The Prince of Wales is next in line to the British throne and the longest-serving heir apparent in its history.
He broke the record of 59 years, two months and 13 days previously set by his great-great-grandfather, King Edward VII, in April 2011.
How old is Prince Charles?
Charles was born on November 14, 1948, meaning he will turn 70 at the end of 2018.
His mother, the Queen, is now 92 years old and has cut back on the number of public engagements she undertakes due to her age.
The Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall visited Australia in April to open the Commonwealth Games on behalf of the head of monarch.
Despite her age, the Queen has vowed never to abdicate.
She made a solemn vow stating her promise at her Coronation in 1953.
Will Prince William become King when the Queen dies instead of Prince Charles?
Rumours have abounded as to whether Charles’ eldest son Prince William could leapfrog his father in the line of succession due to his greater popularity.
This would require Prince Charles to abdicate, an unlikely event considering the public embarrassment suffered by the Royal Family when Edward VII abdicated in 1936.
The Queen’s uncle stepped aside from the throne after 11 months in order to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson, causing an international scandal.
Although attitudes to divorce have changed – Charles divorced his first wife Diana and then married Camilla and his son Prince Harry married divorcee Meghan Markle – abdication remains a firm no-no.
Royal author Gill Knappett said Prince William also has no such desire to take on the position just yet, despite a poll earlier this year showing half of Britons want him to succeed the Queen.
Ms Knappett wrote in ‘Charles, Prince of Wales’: “Prince William does not wish to take the throne early.
“Although, like his father, William will be destined to have a far shorter reign than his grandmother, he has has said he has no desire to ‘climb the ladder of kingship’ before his time.”
She suggested people would warm to Charles in time as the next sovereign.
The royal expert said: “The Queen’s quiet dignity and grace won her a place in the hearts of the British people long ago.
“Without doubt, when the time comes our new King will serve with a strength of character that will continue to see our Royal Family the envy of the world.
“When that will be is for God alone to know.”