As with any announcement regarding a member of the British royal family, one resounding question arises regarding the order of succession: who is next in line to the throne?
With the birth or potential death of any monarch, many find themselves questioning what this means for our royal family, and more specifically, who could be next in line. When Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022, her eldest son and heir Charles automatically became the King. With a new monarch on the throne, the order of succession shifted - as it does every time we welcome a new royal.
But while many know that Charles' son Prince William is next in line, there are plenty of royals whose positions aren't as well known (or who have found themselves slipping down the list). Where does Prince Harry sit in the line of succession, for example? What about William's eldest son with Kate Middleton Prince George? Here's everything you need to know.
Who is next in line for the throne?
Essentially, the Waleses will always come first, as Prince William is King Charles' first born son. From the minute he was born, William's fate was sealed, and he was destined to take over from his father when the time comes.
The Prince of Wales would have undergone some form of royal training from a relatively young age - stepping up in recent years to take on even more royal responsibilities.
What is the current order of succession?
With William second in line, Prince George sits in the line of succession second, one day set to take over from his father. Princess Charlotte is third, Prince Louis fourth, and then Prince Harry is next in the line of succession. Although once third in line before the Prince and Princess of Wales started a family, Harry now sits fifth - with his son Archie as sixth, and Lilibet now seventh.
Interestingly, the order would have been reshuffled pre-2013 as part of the Succession to the Crown Act, which changed the sexist rules that meant men automatically took preference over women in line to the throne. That former rule, which had been in place since 1701, would have knocked Princess Charlotte below her brother Prince Louis.
But what does being in line to the throne really mean? As with every wild Royal protocol, there are a number of old traditions attached. For example, the first six people in line to the throne must ask the monarch's permission to marry. That means that before Prince Louis was born and knocked Prince Andrew down a place, the Queen's son would have had to ask his brother for permission to re-marry, which he now does not have to do.
So where does everyone else sit? Here's the current line of succession to the British throne.
Line Of Succession To The Throne
1 of 231. William, The Prince of Wales
Prince William is currently the first in line to the British throne, set to succeed his father, King Charles II, as king.
2 of 232. Prince George of Wales
Prince George, William and Kate's first born son, is second in line to the throne. He is currently 10 years old, but will one day take over from his father.
3 of 233. Princess Charlotte of Wales
Princess Charlotte is eight years old, and third in line to the throne.
4 of 234. Prince Louis of Wales
Five year old Prince Louis is fourth in line to the throne.
5 of 235. Prince Henry (Harry), The Duke of Sussex
Prince Harry, who was third in line for many years, is now fifth in line to the throne. Despite no longer being a working member of the royal family and residing in LA with Meghan and their two children, he still retains his spot in the line of succession.
6 of 236 and 7. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet Diana
There aren't as many pictures of Harry's family out there, but Archie (pictured bottom left) is sixth in line to the throne after his Dad, and Lilibet (top right) is seventh.
7 of 238. Prince Andrew, the Duke of York
Prince Andrew is still in the running, though he is now eighth in line to the throne. He is no longer a working member of the Royal Family either, after he stepped down due to his links to convicted paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein.
8 of 239. Princess Beatrice
Prince Andrew's daughter, Princess Beatrice Mapelli Mozzi, is ninth in line.
9 of 2310. Sienna Mozzi
Princess Beatrice's daughter Sienna Mozzi (pictured left) is tenth in line to the throne.
10 of 2311. Princess Eugenie
Princess Eugenie, Beatrice's younger sister, is 11th in line.
11 of 2312. August Brooksbank
Princess Eugenie's son August Brooksbank is 12th in line.
12 of 2313. Ernest Brooksbank
After Princess Beatrice and husband Jack Brooksbank welcomed their second son in 2023, Ernest sits 13th in line to the throne.
13 of 2314. Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Edward, the late Queen's third son and King Charles's brother, is 14th in line.
14 of 2315. James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex
James Mountbatten-Windsor is Prince Edward's only son. Formerly Viscount Severn before taking on the Earl of Wessex title, James (who was the late Queen Elizabeth II's youngest grandchild) he is 15th in line.
15 of 2316. Lady Louise Windsor
Lady Louise Windsor is the eldest daughter of Prince Edward. While she was 15th in line to the throne, the birth of Ernest pushed her down - meaning she is 16th in line.
16 of 2317. Princess Anne, the Princess Royal
Princess Anne is next, sitting at 17th in line.
17 of 2318. Peter Phillips
Perhaps one of the more low-key member of the Royals, Peter Phillips sits 18th in the line of succession. He is the son of Anne, Princess Royal, and Captain Mark Phillips, and a nephew of King Charles III. At the time of his birth, he was fifth in line to the throne - however he has slipped further down the list as the monarchy expands.
18 of 2319. Savannah Phillips
At 19th in line is Savannah Phillips. The 13 year old is the daughter of Peter Phillips, and granddaughter of Princess Anne.
19 of 2320. Isla Phillips
At 20th in the line of succession is Savannah's younger sister, 11 year old Isla.
20 of 2321. Zara Tindall
A niece of King Charles III, Zara - who is married to rugby star Mike Tyndall - was initially born sixth in the line of succession, now sitting at 21st.
21 of 2322. Mia Tindall
Zara and Mike's first child, Mia Grace Tindall, is currently 22nd in line to the throne, directly behind her mother.
22 of 2323. Lena Tindall
Directly behind her older sister sits Mike and Zara's second child, Lena, at 23rd.
23 of 2324. Lucas Tindall
Last, but certainly not least, comes Lucas Tindall. Zara and Mike's youngest child, and only son, Lucas sits at 24th in the British line of succession.
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