King Charles III This article is more than 12 years oldPrince Charles becomes Britain's longest-serving heir to throne
This article is more than 12 years oldPrince of Wales has waited 59 years, two months and 14 days, to take over from the Queen, breaking Edward VII's recordPrince Charles has known since he was a child that he was born to wait for the top job. But for him, the waiting has gone on for longer than any other heir apparent in British history.
The prince, 62, has broken the record set by his great-great-grandfather, Edward VII, having waited as of to take over from the Queen for 59 years, two months and 14 days, Clarence House said.
Charles became heir apparent at the age of three when his mother, Princess Elizabeth, acceded to the throne on 6 February 1952. He was nine when he was given the title Prince of Wales.
Edward VII was born the heir apparent on 9 November 1841 as his mother, Queen Victoria, was already on the throne. He became king when she died on 22 January 1901, having waited 59 years, two months and 13 days. The heir apparent is currently the eldest son of the sovereign – unless the monarch's children are all female – and his right to succeed cannot be altered by the birth of another child.
Prince Charles's oldest son Prince William is second in line to the throne and his brother Harry third in line.
The deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has recently said the government would consider changing the laws on royal succession to remove the right of male heirs to succeed before older female siblings.
He said both he and David Cameron were "sympathetic" to changing rules which seemed "a little old fashioned". But he added that the decision would have to be approved by all 16 countries where the Queen is head of state, including Canada, Australia and Jamaica.
Charles could still have to wait some time before taking the throne. The Queen celebrates her 85th birthday today. Her mother lived to be 101.
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