Prince Charles' Treasured Hobby Just Got A Major Upgrade

Prince Charles has many passions that transcend royalty. For the royal family, partaking in charity and philanthropy is imperative. We see it across the board with son Prince Harry and his penchant for supporting underprivileged youth and environmental awareness through his charity Sentebale. We also see it through Charles' eldest, Prince William, and his never-ending encouragement of environment-related causes. In fact, at 2021's COP26 climate summit, the Duke of Cambridge left a lasting impression with the impressive command he displayed at the event.

At COP26, he urged world leaders and politicians "to look without fear or despair at the challenges ahead in this crucial decade, and to believe that we humans have the ingenuity to make the seemingly impossible, possible" in battling climate-related causes (via People). And as the saying goes: like father, like son. Prince Charles has also displayed a love for the environment throughout his royal career. Per his official website, the Prince of Wales "has promoted sustainability to ensure that the natural assets upon which we all depend among other things soil, water, forests, a stable climate and fish stocks endure for future generations." Now, another one of Prince Charles' passions has taken the spotlight.

Did you know Prince Charles has an affinity for watercolors?! As one of his favorite hobbies, the Prince of Wales is being honored after not one, not two, but 79 of his watercolor paintings will be going on display at London's Garrison Chapel! With his atmospheric works, Charles noted how his hobby "refreshes parts of the soul which other activities can't reach" (per The Scotsman). "It all requires the most intense concentration and, consequently, is one of the most relaxing and therapeutic exercises I know."

But why painting, of all hobbies? Charles says it's because he "found photography less than satisfying." And, as one for detail, Charles notes that, "You become increasingly aware of things that may have escaped your attention previously — things like the quality of light and shade, of tone and texture and of the shape of buildings in relation to the landscape." At the end of the day, though, "They represent, more than anything else, my particular form of 'photograph album' and, as such, mean a great deal to me."

According to Insider, Prince Charles' hobby dates all the way back to the 1970s, with his works first going up in Windsor Castle in 1977. As an "enthusiastic amateur" (per The Telegraph), the Prince of Wales has made millions of pounds selling his works from 1997 onward.