Prince Charles is “dreading” the moment he becomes King and takes over from the Queen, a royal expert has said.
Charles has been heir to the throne for much of his life and has constantly been preparing for the day he finally becomes monarch.
However, he will only become King once his beloved mother the Queen sadly passes away.
And according to royal biographer Penny Junor, it will be a terrifying prospect for the Prince of Wales.
Speaking on Podcast Royal, she said: “This is a moment that he has been dreading all his life really because his achieving the top job, the job he’s been training for and preparing for all these years does inevitably mean the death of his mother and he loves his mother very dearly.
“So it’s going to be a very vicious week, moment and I think that I am sure that he is pretty terrified of the whole prospect.
"He is a very emotional man and a sensitive man, he did take the death of his father very badly.
"He takes the death of any loved one to heart and I think it would be, it’s devastating for him as it is for anyone who loses a much-loved mother.”
Love the royals? Sign up for the Mirror's daily newsletter to get all the latest news on the Queen, Charles, Kate, Wills, Meghan, Harry and the rest of The Firm. Click here to sign up.
Charles was born in 1948, just a few years before his mother became Queen in 1952.
Since being invested as the Prince of Wales by his mum in July 1969 he's worked to support her and carve his own path within the royal family as heir to the throne.
With the support of his wife Camilla, Charles has taken on more responsibility within The Firm as the Queen begins to slow down, as she turns 96 this year.
He's also taken the lead on several family matters and assisted the Queen to decide on the logistics of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepping down from their senior roles in 2020.
Charles' plans for a slimmed down monarchy when he takes the throne are well known, and he's reportedly looking to have a team of seven senior royals.
Royal author Angela Levin told talkRADIO : "Prince Charles has wanted for a very long time to cut the monarchy down to save costs and to make people be worth the money that they got from the taxpayer.
"I think the outer edge of the family, which the Queen has wanted to keep together for a very long time for sentimental reasons, which at her age she didn't really particularly want change which I think is understandable.
"But he wants to change and I think he will do that."
