On Air Now
The Smooth Sanctuary at 7 with Gary Vincent 7pm - 10pm
7 May 2019, 09:14
With The Queen sitting at the top of the family tree for so many decades, it can be easy to forget who fits where.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have now had their first child, but where will they fit into the line of succession to the throne?
The British throne is determined by descent, gender (for anyone born before October 2011), legitimacy, and religion. Under common law, the Crown is inherited by a monarch's children, or by a childless monarch's nearest relative.
Here is how the line goes as of May 2019:
The eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
The eldest child of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
The eldest child of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge.
The second eldest child of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge (before October 2011, a male heir would always move above a female. However, the law has since changed meaning that Charlotte will stay above her younger brother).
The third eldest child of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge.
The second eldest child of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's first born will directly follow Harry.
The second eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
The eldest child of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
The second eldest child of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
The third eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
The eldest son of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones.
The eldest child of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones.
The daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
The eldest son of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips.
The eldest child of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly.
The second eldest child of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly.
The second eldest child of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips.
The eldest child of Zara and Mike Tindall.
The second child of Zara and Mike Tindall.
The eldest son of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones.
The eldest son of David Armstrong-Jones and Serena Stanhope.
The second eldest child of David Armstrong-Jones and Serena Stanhope.
The second eldest child of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones.