Britain's Prince Charles meets actor Robin Williams backstage at the Wimbledon Theatre, in London November 12, 2008.

Britain's Prince Charles celebrates his 60th birthday on Friday with an improved rating in popular opinion.

The Prince of Wales, who is one of the longest-serving heirs to the British throne was greeted on his birthday by a poll showing more people prefer him to succeed his mother Queen Elizabeth as monarch than his elder son William.

The poll, carried out by YouGov, found 42 percent of people were in favor of him succeeding the Queen, compared to 35 percent who thought the throne should skip a generation to Prince William, Charles's elder son.

When the same question was asked in 2005, only 31 percent backed Charles, while 42 percent preferred William.

Over the years there have been suggestions that Charles should renounce his claim to the throne, with some arguing that his divorce from Diana and eventual remarriage conflicts with the monarch's role as head of the Church of England.

Charles was just three when his mother became Queen, making him, as her eldest son, heir to the throne. The Queen, now 82, is the oldest reigning monarch in the history of the nation and is still in good health. Her mother lived to be 101.

Only George IV, who became king in 1820, and Edward VII, who reigned from 1901, were kings-in-waiting for longer, spending 58 and 59 years respectively as heirs to the throne.

Celebrations to mark Charles's birthday included a comedy gala in a theater in the southwestern London, featuring John Cleese, Rowan Atkinson and Robin Williams, as well as a concert and banquet at Buckingham Palace.

For the official birthday portrait, Charles wore the ceremonial uniform of the Welsh Guards, minus the headdress. He has been Colonel of the Welsh Guards since 1975.