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The Queen has held on to the throne for a record 68 years, surpassing legendary monarch Queen Victoria as one of the longest-reigning leaders in world history. When she succeeded her father in 1952 she was 27-years-old, and her heir Prince Charles four. Now 94, her age means 72-year-old Prince Charles has spent the entirety of his mother’s long reign waiting for his time to rule – and some fans are asking what would happen in the tragic event he died before his mother.

What happens if Prince Charles dies before the Queen?

People have long questioned what happens when the Queen dies, and curiosity has only intensified every year she spends on the throne.

She has committed her life to the Crown and pledged not to step down until forced otherwise, leaving Prince Charles to take over.

But the Prince is advancing himself, having turned 72 on November 14, and it could still take years for him to succeed his mother.

If he died before he got the chance, Prince William would become the heir – and once the Queen stands down, would be King in his father’s place.

Robert Hazell, a professor of government and constitution at University College London, confirmed as much in an interview with Insider.

He said: “During William’s lifetime, he will almost certainly see his father become King.

“Only if Charles dies before the Queen would William become king when the queen dies.”

The crown passes hands from a monarch to their next available heir automatically.

There is no provision for another member of the royal family other than their closest heir to take the throne after a monarch’s death.

UCL’s Constitution Unit explained monarchs who have inherited the crown may hand it to another heir, but only after the fact.

They added Prince Charles could take on the Queen’s powers in a regency, but wouldn’t become King.

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But for a regency to commence, the Queen would need to become too old and infirm to rule.

The Constitution Unit said: “The Regency Acts 1937 and 1953 established a procedure for declaring that the Queen has become incapable by reason of infirmity of mind or body.

“The people who can make a declaration of incapacity are at least any three of the Queen’s consort (Prince Philip), the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Chief Justice, and the Master of the Rolls.

“Any declaration of incapacity needs to be supported by medical evidence.”

If Prince Charles became a regent, it also opens a path for William to do the same.

But he still wouldn’t take on the title of King unless the Queen and his father died first.

The Unit said: “The Regency Acts provide that the person next in line (Prince William) would become Regent.

“The same procedure is followed for making a declaration of incapacity, with the same people.”

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