Prince Charles jokes about getting old

Prince Charles has quipped he is reaching a state of "decrepitude".

The 62-year-old heir to British throne was visiting a stairlift factory in the UK yesterday (21.02.11) when he made a joke about equipping his home St James' Palace with one of the machines in the near future.

Charles said: "As I'm rapidly reaching a state of decrepitude, I now know where to come for a complimentary lift and I might try one out."

Meanwhile it has been revealed Charles' eldest son William is set to become a royal duke before he marries Kate Middleton on April 29.

Charles' mother Queen Elizabeth is making plans to bestow the title on her grandson although it is unclear which dukedom he will inherit.

While the Dukedom of Clarence is currently available it was embroiled in controversy in 1962, by author Philippe Julien's claims in a biography of Edward VII that the last holder of the title - Queen Victoria's grandson, Prince Albert Victor - was the infamous East End murderer, Jack the Ripper.

If William is made a duke before the wedding, his bride-to-be Kate will become a duchess after their nuptials at Westminster Abbey.