King Charles faced one of his most challenging decisions since taking the throne, yet he has remained composed amidst the controversy involving his younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

Just under two weeks after Charles, who celebrates his 77th birthday today, officially removed Andrew, 65, of his ‘prince’ designation, the King demonstrated poise as he led the nation in a solemn two-minute silence for Remembrance Sunday.

This moment underscored Charles’s steadfast dedication to his country and his calm demeanor under pressure.

In stark contrast, Charles’s childhood was marked by moments of discomfort, being the young boy whose ‘inevitable destiny’ was determined from birth.

Royal author Ingrid Seward recounts an embarrassing childhood incident when Charles, during a school performance as King Richard III, was interrupted by his headmaster announcing the birth of his brother Andrew.

This experience was just one of many in his youth where Charles felt set apart due to his royal upbringing, Seward explains in her book, “My Mother and I.”

Like his father Prince Philip, Charles began his formal education at Cheam prep school in Berkshire in 1958 before enrolling at Gordonstoun in April 1962.

It was during his time at Cheam that Charles was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester by his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. 

A portrait of Charles, now King, with his younger brother Andrew after his birth in February 1960

However, Andrew’s birth announcement was extremely ’embarrassing’ for Charles as he was on stage during a school play when it was made

However, the announcement caught Charles, who hadn’t even turned 10 yet, off guard because of the manner in which it was delivered. 

At the time, Britain’s future King was in his headmaster’s study, watching the closing ceremony of the 1958 Commonwealth Games along with some other boys. 

Suddenly, ‘his mother’s voice came over the speakers announcing: “I intend to create my son, Charles, Prince of Wales today,”‘ the royal biographer described the moment that all eyes became fixed on the young boy. 

‘There was a thunder of applause and then hundreds of Welsh voices sang, “God Bless the Prince of Wales”,’ Ms Seaward continued. ‘He was nine years and eight months old.’ 

While he was at Cheam, however, Charles also discovered a passion for acting – one that followed him to Trinity College, Cambridge – when he was cast as Richard III in the school production of The Last Baron. 

The play was an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Richard III, and Charles found himself in the shoes of the future King when the leading actor left Cheam suddenly. 

Charles rose to the occasion and was reportedly ‘complimented on his performance and style’ in the school newspaper. 

On the final night of the play, in February 1960, his headmaster got up on stage ‘to announce that the Queen had just given birth to a second son’ Andrew. 

‘Again, it was terribly embarrassing for the 11-year-old Prince,’ wrote Ms Seward, ‘and, although he was excited and happy about the baby, it was yet another moment during his childhood when he was made to feel different and awkward.’ 

The biographer went on to describe the relief Charles felt at his mother being unable to watch the play ‘because of her condition’ as it saved him ‘any blushes over the ensuing fuss’ that would have been made over her arrival. 

Charles proudly holding his newborn brother Andrew, with Princess Anne waving at the crowds, as they were driven into Clarence House for the Queen Mother’s 60th birthday celebrations 

Informal portrait of Prince Charles playing a game of Bagatelle with his two young brothers, Prince Andrew (left) and Prince Edward, at Sandringham, April 1969

Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (1900 – 2002) sits with her grandchildren Prince Charles, Princess Anne and baby Prince Andrew, the children of Queen Elizabeth II

Charles and Andrew wave from the carriage window of their train before leaving Liverpool Street Station in London, alongwith other members of the Royal Family, for Christmas in Sandringham in 1966

Charles’s embarrassment, however, quickly gave way to joy as he rushed back to Buckingham Palace to meet his newborn baby brother. 

Ms Seward wrote: ‘It was a big event for the home-loving Charles to have a baby brother. 

‘As soon as he was back at Buckingham Palace, he spent most of his spare time in the nursery with nanny Mabel Anderson and the infant Andrew.’

Shortly after Andrew was born, Buckingham Palace released a poignant photo of Charles, then 11, tenderly holding the infant Andrew in his arms that was taken by renowned royal photographer Cecil Beaton. 

Over six decades later, the King’s tenderness was replaced by a firm hand as he informed Andrew that his remaining titles would be stripped over a private phone call. 

Palace insiders told The Times that Charles’ decision was a sign of the monarch’s ‘steel’. 

 A royal source said: ‘For a while, there were significant welfare issues. His entire raison d’être revolves around status. We were asking ourselves: ‘Can he cope?’ In the end, we reached a tipping point and he was made to see sense.’

An insider also said: ‘In the past three years of the King’s reign we have seen his humanity, warmth and compassion,’ a royal source said. ‘Now, we’ve seen his steel.’

 Charles, then Prince of Wales (L) and his brother Andrew while watching the Calgary Stampede on March 1, 1977 in Calgary, Canada

The King has today marked his 77th birthday as he continues to receive treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. 

Celebrations are likely, however, to be subdued after Charles stripped Andrew of his titles amid renewed scrutiny over his ties to late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein in an unprecedented move. 

Andrew, who has continued to deny the accusations against him, was officially made a commoner after King Charles issued a rare Letters Patent last week. 

He is also being evicted from Royal Lodge, the grand 30-room mansion he shares with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, and relocated to a private home on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.   

Despite living at the property for over two decades, Andrew and his ex-wife have been ‘spending a lot of time alone’, supposedly sleeping at opposite ends and only meeting for meal-times to chat with each other.

A source close to the couple claimed the former duke has been ‘ranting to himself’ and ‘rarely goes out’, while Fergie is said to have taken refuge at a secret bar which sits behind the mansion.

The former Duchess of York is believed to be struggling amid Andrew’s fall from grace, while also fretting about the futures of their daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie. 

It will have been the hardest decision Charles has made during his reign, but the King formally stripped Andrew of his ‘prince’ title and evicted him from Royal Lodge, amid renewed scrutiny into his ties with late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein 

The York sisters were seen sharing an emotional embrace in London last week, before Beatrice made her first public charity appearance in the UK since the scandal broke last month.

Andrew’s eldest daughter visited the Borne research laboratories at Chelsea and Westminster hospital in London on Monday, October 11.

The hospital, and the charity, hold a special place in her heart as it’s where she gave birth to her youngest child Athena several weeks prematurely in January. Borne researches how to prevent premature births. 

The spotlight is on Beatrice after it emerged that she held an afternoon tea event in the Middle East last week – seemingly unofficially resuming her disgraced father’s role as UK trade envoy.

But questions over her role were set to one side by the royal as she toured the facility alongside Good Morning Britain weather presenter Laura Tobin, whose own daughter Charlotte arrived premature in 2017 weighing just 2lb 8oz.

Beatrice, who is also the charity’s patron, said in a statement: ‘Today’s visit was not only insightful but has given me so much hope for pregnant mothers in the UK that this topic is being taken incredibly seriously.

‘I am so grateful for the scientists and clinicians who took the time today to show me the advances they are making to reduce the risks to expectant mums and babies.’

The King, meanwhile, appeared to focus his energy on the Festival of Remembrance and Remembrance Sunday last week. 

On Saturday, November 8, Charles, along with the Princess of Wales and her son Prince George, put on a brave face as they arrived at the historic Royal Albert Hall in Kensington for the sombre event. 

The Festival of Remembrance marked the first time Catherine, 43, was seen in public since Andrew was ousted from the Royal Lodge.

It also marked her son, and heir to the British throne, Prince George’s official debut at Remembrance as the 12-year-old prince took his place alongside his grandfather.