's visibility, leading to its acquiring a new global fanbase with no precedent for a team who were then in the fifth division.
Wrexham's home stadium, the Racecourse Ground, is the world's oldest international stadium that still continues to host international games. The record attendance at the ground was set in 1957, when the club hosted a match against Manchester United in front of 34,445 spectators. More history here .
Following this, The Prince of Wales visited Ysgol Yr Holl Saint/All Saint’s School, to engage with its St. David’s Day celebrations and hear about the work pupils have been carrying out to learn about Welsh history and culture. During the visit His Royal Highness met pupils taking part in activities including Dawnsio Gwerin - traditional Welsh folk dancing - and baking Bara Brith, a Welsh tea bread flavoured with dried fruits and spices.
Whilst in Wrexham, The Prince also paid his respects at the memorial of the Gresford Mining Disaster ¹, one of the most serious disasters in British coal mining history. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the tragic event (1934) which saw 266 men die following an explosion at the mine.
Note ¹ :
GRESFORD COLLIERY EXPLOSION - WREXHAM. 1934
GRESFORD. Wrexham. Denbighshire.
22nd. September, 1934.
The Gresford Colliery was owned by the United Westminster Wrexham Collieries, Limited and was at the village of Gresford about two and a half miles to the north of Wrexham. The mine had two shafts the downcast, which was known as the "Dennis," and the upcast, which was called the "Martin." Coal was wound at the Dennis and materials down the Martin shaft. Men were raised and lowered in both shafts. The sinking of the shafts started in 1908, and coal was first wound in June 1911, so the mine was not "newly opened" within the provisions of the Coal Mines Act, 1911 and the provision that there must be two intake roadways from each seam did not apply to the colliery.
The mine employed about 2,200 persons, 1,850 below ground and 350 at the surface. Three seams were worked at the colliery. They were the Main, Crank and Brassey but by the time of the explosion, the workings in the latter were idle. The Dennis section of the Main Seam, in which the explosion occurred, was made up of five districts each worked on the longwall system. These sections were known as 20's, 61's, 109's (which included 92's), 14's and 29's and employed 280 men on the day shift, 240 on the afternoon shift and 195 on the night shift.
Coal was got and wound on the morning and afternoon shifts and some coal were wound on Friday and Saturday nights. The packs and faces were moved during the night shift. The weekly output of coal from each of the Districts during the ten weeks prior to the explosion was 928 tons from the 20's, 732 from the 61's, 813 from the 109's, 1,617 from the 14's and 1,340 from the 29's.
Mr. William Bonsall, the manager, had occupied that position since 1917, and for three years previous to that, he had been assistant manager to Mr. Groves. Previous to that, he had been a deputy for three years, an overman for three years and undermanager for two years at Swanwick Colliery, Derbyshire. Before that, he had worked for nine years as a filler, holer, and contractor at Pinxton and Cotes Park Collieries and for four years as a haulage hand at Birchwood Colliery, all in Derbyshire.
Until two years before the explosion, there was also an agent, Mr. T.H. Cockin, but that office had not been filled, and Mr. Bonsall was left to work the mine without guidance from any technically informed official. He visited several districts in the Dennis Section from time to time, but before the explosion, he had spent most of his time in the Southeast section where belt conveyors were being installed. He had been underground during the night shift, but it was so long ago that it emerged at the inquiry that he could not remember when it was.
For many years, Mr. Thomas Hughes was undermanager, but in 1933, he fell sick, and Mr. Edward Alan Roberts acted in his place. After January 1934, there were two undermanagers, Mr. Edward Alan Roberts and Mr. Andrew Williams, Mr. Roberts supervised the South-East and No.1 North Section of the Main Coal Seam and the Crank and Brassey Seams and Mr. Williams, the Dennis Section of the Main Coal Seam. Since 1914, Mr. Roberts had been employed as an overman at the colliery. Before 1934, Mr. Williams was not employed at the colliery but, up to nine years before he had been employed at the Hafod Colliery for 24 years. During the time he was not in the North Wales Coalfield, he was the manager of the Blaenhirwaun Colliery in Carmarthenshire. Supervising only the Dennis Section, Mr. Williams was underground daily but not at night. he arrived at the pit about 5 a.m. each day and left at about 5.30 p.m. but very often returned to the pit. He was underground during the night shift of the 27th April to see that repairers working on the 142's deep and on the night shift of the 7th August he visited the face of the 14's district to see how a newly installed coalcutting machine was working.
