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British Royal Line of Succession

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Written by
Amy Tikkanen
Amy Tikkanen is Managing Editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Amy Tikkanen
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King Charles III and Queen Camilla (Camilla, Queen Consort) wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Coronation of King Charles in London, England on May 6, 2023
Charles III: coronationKing Charles and Queen Camilla wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

It seems simple enough. The eldest child of a British sovereign inherits the throne. But it’s not quite that straightforward—or at least it hasn’t always been that way. Multiple marriages, illegitimate children, and usurpers have all caused succession headaches—and often armed battles. But, while problems may have arisen, there are standard guidelines for succession. In the past, preference was given to male heirs, meaning that an elder daughter would be displaced by a younger brother. However, the practice of male primogeniture ended in 2015, following enactment of the Succession to the Crown Act. That legislation also voided the provision that barred a royal from ascending the throne if he or she was married to a Roman Catholic. However, Catholics are still banned from becoming the British monarch. So who’s currently in line for the throne? Read on to find out.

  • Prince William

    Prince William the Duke of Cambridge inspected the Guard of Honour on the forecourt of the Palace of Holyroodhouse and was formally welcomed as Lord High Commissioner in the Ceremony of the Keys on May 21, 2021 in Edinburgh, Scotland
    Prince WilliamPrince William inspecting the Guard of Honour at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland, May 21, 2021.
    Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

    Full name: William Arthur Philip Louis, prince of Wales, duke of Cornwall and Cambridge, earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus

    Born: June 21, 1982

    Family: first child and elder son of Charles III and Princess Diana; married to Princess Catherine (2011– ); three children: Prince George (2013), Princess Charlotte (2015), and Prince Louis (2018)

  • Prince George

    Prince George of Wales travels down The Mall in a horse drawn carriage during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It will be the first Trooping the Colour held for King Charles III since he ascended to the throne. (British royalty, British monarchy)
    Prince GeorgePrince George of Wales in a horse drawn carriage during the Trooping the Colour ceremony, London, 2023.
    Mark Cuthbert—UK Press/Getty Images

    Full name: Prince George Alexander Louis of Wales

    Born: July 22, 2013

    Family: first child and elder son of Prince William and Princess Catherine

  • Princess Charlotte

    Princess Charlotte of Wales watches an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023 in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms takes place at Westminster Abbey today. Charles acceded to the throne on September 8, 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. (British royalty, British monarchy)
    Princess CharlottePrincess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, following the coronation of Charles III, May 2023.
    Max Mumby—Indigo/Getty Images

    Full name: Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Wales

    Born: May 2, 2015

    Family: second child and only daughter of Prince William and Princess Catherine

  • Prince Louis

    Prince Louis of Wales attends the traditional Easter Sunday Mattins Service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on April 9, 2023 in Windsor, England. (British royalty, British monarchy)
    Prince LouisPrince Louis of Wales attending Easter service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, England, 2023.
    Max Mumby—Indigo/Getty Images

    Full name: Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Wales

    Born: April 23, 2018

    Family: third child and younger son of Prince William and Princess Catherine

  • Prince Harry

    Prince Harry Duke of Sussex visits Sportcampus Zuiderpark during the official launch of the Invictus Games The Hague 2020 on May 9, 2019 in The Hague, Netherlands. British Royalty
    Prince HarryPrince Harry at the official launch of the 2020 Invictus Games at Sportcampus Zuiderpark, The Hague, Netherlands, 2019. 
    Max Mumby—Indigo/Getty Images

    Full name: Prince Henry Charles Albert David, duke of Sussex, earl of Dumbarton, Baron Kilkeel

    Born: September 15, 1984

    Family: second child and younger son of Charles III and Princess Diana; married to Meghan, duchess of Sussex (2018– ); two children: Prince Archie (2019) and Princess Lilibet (2021)

  • Prince Archie

    Full name: Prince Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor of Sussex

    Born: May 6, 2019

    Family: first child and only son of Prince Harry and Meghan, duchess of Sussex

  • Princess Lilibet

    Full name: Princess Lilibet (“Lili”) Diana Mountbatten-Windsor of Sussex

    Born: June 4, 2021

    Family: second child and only daughter of Prince Harry and Meghan, duchess of Sussex

  • Prince Andrew

    Prince Andrew, Duke of York attends the QIPCO King George Weekend at Ascot Racecourse on July 27, 2019 in Ascot, England. (British royalty, British monarchy)
    Prince Andrew Prince Andrew, duke of York, at the Ascot Racecourse, England, 2019. 
    Max Mumby—Indigo/Getty Images

    Full name: Andrew Albert Christian Edward, duke of York, earl of Inverness, and Baron Killyleagh

    Born: February 19, 1960

    Family: second son of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip; married to Sarah Ferguson, duchess of York (1986–96); two children: Princess Beatrice (1988) and Princess Eugenie (1990)

  • Princess Beatrice

    Princess Beatrice of York attends The 9th Annual Global Gift Gala held at The Rosewood Hotel on November 2, 2018 in London, England. (British royalty, British monarchy)
    Princess BeatricePrincess Beatrice of York attending the Global Gift Gala at the Rosewood hotel, London, 2018.
    Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images

    Full name: Princess Beatrice Elizabeth Mary of York

    Born: August 8, 1988

    Family: first child and elder daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, duchess of York; married to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (2020– ): two children: Christopher Woolf Mapelli Mozzi (stepson, 2016) and Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi (2021)