Charles: A modern prince

While Prince Charles has been criticised for traditional views on issues like hunting, he can be remarkably modern.

He takes a keen interest in architecture, young people, the environment and health, believing people should have access to both complementary and orthodox medicine.

The Prince of Wales title carries no established or formal role and he has had to create his own by active involvement in his organisations.

His work at the Prince's Trust, created in 1976, has allowed tens of thousands of disadvantaged youngsters to set up their own businesses.

But since the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, he has also been busy trying to protect his own sons - particularly Prince Harry, who has been at the centre of several media stories.

In 2002 the prince was praised for sending Harry to a drugs rehabilitation clinic for a day after the then 17-year-old apparently admitted smoking cannabis and drinking.

His reputation, severely damaged during his estrangement and eventual divorce from Princess Diana, has been slowly but surely rebuilt. The seeming acceptance by the Royal Family of the prince's new wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, has also been hard won.

But since his marriage, Camilla has accompanied her royal husband on his official duties. The couple were well received in the US on a high-profile tour of the country last autumn.

During the visit, they laid a wreath in Washington in tribute to Americans killed in World War II and they also honoured victims of the 11 September attacks at Ground Zero in Manhattan.

Prince Charles once said of his future role that "the most important thing will be to have concern for people and give some form of leadership".