Electrical power was used for coalcutting and conveying, and the chief electrician at the colliery was Mr. Josiah Ernest Hague. Mr. Sydney Erwin Hayes was the Colliery surveyor, and he was assisted by Mr. William Idris Cuffin, who was also given additional duties under the manager's directions for taking air measurements and the collection of dust samples. There were three overmen on each shift, but only one of these, Mr. Frederick John Davies, on the night shift, exercised any supervision in the Dennis Section and that only occasionally. Previous to the explosion, the last time he had been at the face of any of the workings in the Dennis Section was on the 21st. August when he went along the face of the 14's District. Sometime during August, he had been along the face of 29's district and on the 19th. August, he was in 20's district but did not visit the face. In June, he had been in 23's face and 109's district, and in March, he went round the 95's district and in two or three faces on the 20's district. At the inquiry, Mr. Davies stated that he devoted his time to the Southeast section of the Main Coal Seam and only went into the 'Dennis' now and again. This meant that except for the time that Mr. Andrew Williams, undermanager of the Dennis Section, was underground. That section of the mines was supervised by 15 deputies. They were Richard Owen, T.B. Tune and William Salisbury in the 20s, J.T. Jones, W. Swinnerton and William Salisbury agent, in the 61's, N. Parry, R.T. Edwards and S. Matthews in the 109's, J.H. Thomas, H. Amos and R. Jones in the 14's and H, Thomas, W. Davies and D. Jones in the 29s on the Day, Afternoon and night shifts respectively. The remaining deputy, Edwin Chester was employed on the night shift when he supervised men in the drift at the inbye end of the Dennis main haulage road beyond the "Clutch" and travelled and reported on that haulage road and the Martin return airway.
Three-phase current at 3,300 volts was taken down the Dennis shaft to two transformers at the bottom of the shaft where the voltage was reduced to 570 volts top work the haulage engines, coal cutting machines and conveyors. Each transformer was connected to a separate switchboard. The lighting at the pit bottom was supplied from a small transformer at 110 volts. There was one main cable installed in the Dennis main intake airway, which carried the whole of the current inbye for the section. The cable was controlled at its origin by a switch and fuse. Some of the coal cutting machines and conveyors were certified flameproof, but others of another design were used, which were supposed to be flameproof. The bells were certified flameproof, but the magneto telephones were neither intrinsically safe nor in flameproof casings.
The haulage in the Dennis Main Intake and 142's Deep was by endless rope driven by an electric motor placed near the Dennis shaft bottom. The districts generally had tail and main rope haulage driven by electricity and compressed air.
The mine was generally dry, but there was a pump and a small one for pumping water from the Dennis shaft sump to the Martin shaft sump lodgement pump at 500 feet fro the surface between the two shafts and a small pump for emptying the Martin sump into tanks in the cages in that shaft and wound to the pit bank.
Thirty electric lamps were used by the electricians, but most of the lamps were flame lamps of the Prestwich Patent Protector Type. The ventilation was produced by a double inlet Walker fan placed at the surface and steam-driven. There was no proper airlock at the top of the upcast, Martin shaft. Platforms called "butterfly boards" or "policemen", raised by the cages as they came up, were relied on to prevent the air from the fan flowing directly from the surface to the fan.
The explosion occurred shortly before 8 a.m. on Saturday when there were 480 men at work. News of disaster became known only early on Saturday morning, and relatives of the night shift men rushed to colliery. Rescue men from Gresford and Llay Main Collieries rushed to the colliery to fight fire, and doctors and nurses, St John Ambulance men and Wrexham Fire Brigade were quickly on the scene. A party went down the mine, including Mr. T. Boydell, the Divisional Inspector and District Inspector when it was found that the location of the explosion was about three-quarters of a mile from pit bottom and that fire and smoke were intense.
Within a short time, seven bodies had been recovered and brought to surface and rescue parties under Mr. H. Herbert, superintendent of the Rescue Station at Wrexham, equipped with gas masks and apparatus, were working underground.
There was continual activity at pit head with cages being raised and lowered at frequent intervals containing the rescuers and large quantities of sand in paper bags, then in sacks, then loads of stone dust and dozens of fire extinguishers. One of the rescuers described the scene underground as "a blazing wall of fire." Rescue appliances were rushed from Lancashire, and batches of men arrived from various parts of the county to offer their help.
