Unlike his mother Queen Elizabeth II, from a very young age King Charles III knew exactly what would be expected of him when the time came. Compared to the then Princess Elizabeth's younger years, there was no expectation she would ever be head of state.
It was only down to a twist of fate in 1936 when the princess's uncle, King Edward VIII, voluntarily abdicated the throne that changed the line of succession. Her father, George VI, was proclaimed king before she took over the Crown just 15 years later. In contrast, the late Queen had been able to prepare her children and grandchildren over the course of her 76-year reign for their inevitable duty.
Here, we take a look at how Her Majesty, who died last Thursday at Balmoral, paved the way for the country's new King Charles and future king Prince William, who is next in line to the throne, and his eldest Prince George:
