This Is the Line of Succession to the British Throne
Updated: Sep. 20, 2021Wondering who will take the crown after Queen Elizabeth? This is who's next (and beyond) in the British royal line of succession.
1. Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales
Even though there are rumors that the royal line of succession would skip Prince Charles—he is the least popular royal, after all—he’ll still be next in line for the throne as Queen Elizabeth’s oldest son. Despite his environmentalism and charity work, it seems the public just can’t forgive his role in his relationship with Diana. Already 72 years old, he will be the oldest person in British history to be crowned. The royal family can be confusing; this royal family tree makes it easier to understand!
2. Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge
Next comes Prince Charles’ son, Prince William—the firstborn of the queen’s firstborn. Given the love the public already has for William and his wife, Catherine, he’s sure to keep that popularity as king.
3. Prince George of Cambridge
He might only be eight years old, but Prince George—the firstborn child of Prince William—already has a massive responsibility ahead of him. After his father, George will be taking over the British crown. Here are 16 things you didn’t know about Prince George.
4. Princess Charlotte of Cambridge
Until her big brother has kids of his own, six-year-old Princess Charlotte is next in the royal line of succession. For now, she’s just giving us loads of unbearably cute moments.
5. Prince Louis of Cambridge
William and Kate’s third child is next in line after Charlotte. In the past, a son would have gone above Princess Charlotte in the succession, but a 2011 law will let her hold her place in the royal line of succession. We approve of any modernization that gives women equal status, even if the Prince in question is this adorable.
6. Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex
Even after Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle stepped down as senior members of the royal family and moved to the United States, he remains sixth in line to the throne. Although he is still a prince by birthright, Harry and Meghan gave up their HRH titles, and are now known only as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Succession to the throne is governed by legislation, which means that it would take an Act of Parliament to remove Harry (or his children, Archie and Lilibet) from the line of succession. As the sixth in line, however, it is unlikely that the prince will ever become king, which seems to be his preference anyway—that’s one of the things you may not have known about Harry.
7. Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor
Young Archie is seventh in line to the throne, even though he is not a prince. In a March 2021 sit-down with Oprah Winfrey, his parents, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, revealed that it wasn’t necessarily their decision for Archie to not have a title. Archie will, however, most likely inherit the title of Duke of Sussex from his father.
8. Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s second child, Lilibet, is the second-newest addition to shake up the royal line of succession. She was born on June 4, 2021. Though entitled to the courtesy title of “Lady,” Lilibet will likely grow up without titles per her parents’ wishes for her and her brother to grow up as private citizens.
9. Prince Andrew, the Duke of York
If something were to happen to his nephews and their kids, Prince Andrew—Queen Elizabeth II’s second son and Prince Charles’s younger brother—would step up to be king, despite some recent scandals.
10. Princess Beatrice of York
Before Princess Charlotte was born, Prince Andrew’s 33-year-old daughter Princess Beatrice was the highest-ranking female in the British line of succession.
12. Princess Eugenie of York
After her older sister and her new niece, Princess Eugenie (Andrew’s second daughter) would be next in line to become Queen of the United Kingdom.
13. Master August Brooksbank
August, the son of Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, was born on February 9, 2021.
14. Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex
Until 2011, sons got dibs on the crown before their sisters in the British royal succession, so Queen Elizabeth II’s youngest son Prince Edward still ranks higher on the line of succession than his older sister, Princess Anne. Fortunately, that rule won’t apply to Princess Charlotte.
15. James, Viscount Severn
Prince Edward’s son, James, isn’t called a “prince” because his parents chose to have him (and his sister) styled as the children of an earl rather than that of a prince so he could have a more normal childhood. However, he’s still 15th in line for the throne! Learn more about the confusing business of royal titles.
16. Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor
Louise might be older than her brother, James, but she is still behind him in line for the crown.
17. Princess Anne, Princess Royal
Queen Elizabeth II’s second child and only daughter comes after her three brothers and their kids in the line of succession. Read about these wild royal family conspiracy theories.
18. Peter Phillips
Although Princess Anne’s ex-husband Mark Phillips was a commoner (meaning their children wouldn’t automatically be given titles), Queen Elizabeth offered them to her daughter anyway, but Princess Anne chose to decline: hence, Mr. Peter Phillips. The managing director of Sports and Entertainment Limited UK has been known to stay out of the limelight and reportedly didn’t even tell his then-future wife he was royalty until she noticed him on TV with the rest of the royal family six weeks after they met. Maybe he doesn’t like the standards of these 14 etiquette rules the British royal family needs to follow.
21. Zara Tindall
Princess Anne’s daughter was listed last in the official line of succession for a while until she had children of her own. She’s an equestrian and married rugby player Mike Tindall.
24. Master Lucas Tindall
Lucas Tindall was born in March 2021. Since his parents have opted for a life slightly out of the public eye, and since he’s not even six months old, there are no strong public photos of baby Lucas at the moment. Even though these successors are all prepared should their services be required, these are the 13 reasons Queen Elizabeth will never give up the throne.
Sources:
- Royal.uk: “Succession”
- Legislation.gov.uk: “Succession to the Crown Act, 2013”
- Royalcentral.co.uk: “Will Prince Harry lose his place in the line of succession?”
- Town and Country Magazine: “What Will Prince Harry’s Son Archie’s Title Be When Prince Charles Becomes King?”
- The Telegraph: “Peter Phillips didn’t tell his wife to be, Autumn Kelly, that he was royalty”