1. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace on 14 November 1948 at 9.14pm, by caesarean section, after a 30-hour labour. His birth was the first of a senior member of the royal family not to be attended by a senior politician – to ensure that the newborn was a genuine descendant of the monarch – since the 17th century.
2. Philip was not present, and at one point, went to play squash. He is said to have declared that his son looked like a plum pudding.
