The Fascinating Evolution of the British Monarchy's Succession Line

The recent changes to the royal line of succession have left many wondering about the positioning of members of the British royal family in relation to the throne. Queen Elizabeth II held the position of head of the Commonwealth for an impressive 70 years until her passing in September 2022 at the remarkable age of 96, earning her the title of the longest-reigning British monarch ever. Following her death, the eldest son of the late Prince Philip, King Charles III, was officially crowned as king during his coronation ceremony held in May 2023.

Prince William is second in line for the throne, right after his father, Prince Charles. Despite being younger, Prince Harry was pushed back in the line of succession following the birth of Prince William and Kate Middleton's children. Their first child, Prince George, was born in July 2013 and took precedence over his uncle. Subsequently, the arrival of Princess Charlotte in May 2015 and Prince Louis in April 2018 pushed Prince Harry further down to third and fourth in line for the throne.

Harry is fifth in line to the throne and his firstborn, Archie, was born in May 2019 to him and Meghan Markle. The couple, who got married in May 2018, shared the news of their baby's arrival through an Instagram post and Harry couldn't hide his joy when he spoke to the media.

"We are overjoyed to welcome our healthy baby boy into the world," shared the Duke of Sussex with the press. "Words cannot express how grateful we are for the love and support we've received. Witnessing the strength and resilience of women during childbirth is truly awe-inspiring. This experience has been nothing short of amazing for us both, and we are thrilled to share it with everyone." The couple later revealed their son's name, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, and introduced him to his great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, at Windsor Castle. The Duke of Edinburgh and the duchess' mother were also present for this special moment.

In January of 2020, the couple caused a stir by announcing their decision to step away from their senior royal roles. They settled in California with their son two months later. After a year of highs and lows, Buckingham Palace confirmed in February 2021 that Harry and Meghan would not be returning as working members of the royal family. This news followed their announcement that they were expecting their second child, a baby girl, after Meghan experienced a miscarriage in July of the previous year. During their first televised interview since leaving their royal duties, the couple expressed their excitement about expanding their family and having both a son and daughter. Harry shared his joy, stating, "We've got our family. We've got, you know, the four of us and our two dogs, and it's great."

Their second child, Lili, arrived in June 2021 and became seventh in line, following her brother, Archie.

Scroll down to see where each royal stands in line for the throne.

Credit: Getty Images (3); MEGA

From King Charles III to Princess Eugenie: The Royal Line of Succession

The British royal family's place in line to the throne has been impacted by recent changes in the line of succession. It's important to understand where each member stands in the order of succession.

After reigning as head of the Commonwealth for 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022 at the age of 96. As the eldest son of the late Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth, King Charles III was officially crowned as the new monarch during his coronation ceremony in May 2023.

After Charles, Prince William is the next in line for the throne. Despite being the younger brother, Prince Harry was pushed back in the line of succession due to the births of William and Princess Kate's children. Prince George, born in July 2013, took over the spot that Harry would have had, followed by Princess Charlotte in May 2015 and Prince Louis in April 2018, who now hold the third and fourth positions in the line of succession.

Harry, currently fifth in line for the throne, welcomed his firstborn, Archie, with his wife Meghan Markle. The couple, who tied the knot in May 2018, shared the news of their son's arrival in a heartwarming Instagram post in May 2019. Harry could not contain his happiness as he spoke to the media about his new addition to the family.

The Duke of Sussex proudly announced to the press that he and Meghan welcomed a healthy baby boy early this morning. Expressing his admiration for women who give birth, he expressed his overwhelming happiness and gratitude for the love and support from everyone. It was a truly unforgettable experience for both of them.

The couple announced their newborn son's name, "Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor," via Instagram and introduced him to Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, and Meghan's mother at Windsor Castle. However, in January 2020, they caused controversy by announcing their decision to step down from their senior royal roles, eventually settling in California with their son. Despite the announcement of their second pregnancy, Buckingham Palace confirmed in February 2021 that Harry and Meghan would not be returning as working members of the royal family. This news came after Meghan's previous miscarriage in July 2020.

In their first televised interview since leaving the royal family, the couple shared the exciting news that they were expecting a baby girl. Harry expressed his joy at having a son and daughter, saying "We've got our family. We've got, you know, the four of us and our two dogs, and it's great."

Their second child, Lili, arrived in June 2021 and became seventh in line, following her brother, Archie.

Scroll down to see where each royal stands in line for the throne.

Credit: Hugo Burnand/WPA

King Charles III

The former Prince of Wales became king after Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022.

Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Prince William

The Duke of Cambridge is now first in line for the throne.

Credit: Pool/Max Mumby/Getty Images

Prince George

As the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcomed their first child, Prince Harry's position in the line of succession began to slip. With each addition to the growing royal family, his rank continued to decrease.

Credit: MEGA

Princess Charlotte

Charlotte broke the traditional mold of male heirs in the British monarchy. Thanks to a parliamentary law passed in 2013, she stands ahead of her younger brother, Louis, in the line of succession based on age rather than gender. This law replaced the previous rule that placed an older sister behind her younger brother in line for the throne.

Credit: HRH The Duchess of Cambridge via Getty Images

Prince Louis

The youngest of Kate and William’s children still precedes Harry.

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Prince Harry

Coming in at fifth is the former military pilot, who will continue to fall further down the line should Kate and William have more children.

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Prince Archie

Archie, the baby boy of Harry and Meghan, has arrived and is now sixth in line for the throne. As per a ruling by King George V in 1917, his grandchildren were entitled to the prince and princess titles upon their grandfather's ascension to the throne. Consequently, Harry and Meghan's eldest child is recognized as Prince Archie of Sussex, a title that was officially announced in March 2023.

Credit: YouTube

Princess Lilibet

Harry and Meghan's second child, daughter Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, is seventh in line to the throne.

The royal family confirmed in March 2023 that Lilibet will use the “Princess Lilibet of Sussex” title now that her grandfather Charles is the reigning monarch.

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Prince Andrew

With an age difference of nearly 60 years, Prince Andrew — who is the brother of Prince Charles — falls in the eighth spot below Lili.

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Princess Beatrice

Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York’s eldest daughter, Beatrice, follows her father.

Credit: Photo by Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi/WPA/Shutterstock

Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi

Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi were blessed with a baby girl in September 2021. The newborn princess is currently the 10th in line for the throne, following her mother Princess Beatrice.

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Princess Eugenie

The arrival of her sister’s daughter bumped Eugenie, who is Andrew's youngest child, into the No. 11 spot.

Credit: Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank/PA Wire

August Philip Hawke Brooksbank

Twelfth in line is Princess Eugenie’s first child, August, whom she welcomed with husband Jack Brooksbank in February 2021.

Credit: Courtesy of Princess Eugenie/Instagram

Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank

Eugenie and Brooksbank's second son, born in May 2023, is 13th in line to the throne after his older brother, August.

Credit: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Prince Edward

Prince Edward, the youngest son of the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, currently holds the 14th position in the line of succession. Following him are his two children, James, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor in the 15th and 16th positions, respectively. In March 2023, Edward was bestowed with the title of Duke of Edinburgh, which was a lifetime appointment previously held by his father. As a result, James inherited the Earl of Wessex title.