Quote of the Day by King Charles III: 'I learned the way a monkey learns: by watching its parents'

King Charles III, born at Buckingham Palace, London, to parents Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess) and Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, became king upon his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s death on 8 September 2022. Aged 73, he became the oldest monarch ever crowned in British history, having been the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales in British history. From 1967 to 1970, he studied history at Cambridge University and that makes him the first monarch in UK history with a university degree.

King Charles III after serving in the Royal Air Force and Navy for five years, married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, and they had two sons, Princes William and Harry. They divorced in 1996, and Charles married his long-term partner, Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005. King Charles III is the reigning monarch in 14 other countries, as well as the UK.

As heir apparent, King Charles III carried out a wide range of official duties, established The Prince’s Trust, supported The Prince’s Charities, and engaged with more than 800 charities and organisations. He is well known for championing organic farming, climate action, and architectural conservation, and has written and co-written several books. After decades in the public eye and on the speaking circuit, King Charles III has inevitably amassed a rich collection of statements, observations, and quips spanning a wide range of subjects.

Quote of the Day by King Charles III

Today's thought of the day: 'I learned the way a monkey learns: by watching its parents' is widely attributed to King Charles III and has been used extensively by media houses, publications, and various other media websites. The thought of King Charles III reflects a simple but powerful idea about how learning really happens. Just as a monkey learns by watching its parents, King Charles III also learned many things in a similar way.

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Meaning of the quote by King Charles III

King Charles III's thought suggests you can learn through observation, imitation, and lived experience and not just through formal instructions and textbook learning. In this quote, King Charles III compares himself to a monkey and is trying to be deliberately self-deprecating. Monkeys are known to closely observe their parents and copy their actions rather than being explicitly taught.

In a similar way, much of his understanding, especially about duties, responsibilities, tradition came after observing his parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, as they carried out their roles. The quote also speaks about power of role models as children generally absorb values, habits, and attitudes unconsciously by watching how adults behave in everyday situations.

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Children learn about values, discipline, resilience, empathy, and commitment from observations and examples, not just from lectures. King Charles III suggests that growing up within the royal family, he learned how to conduct himself, how to respect tradition, and how to serve the public by quietly observing the routines, decisions, and sacrifices of his parents.

The thought by King Charles III reminds us that people often learn best through observation—whether in families, workplaces, or society at large. Ultimately, King Charles’s remark underlines a universal truth: example is one of the most powerful teachers, and much of who we become is shaped by those we watch most closely.

King Charles most memorable quotes

“I think it’s something that dawns on you with the most ghastly, inexorable sense. I didn’t suddenly wake up in my pram one day and say ‘Yippee.’” (On realising he would be king)

“I learned the way a monkey learns: by watching its parents.” (On his introduction to official royal life)

“Colditz in kilts.” (Describing his school experiences at Gordonstoun)

“I find myself born into this particular position. I’m determined to make the most of it and to do whatever I can to help. And I hope I leave things behind a little bit better than I found them.”

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“Of course [we are in love].” / “Whatever ‘in love’ means.” (His and Princess Diana’s contrasting response when asked if they were in love)

“Faithful and honourable until it became irretrievably broken down, us both having tried.” (On the breakdown of his marriage to Diana)

“It’s always nice to have somebody on your side… She is an enormous support. The great thing is we laugh a lot because she sees the funny side of life, thank God.” (About Camilla, Queen Consort)

“The sustainability revolution will, hopefully, be the third major social and economic turning point in human history…” (On environmental change)

“If you think about your and my grandchildren, this is what really worries me… I don’t want them… to say, ‘Why didn’t you do something about it?’ when you could have done.” (Climate concern)

“Something as curious as the monarchy won’t survive unless you take account of people’s attitudes. After all, if people don’t want it, they won’t have it.” (On the monarchy’s future)