Lorries loaded with sand continually drove into the pit yards and were unloaded at the pit head into sacks by a host of volunteers, including the Vicar of Rhosddu, The Rev. G.R. Davies. Dozens of these sacks were taken underground, but the bulk of them remained at the surface to underline the seriousness of the situation. The pile of sacks led to rumours that the mine was to be sealed, but this was denied by management.
Relays of rescue workers were going down the pit in teams of four and grim realisation of what had happened came to hundreds of silent men, women and children on pit banks when the bodies of twol of rescue men were brought to the surface. They were taken to the ambulance room where artificial respiration was tried for half an hour before they were pronounced dead and removed to the temporary mortuary.
They were: Daniel Hughes, Second Avenue Llay and William Hughes, Jackson's Cottages, New Rhosrobin, both members of Llay Main Rescue Team and were in the first party to descend after the explosion. To add to the bitterness, news came that a member of the same party, John Lewis of Railway Terrace, Cefnybedd, was missing and had not been recovered.
The "Leader" reported of the scenes at temporary mortuary:
What a tragic sight, a scene which brought tears to the eyes of many while a comrade sat silently weeping in the rescue station.
”Whereas it has pleased almighty God to call to his mercy our late Sovereign lady Queen Elizabeth II of blessed and glorious memory, by whose decease the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is solely and rightfully come to the Prince Charles Philip Arthur George.
“We, therefore, the lords spiritual and temporal of this realm, and members of the House of Commons, together with other members of Her late Majesty’s Privy Council, and representatives of the realms and territories, aldermen, and citizens of London and others, do now hereby, with one voice and consent of tongue and heart, publish and proclaim that the Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, is now, by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, become our only lawful and rightful liege lord, Charles III, by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, and of his other realms and territories, King, head of the Commonwealth, defender of the faith, to whom we do acknowledge all faith and obedience with humble affection, beseeching God, by whom kings and queens do reign, to bless His Majesty with long and happy years to reign over us.”
++++++++++++
They are words that link us to the past and leave a mark for the future. Just after 11 o’clock on the morning of September 10th 2022, at Friary Court at St. James’s Palace in London, the proclamation of His Majesty King Charles III was made. It followed an historic meeting of the Accession Council.
This proclamation was very modern – for the first time, it was televised, ensuring that everyone in his new kingdom had a chance to see Charles declared their Monarch, if they chose. But it followed an ancient pattern, often with ancient language that had been used in centuries past to proclaim those who held the throne before King Charles.
It links him forever to all those whose realm he now rules. The proclamation, read by the Garter King at Arms, was striking and historic.
King Charles III graduated from University of Cambridge, and he is a University of Cambridge alumni.
Where did King Charles III go to school? His Majesty’s education explained.
King Charles – then Prince Charles – in his room at university Trinity College Cambridge
The King as a young university student (Picture)
King Charles III is, believe it or not, the first monarch in our history to be educated in a school.
His Majesty, 73, is also the first ever King or Queen of the United Kingdom to hold a university degree.
Yep, the late Queen didn’t attend an actual school, but was instead educated at home by a range of tutors – normal for a daughter from a royal or wealthy family during that period of time.
So, where did The King study? And where did he go to university?
Here’s all you need to know.
Where did King Charles go to school?
Young King Charles at Hill House School, Hampshire
Then-Prince Charles, escorted by headmaster of Hill House School in Knightsbridge (Picture)
While The Queen didn’t go to school, Her Majesty’s son attended several as a youngster.
King Charles III began his education beyond the home at Hill House School in Knightsbridge, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, when he was aged six.
Hill House was a boys-only, pre-preparatory school, founded by British Army officer Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Townend in 1951.
When the young Prince Charles attended the school from 1956, Townend – who was reportedly only known as ‘The Colonel’ – was its headmaster as well as founder.
He was said to operate with the motto: ‘A child’s mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.’
Young King Charles playing cricket at Hill House School
A young Charles playing cricket at the Hill House School Field Day (Photo)
The King only attend the school for nine months, from November 1956 until summer 1957.
In a 2002 obituary for Townend by The Independent, a school report from the time was quoted as calling His Majesty ‘determined but slow, with above-average intelligence’.
Townend reportedly called him ‘full of go, full of physical courage… a damned good lad’.
In September 1957, The King was moved to Cheam Preparatory School in Headley, Hampshire – the oldest prep school in the country, which first opened its doors in 1645.
His father, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, had previously been a pupil there.
Young King Charles in his uniform for Cheam Prep School
The now King as a child, wearing his Cheam School uniform (Picture)
The King remained a pupil at Cheam until 1962, when he was moved to Scotland boarding school Gordonstoun.
