Royals

The British Royal Family’s Line of Succession Is a Bit Complex: Check Out a Complete Guide

Updated

2 years ago

May 4, 2018

What Is the British Royal Family's Line of Succession? See Guide

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 13: (L-R) Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince George of Cambridge,Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh look out on the balcony of uckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour on June 13, 2015 in London, England. . The ceremony is Queen Elizabeth II's annual birthday parade and dates back to the time of Charles II in the 17th Century when the Colours of a regiment were used as a rallying point in battle. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The British royal family‘s line of succession spans several generations. The birth of royal babies frequently changes the line of succession. The late Que en Elizabeth took over the throne back in 1952 and was the longest-living and longest-reigning king or queen in British history.

Queen Elizabeth and her lineage weren’t originally supposed to ascend to the throne so easily. In 1936, her father, King George VI, took over the crown when his older brother, King Edward VIII, abdicated. In the present, that would be like Prince Harry and his family becoming next in the line of succession if his elder sibling, Prince William, decided to no longer be king. When King George VI took over the job, then Princess Elizabeth became the heir presumptive — and the rest is history.

Scroll below to see the current line of succession to the British throne.