Before the war, Kray worked for Lloyd's of London as a messenger boy in the city, earning around 18 shillings a week.
[citation needed] Young Charlie was brought up on stories about fighting and boxing, and often dreamt of winning the Lonsdale Belt as Champion of the World.
However, he started to get terrible headaches and was soon discharged unfit from the Navy, on medical grounds, due to chronic migraines.
Although he did not have the violent reputation of his younger brothers, Kray was still an important component of the family's gangland history.
[10] He was released from prison in 1975, and went on to make money from promoting the family's legend, such as being paid £100,000 to act as a "consultant" on the 1990 film, The Krays.
In 1985 officials at Broadmoor Hospital discovered a business card of Ronnie's that led to evidence that the twins, from separate institutions, were operating Krayleigh Enterprises (a "lucrative bodyguard and 'protection' business for Hollywood stars") together with their older brother Charlie Kray and an accomplice at large.
Documents released under Freedom of Information laws revealed that although officials were concerned about this operation, they believed that there was no legal basis to shut it down.
Kray had been a confidant of Jackie Collins, Judy Garland, Sonny Liston and Christine Keeler.
Kray's funeral was held at St Matthew's Church, Bethnal Green on 19 April 2000[13] and he is buried at Chingford Mount Cemetery.