Prince Philip was also a student at Gordonstoun, which is still open and located in the town of Elgin, Moray in the Scottish Highlands.
The Duke joined in 1934, arriving in its founding year, and was one of German founder Kurt Hahn’s star pupils – despite a school report saying he was ‘often naughty but never nasty’.
By all accounts, Philip thrived under the school’s‘unique educational ethos’ – which placed a focus on practical and life skills, rather than just learning from books.
His Majesty The King joined in May 1962, when he was 13, and remained there for five years.
Young King Charles arriving at Gordonstoun boarding school in Scotland with dad Prince Philip.
UNITED KINGDOM – OCTOBER 18:The Duke of Edinburgh walks with his son and Captain Iain Tennant in front of Gordonstoun, Prince Charles� exclusive public school. Heir to the throne Prince Charles (born 1948) went on to take History at Cambridge.
At Gordonstoun, he studied a range of subjects – but was also very involved in extracurricular activities.
Charles played the cello and trumpet, sang in the choir, joined the debate club, and played Macbeth in a school play, acting in various drama shows throughout his stay.
The King also took up sailing, Highlands walking expeditions and pottery at the school, the BBC writes. The King was Head Boy in his final year at Gordonstoun, too.
It’s long been suggested that The King didn’t enjoy his time at Gordonstoun. The school was even a focal point in an episode of fictional Netflix drama The Crown.
There’s also been claims that the then Prince of Wales was bullied.
King Charles III's old school Gordonstoun
Gordonstoun, pictured in the 1960s when King Charles attended.
Former Gordonstoun student Johnny Stonborough told Good Morning Britain in September 2022: ‘It was quite harsh. He was badly bullied and very isolated.
‘On the rugby pitch you would see it. There were a couple of people who said they would ‘do Prince Charles’ and they would beat him up in the scrum, pull his ears and thump him.’
However, in 1974, Charles addressed his time at the school, saying: ‘I didn’t enjoy school as much as I might have, but that was only because I’m happier at home than anywhere else.
‘But Gordonstoun developed my willpower and self control, helped me to discipline myself…
‘We ran our own fire brigade, we had our own sea rescue service, mountain rescue, surf life saving, coastguard, etc. It was adventure. And we were damn good.’
Young King Charles when he was Prince of Wales, with his mother Queen Elizabeth II
The Queen with Charles in his final year to Gordonstoun (Photo)
He also shared in a 1975 speech: ‘I am always astonished by the amount of rot talked about Gordonstoun and the careless use of ancient clichés used to describe it.
‘It was only tough in the sense that it demanded more of you as an individual than most other schools did – mentally or physically.’
The King graduated with five O-Levels in English Literature, English Language, French, Latin and History, along with two French and History A-Levels, earning him a place at university.
Where did King Charles go to university?
The King went to Trinity College, part of the University of Cambridge, from 1967 to 1970.
His Majesty is the first reigning monarch to hold a university degree.
King Charles on his first day at Trinity College Cambridge
(Footage of the future King arriving at Trinity College, chauffeured in a mini Cooper car, to begin his studies at Cambridge University in October 1967. Click here to watch the black & white video)
Prince Charles pictured wearing academic robes out as he begins his first term at Cambridge University, outside Trinity College in Cambridge, October 9th 1967.
Prince Charles practices his cello playing in his rooms at Trinity College Cambridge, whilst an undergraduate there. @ Location: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK.
Initially, he majored in Archaeology and Anthropology, but also read History.
During his second undergraduate year, Charles spent a term as the University College of Wales, in Aberystwyth, in order to study the Welsh language and Wales’ history – as Prince of Wales at the time.
Charles also undertook extracurriculars at Cambridge, such as playing polo against Oxford, playing cello in the orchestra, and attending an archaeological dig in Jersey, among other activities.
His Majesty graduated in 1970 with a 2:2 degree.
A few years later, in 1975, The King was awarded a Master of Arts by Cambridge – not a postgraduate qualification but rather an academic rank.
The University of Cambridge congratulates His Majesty King Charles III on the occasion of his Coronation.
Here we look at and celebrate the King's longstanding relationship with the University, beginning with his time as a student here in the 1960s and continuing up to the present day.
[Photo : Prince Charles reads a play with friends sitting on the floor of a College room ]
"The University and Colleges are immensely proud of Cambridge’s longstanding links to the Royal Family – and to His Majesty King Charles III in particular.
