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

Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth was the longest-reigning and longest-living monarch king or queen in British history. She died on September 8, 2022.

King Charles

The queen’s eldest child King Charles succeeded the British throne following his mother’s death. Prior to Queen Elizabeth’s death, he was the longest-serving heir apparent in British history, having held the position since 1952!

In February 2024, it was announced that King Charles was diagnosed with cancer after undergoing surgery to correct his enlarged prostate.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge

Prince Charles’ eldest son, Prince William, is first in line to take over the monarchy following his father.

Prince George of Cambridge

Prince William’s eldest child, Prince George, is second in the line of succession after his dad.

Princess Charlotte of Cambridge

Princess Charlotte is currently third to take over the crown after her dad, Prince William, and older brother, Prince George. In 2013, the House of Windsor’s line of succession changed to officially include princesses. Before this ruling, a prince could bump his older sister’s place in line simply because he’s a boy.

Prince Louis of Cambridge

Prince William and Kate Middleton‘s third royal baby, Prince Louis, is fourth in line for the throne behind his older siblings, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, dad Prince William, and grandfather Prince Charles.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

Prince Charles’ youngest son, Prince Harry, is fifth in line for the throne. In April 2018, he was bumped down a spot when his older brother, Prince William, and sister-in-law welcomed their third royal baby.

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor

Baby Archie is sixth in line for the crown. How exciting!

Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor

Harry and Meghan’s second child, daughter Lilibet, arrived on June 4, 2021, in Santa Barbara, California. She became seventh in line to the throne, even though she is the first British royal baby to be born in the United States.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York

Prince Andrew is the Queen’s third child. He’s currently eighth in line to take over the monarchy, though his alleged involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking scandal has caused him to step back from public life, following a disastrous 2019 interview with the BBC over the topic.

Princess Beatrice of York

Prince Andrew’s eldest daughter, Princess Beatrice, is ninth in line for the crown. We wonder what type of ruler she would be?

Sienna Mapelli Mozzi

Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, welcomed their first child, daughter Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi, on September 18, 2021. She automatically became 10th in line for the crown.

Princess Eugenie of York

Prince Andrew’s youngest daughter, Princess Eugenie, is 11th in the line of succession, and there’s more to go!

August Brooksbank

Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank welcomed their first child, son August Philip Hawke, on February 9, 2021. The little guy jumped to 12th in line for the British throne.

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex

Prince Edward is the queen’s fourth and youngest child. He’s 13th in line for the throne yet works tirelessly as a senior member of the royal family.

James, Viscount Severn

James is Prince Edward’s youngest child. He is 14th in line for the monarchy and precedes his older sister, Lady Louise, because he was born before the 2013 change in the succession.

Lady Louise Windsor

Lady Louise is Prince Edward’s eldest child. She’s 15th in the line for the crown and remains behind her younger brother, James, because they were both born before the 2013 change in the succession.

Anne, Princess Royal

Princess Anne is the queen’s second child and only girl. She is 16th in line behind her eldest brother, Prince Charles, and two younger brothers, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, because the siblings were all born before the 2013 succession change. She remains the hardest working royal, who carried out a whopping 506 events on behalf of the crown in 2019.