Queen Elizabeth II's eldest son, Charles, has now officially been proclaimed king. But at 73, the focus of his reign will be his age -- and the declining influence of the British monarchy around the world. Charles has spent virtually his whole life as heir apparent and has become a familiar figure in his own right, even as he starts a new role at an age when most people have retired. In stark contrast to the neutrality his mother observed, he has at times courted controversy with strongly held views that have made him a more outspoken, divisive figure. According to one YouGov poll in May 2022, he had a 56 percent approval rating -- well behind the queen (81 percent), his eldest son Prince William (77 percent), and William's wife, Catherine (76 percent).