Following several major developments within the British royal family over the past few years, many people have begun asking a simple question: who is actually next in line for the throne? The order of succession within the monarchy is not fixed forever. It changes whenever a monarch dies, when royal children are born, or when laws governing succession are updated.
The most recent major shift happened in 2022, when Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 after a historic 70-year reign, the longest in British history. Immediately after her death, her eldest son, then known as Prince Charles, became King Charles III. His coronation took place in May 2023, officially confirming him as the new monarch.
Interestingly, Charles was already 73 when he became king, making him the oldest person ever to ascend the British throne.
Why Charles Inherited the Crown
Charles became monarch because he was the eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Being born before his younger siblings placed him first in the royal line of succession.
His siblings include:
• Princess Anne (born 1950)
• Prince Andrew (born 1960)
• Prince Edward (born 1964)
For many years, the rules of succession followed a system known as male-preference primogeniture. Under that system, male heirs automatically ranked ahead of their older sisters.
That is why Prince Andrew was placed ahead of Princess Anne in the succession order despite being younger.
The rule changed in 2013 with the Succession to the Crown Act, which established absolute primogeniture for future generations. Under the updated rule, birth order now takes priority regardless of gender.
Prince William and His Children
King Charles has two sons with the late Princess Diana: Prince William and Prince Harry.
Because William is the elder of the two, he became first in line to the throne once Charles became king.
Before William had children, Prince Harry was second in line. However, that changed when William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, started their family.
Their children now occupy the next positions:
- Prince William – first in line
- Prince George – second
- Princess Charlotte – third
- Prince Louis – fourth
Prince George, the couple’s eldest child, is therefore the future heir after his father.
If George eventually has children, they will move ahead of the rest of the royal family in the line of succession.
Where Prince Harry and His Children Stand
After William’s children comes Prince Harry, who is currently fifth in line.
Despite stepping back from royal duties in 2020 and moving to California with his wife Meghan Markle, Harry remains part of the official succession order.
Harry and Meghan have two children:
• Prince Archie, born in 2019
• Princess Lilibet, born in 2021
They currently occupy the next positions:
- Prince Archie
- Princess Lilibet
Even though Harry no longer performs royal duties, the succession line itself is determined by law rather than personal roles within the monarchy.
Prince Andrew and the Ongoing Controversy
Next in line is Prince Andrew, the king’s younger brother, who currently holds eighth place. However, Andrew’s position has been the subject of significant controversy due to his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Following public criticism and legal scrutiny, some British politicians have suggested that Andrew should be formally removed from the line of succession through legislation. For now, though, no such law has been passed, meaning he technically remains eighth in line.
The Next Generation of the Royal Family
After Andrew come his daughters and their children.
- Princess Beatrice
- Sienna Mapelli Mozzi (Beatrice’s daughter)
- Athena Mapelli Mozzi (Beatrice’s second daughter)
Beatrice’s younger sister, Princess Eugenie, follows next.
- Princess Eugenie
- August Brooksbank (her first son)
- Ernest Brooksbank (her second son)
These positions shifted slightly after the birth of Beatrice’s children, which pushed other members of the family further down the list.
Prince Edward and His Children
After Andrew’s branch of the family comes Prince Edward, the youngest sibling of King Charles.
He currently stands 15th in line.
His children follow him:
- James, Viscount Severn
- Lady Louise Windsor
Although Louise was born first, James is ahead of her in the line because he was born before the 2013 rule change that ended male-preference succession.
Princess Anne and Her Family
Eventually the succession reaches Princess Anne, the king’s sister, who currently sits much further down the list at 18th place.
Her children follow:
- Peter Phillips
- Savannah Phillips
- Isla Phillips
After them comes Anne’s daughter:
- Zara Tindall
Zara’s three children complete the next positions in the line:
- Mia Tindall
- Lena Tindall
- Lucas Tindall
A System That Continues to Change
The British royal line of succession may appear complex, but its core principle is straightforward: the crown passes through generations based largely on birth order. Each new royal birth shifts the order slightly, while changes to the law can reshape it more dramatically.
For now, however, the path to the throne remains clear. King Charles sits on the throne today, with Prince William positioned to become the next monarch when the time eventually comes.
