The name "Charles" has held significant prominence in various royal families throughout history. When considering the number of royal family members named Charles, it is essential to examine different lineages and time periods to obtain a comprehensive understanding. While I will strive to provide a detailed account, please note that my knowledge is based on information available until September 2021, and there might have been updates or changes since then.
One of the most notable royal families associated with the name Charles is the British royal family. Starting with the House of Stuart, the first monarch named Charles was King Charles I, who reigned from 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles II succeeded his father after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 and ruled until his death in 1685. Charles II had numerous illegitimate children, but he had no legitimate heir. Therefore, his brother, James II, became the next monarch, and he did not bear the name Charles.
The next significant figure named Charles in the British royal family came much later with Prince Charles, born on November 14, 1948. As the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles is the current heir apparent to the British throne. Although he is commonly known as Prince Charles, his full title is Charles, Prince of Wales. Prince Charles has two sons: Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, born in 1982, and Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, born in 1984. Neither of his sons was given the name Charles as their first name.
It is also worth mentioning that there have been other notable figures named Charles within the British royal family, such as Charles, Duke of York, who was the second son of King George V and the younger brother of King Edward VIII (later Duke of Windsor) and King George VI. However, this Charles later became King George VI when his brother abdicated the throne. Therefore, he is not primarily known as Charles, but his birth name was indeed Charles.
Moving beyond the British royal family, other European monarchies have had their share of royal family members named Charles. For instance, King Charles IV of Spain ruled from 1788 until his abdication in 1808. Similarly, King Charles X of France reigned from 1824 until his abdication in 1830. These examples illustrate how the name Charles has appeared in various European royal families.
When considering the number of royal family members named Charles, the most prominent figure within the British royal family is Prince Charles, who is the current heir apparent to the throne. While there have been other notable individuals named Charles within the British monarchy, such as Charles II and King George VI, they are primarily known by their regnal names. Additionally, other European monarchies, such as Spain and France, have also had monarchs named Charles. It is essential to note that the specific count of royal family members named Charles may vary depending on the time period and the scope of the royal families being considered.
