Charles was the second son of King James VI of Scotland and Princess Anne of Denmark. He was born in Fife, Scotland. In 1603, after the demise of Queen Elizabeth I, his father succeeded to the throne of England as King James I. In his childhood, Charles hero worshipped his brilliant elder brother Prince Henry. Henry died when Charles was only 12 years old. Charles and his sister Elizabeth mourned the loss of their beloved brother, and this created a deep bond between the siblings, a bond which was to have deep political ramifications over the years.