King Charles II was born - On this day in history

On 29 May 1630, King Charles II was born at St James's Palace in London, the eldest surviving child of King Charles I and his wife Henrietta Maria.

Charles was brought up by Lady Mary Dorset, the wife of a leading Protestant nobleman, and his childhood and teenage years were marked by the struggles of his father Charles I to hold the throne. The young Charles accompanied his father to the Battle of Edgehill and in 1645, was given the honorary title of commander of the West Country forces.

Further reading

King Charles II by Lady Antonia Fraser