Photos of King Charles Offer Rare Glimpse of His Time as Royal Marine

Just because King Charles is the Head of the Commonwealth doesn’t mean he’s an expert at interacting with celebrities. This rang true at the Gladiator II premiere, when the 76-year-old monarch had a seriously awkward interaction with A-list actor Denzel Washington. (What *is* the proper protocol when addressing a royal?!) But if there’s one place where King Charles fits in, it’s with the Royal Marines. 

This week, the royal family shared a slideshow of striking throwback photos that were taken during the monarch’s time with the Royal Marines.

The black-and-white pictures offer a rare glimpse at King Charles’s military experience, and as someone who’s reported on the royal family for years, I can’t believe I’ve never seen these pics. 

The first photo is an action photo of King Charles wading through water alongside fellow Royal Marines. It’s followed by a group shot, along with a striking picture of King Charles piloting a helicopter. The last snap is a candid shot featuring a rare genuine smile from the typically stoic monarch. 

The caption shared details about the king’s latest outing and how it’s a special tribute to his former training with the Royal Marines.

“Memories with the Marines… [camera emoji],” it read. “Today The King, as Captain General of the @RoyalMarines, is visiting the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) at Lympstone in Devon. Back in 1974, whilst serving with 845 Naval Air Squadron, His Majesty undertook commando training with the Royal Marines at CTCRM.”