Not only was he a student here, but he has since remained a steadfast supporter of the University’s work, especially in the field of sustainability.
His Coronation is a moment of great national and international significance, and a day of celebration in Cambridge"
— Dr Anthony Freeling, Acting Vice-Chancellor. In office as Acting Vice-Chancellor from 1st October 2022 – 30th June 2023, he was the first acting vice-chancellor in the history of the University of Cambridge. ( More details here)
[Professor Deborah Prentice became the University of Cambridge’s 347th Vice-Chancellor on 1 July 2023. More details here ]
Scroll down through our timeline to explore some of the King's memorable visits and connections with Cambridge.
●1967
The future King Charles broke with tradition when he opted to attend university after his A-Levels instead of joining the military.
In October 1967 he was admitted to Trinity College where he read Archaeology & Anthropology and then History.
This photo, affectionately known as a 'matriculation mugshot', was taken in the Wren Library and is a rite of passage for students marking the start of their studies.
●1969
During his studies the Prince of Wales undertook an official visit to the Department of Engineering, meeting with staff members working in the laboratory.
On a previous Royal Visit one of those same staff members, Mr Baker, Deputy Superintendent of the Workshop, had presented to HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh (a future Chancellor of the University), a wooden toy helicopter made in the workshop for the then-three-year-old Prince Charles.
●1970
The future King became the first British heir apparent to earn a university degree, graduating Bachelor of Arts in June.
As per tradition, in 1975 this was promoted to a Master of Arts degree.
●1980s
The Prince of Wales became a Founder Trustee of The Cambridge Trust.
The Trust was established in the 1980s with the specific objective of providing scholarships to students from around the world who lacked the means to fund their studies at Cambridge.
●1994
As Royal Founding Patron of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), Prince Charles initiated The Prince of Wales's Business & Sustainability Programme.
Ahead of its time when it launched, the programme continues to equip senior leaders to engage with social and environmental issues and runs annually in Cambridge, South Africa, Australia and Singapore.
●1997
In January, Prince Charles met staff and students at the opening of the new Centre for Advanced Religious and Theological Studies.
During the visit, he looked at photos and artefacts that researchers had collected and displayed in the centre as part of their research projects.
●2008
The Prince of Wales visited the University Library to open the Commonwealth Reading Room.
The future King viewed a display of materials from the Royal Commonwealth Society's collections and cleaned one of the books that had suffered damage from smoke during the Blitz (before it was acquired by the Library).
●2008
The Prince of Wales visited the University Library to open the Commonwealth Reading Room.
The future King viewed a display of materials from the Royal Commonwealth Society's collections and cleaned one of the books that had suffered damage from smoke during the Blitz (before it was acquired by the Library).
●2022
In March, the future King opened The Entopia Building, an ultra-low carbon sustainable HQ for the CISL.
He also met with seven students who were recipients of the 'HRH Prince of Wales Commonwealth Scholarship'. The scholarship, offered by the Cambridge Trust, supported applicants from Commonwealth nations whose studies focused on themes such as climate change, the blue economy and sustainability.
His visit concluded at the Whittle Laboratory, a world-famous turbomachinery laboratory, to learn about work to achieve net-zero aviation.
2023: The University is proud to be involved in
His Majesty's Coronation
• The Gospels of Augustine of Canterbury, the oldest surviving illustrated Latin Gospels in the world, will play a key role in the service. The manuscript has been held in the Parker Library at Corpus Christi College for the last 450 years. When the future King visited in 2001, he recognised their importance and during planning of the Coronation, His Majesty requested the Gospels be part of it.
• His Majesty will be crowned by Cambridge graduate and Honorary Fellow of Trinity, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. The Dean of Westminster, Dr David Hoyle, is also a Cambridge graduate (Corpus Christi College) and Honorary Fellow of Magdalene College.
• Professor David Fergusson, Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge and a Fellow of Magdalene College, will be present in his role as Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland.
• David Salmon, of Wolfson College, a 2023 Rhodes Scholar currently studying for his MPhil in Development Studies, will carry his national flag of Jamaica.
• Nigel Hess, of St Catharine’s College, has composed music for the Coronation, as has Tarik O'Regan, of Trinity and Corpus Christi Colleges.
• The Master of the King's Music is Judith Weir, a Cambridge graduate and Honorary Fellow of King’s College and Trinity College.
Prince Charles rehearsing for a play with his friends at University.
