King Charles recalls terrifying 1975 arctic dive as new ITV documentary set to air
London, UK: King Charles has revisited one of the most dangerous and defining experiences of his early life—an under-ice Arctic dive he undertook nearly five decades ago—following the release of a striking underwater photography by the Royal Family’s official Instagram account.
The rare image, captured during the King’s 1975 expedition to the Canadian Arctic, shows the then-Prince of Wales submerged beneath a sheet of ice, wearing a full-face diving mask and breathing apparatus. Pressed directly against the underside of the frozen surface, Charles is surrounded by cracks, trapped air bubbles, and thick layers of ice typical of polar aquatic environments.
The photograph was posted to promote a new ITV documentary, “Steve Backshall’s Royal Arctic Challenge,” set to air on 18 December at 8:30 PM. The film follows renowned explorer and naturalist Steve Backshall as he retraces the King’s steps from the historic trip to examine how climate change has transformed the region over the past 50 years.
The Royal Family’s caption teased the documentary with a playful reference:
“So, why did The King emerge from his historic ice dive wearing a bowler hat…?”
Viewers are promised the answer within the program.
A Mission Driven by Environmental Concern
In a 90-minute conversation featured in the documentary, King Charles reflects on his longstanding commitment to environmental protection—an issue he has championed for decades, long before it became mainstream.
He expressed deep concern about the consequences of inaction, particularly for future generations. Speaking candidly to Backshall, His Majesty said he could not bear the thought of being remembered as someone who “did nothing” to prevent environmental catastrophe.
“You have to just go on trying, I find, because I mind, for what it’s worth, about the younger generations,” the King stated.
“To me, it is not fair to leave them something in a far worse state than I found it.”
“The whole point, I have always felt, is to improve it for people, so they don’t have a ghastly legacy of horror to have to deal with.”
Reflecting on his decades-long advocacy, he added:
“I don’t want to be accused by my grandchildren of not doing anything about it. That is the key.”
A Glimpse Into Royal History
The 1975 Arctic expedition was one of the earliest major environmental experiences of King Charles’s life, shaping his deep interest in conservation and climate issues. At just 26 years old, he accompanied Canadian scientists studying Arctic ecosystems, undertaking risky dives in freezing waters to understand their research firsthand.
The upcoming documentary aims not only to revisit that remarkable journey but also to highlight the profound environmental transformations that have taken place since—offering both a historical perspective and a sobering look at the rapidly warming Arctic.
