Charles, Viscount Linley, the grandson of Princess Margaret and cousin of King Charles III, celebrates his 27th birthday on Wednesday. He is one of the lesser-known members of the royal family, rarely appearing at public events.
Background and Family
Charles Patrick Inigo Armstrong-Jones was born on July 1, 1999, at the Portland Hospital in Marylebone. He is the first child of David Armstrong-Jones, the 2nd Earl of Snowdon, and Serena Stanhope. He has a younger sister, Lady Margarita Elizabeth Rose Alleyne Armstrong-Jones, born in 2002.
From 2000 to 2002, Charles lived with his parents and his ailing grandmother, Princess Margaret, at Kensington Palace. He is the only one of Princess Margaret's four grandchildren to hold a title, being Viscount Linley as the heir to his father's earldom.
Education and Royal Duties
Charles was educated at Eton College, where he was in the same year as his cousin Arthur Chatto, son of Lady Sarah Chatto. In 2012, he was appointed a Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II, a ceremonial role that involved carrying the monarch's robes at state occasions such as the Order of the Garter service. He served until 2015.
After his grandfather's death in 2017, his father inherited the title Earl of Snowdon, making Charles Viscount Linley. He is expected to become the 3rd Earl of Snowdon in due course, as the title is hereditary.
Private Life and Career
Since his teenage years, Charles has largely stayed out of the public eye. In 2018, it was reported that he was studying product design engineering at Loughborough University. He is currently 25th in line to the British throne.
Despite his royal connections, Charles and his sister were raised to lead normal lives, only appearing at major national events such as royal weddings and funerals, and occasionally at Christmas services.
