Charles William Pryce was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England on 30 August 1889. He was the son of Charles Thomas Pryce (1860-1901) and Amy Edith Rendell (1866-1923). His father is believed to have been from Shropshire and his mother was a native of Portsmouth and they were married in 1885 in Southampton. Charles had two known siblings: Charles Thomas (1886-1886) and Amy Olive (1887-1926).

Charles first appears on the 1901 census when he, his mother and sister Amy are living at 7 Albert Road, St Mary, Southampton, his father having recently passed away and his mother now dressmaking to support her family. Charles' mother was remarried in 1903 to William Henry Vass (b. 1873 in Kingston, Surrey), a railway policeman. On the 1911 census Charles is absent from home, perhaps at sea, but his mother, stepfather and married sister Amy Olive Hotham are residing at 38 Adelaide Road, St Denys, Southampton.

Charles was married in Southampton in early 1912 to Annie Eliza Laney (b. 3 September 1886 in Southampton), who was a tailoress as per the 1911 census, and they welcomed their only child Donald William on 5 February 1912.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, Charles gave his address as Heatherdene, Newlands Bridge, (Southampton). His last ship had been the St Paul. As a saloon steward he received monthly wages of £3 15s.

Pryce died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

Charles' widow Annie was remarried in 1916 to Jack Philip Hinkley (1895-1959) and they had one daughter the following year, Peggy. Annie Eliza Laney Pryce Hinkley died in Southampton on 6 September 1962 aged 76.

Charles' son Donald was married in Southampton in 1935 to Winifred Pedley and they raised a family. He died in Cockermouth, Cumberland in 1986.