Charles, Prince of Wales relaxing in his study at Cambridge University
Prince Charles cycles past King's College Cambridge
Prince Charles visits the Department of Engineering
Prince Charles at Trinity College, Cambridge,
Prince Charles studying in his rooms at Cambridge University in 1967
Footage of the future King arriving at Trinity College to begin his studies at Cambridge University in October 1967.
The University of Cambridge congratulates His Majesty King Charles III on the occasion of his Coronation.
Here we look at and celebrate the King's longstanding relationship with the University, beginning with his time as a student here in the 1960s and continuing up to the present day.
Prince Charles reads a play with friends sitting on the floor of a College room
"The University and Colleges are immensely proud of Cambridge’s longstanding links to the Royal Family – and to His Majesty King Charles III in particular.
Not only was he a student here, but he has since remained a steadfast supporter of the University’s work, especially in the field of sustainability.
His Coronation is a moment of great national and international significance, and a day of celebration in Cambridge"
Scroll down through our timeline to explore some of the King's memorable visits and connections with Cambridge.
1967
The future King Charles broke with tradition when he opted to attend university after his A-Levels instead of joining the military.
In October 1967 he was admitted to Trinity College where he read Archaeology & Anthropology and then History.
This photo, affectionately known as a 'matriculation mugshot', was taken in the Wren Library and is a rite of passage for students marking the start of their studies.
1969
During his studies the Prince of Wales undertook an official visit to the Department of Engineering, meeting with staff members working in the laboratory.
On a previous Royal Visit one of those same staff members, Mr Baker, Deputy Superintendent of the Workshop, had presented to HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh (a future Chancellor of the University), a wooden toy helicopter made in the workshop for the then-three-year-old Prince Charles.
1970
The future King became the first British heir apparent to earn a university degree, graduating Bachelor of Arts in June.
As per tradition, in 1975 this was promoted to a Master of Arts degree.
The Trust was established in the 1980s with the specific objective of providing scholarships to students from around the world who lacked the means to fund their studies at Cambridge.
Ahead of its time when it launched, the programme continues to equip senior leaders to engage with social and environmental issues and runs annually in Cambridge, South Africa, Australia and Singapore.
During the visit, he looked at photos and artefacts that researchers had collected and displayed in the centre as part of their research projects.
2008
The Prince of Wales visited the University Library to open the Commonwealth Reading Room.
The future King viewed a display of materials from the Royal Commonwealth Society's collections and cleaned one of the books that had suffered damage from smoke during the Blitz (before it was acquired by the Library).
2016
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall undertook a visit to pay tribute to three of the University's great institutions.
Their Royal Highnesses visited the Fitzwilliam Museum to celebrate its bicentenary and the University Library to mark its 600th anniversary.
They also attended King's College Chapel to listen to rehearsals, gaining an exclusive preview of the famous Nine Lessons and Carols service to be broadcast around the world that Christmas.
2022
In March, the future King opened The Entopia Building, an ultra-low carbon sustainable HQ for the CISL.
He also met with seven students who were recipients of the 'HRH Prince of Wales Commonwealth Scholarship'. The scholarship, offered by the Cambridge Trust, supported applicants from Commonwealth nations whose studies focused on themes such as climate change, the blue economy and sustainability.
His visit concluded at the Whittle Laboratory, a world-famous turbomachinery laboratory, to learn about work to achieve net-zero aviation.
2023: The University is proud to be involved in His Majesty's Coronation
• The Gospels of Augustine of Canterbury, the oldest surviving illustrated Latin Gospels in the world, will play a key role in the service. The manuscript has been held in the Parker Library at Corpus Christi College for the last 450 years. When the future King visited in 2001, he recognised their importance and during planning of the Coronation, His Majesty requested the Gospels be part of it.
• His Majesty will be crowned by Cambridge graduate and Honorary Fellow of Trinity, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. The Dean of Westminster, Dr David Hoyle, is also a Cambridge graduate (Corpus Christi College) and Honorary Fellow of Magdalene College.
• Professor David Fergusson, Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge and a Fellow of Magdalene College, will be present in his role as Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland.
• David Salmon, of Wolfson College, a 2023 Rhodes Scholar currently studying for his MPhil in Development Studies, will carry his national flag of Jamaica.
• Nigel Hess, of St Catharine’s College, has composed music for the Coronation, as has Tarik O'Regan, of Trinity and Corpus Christi Colleges.
• The Master of the King's Music is Judith Weir, a Cambridge graduate and Honorary Fellow of King’s College and Trinity College.
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