This summer, Royal Central is taking a look at the lines of succession across Europe and this latest installment looks at the first twenty with a claim on the British throne.
Elizabeth II has achieved much in her long reign and from a dynastic point of view she has another success to celebrate. For the line to the throne under the Queen is as about as secure as it could be. In fact, so solid and strong does it stand that the first twenty people in the succession are all descendants of the longest reigning monarch in British history. Here’s a look at the line to the British throne.
The current monarch is Elizabeth II who ascended the throne on February 6th 1952. She was born on April 21st 1926 and married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on November 20th 1947. On September 9th 2015, she became the longest reigning monarch in British history.
The line of succession to the throne of Elizabeth is as follows:
- Prince Charles, Prince of Wales
The longest serving heir to the throne in British history, Charles Philip Arthur George is the eldest child of Elizabeth II. He was born on November 14th 1948 at Buckingham Palace, London in the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI. He became heir to the throne on the accession of his mother as Queen on February 6th 1952. He has two sons from his first marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales and has been married to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall since 2005.
2. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
William Arthur Philip Louis was born on June 21st 1982 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, the first child of Charles and Diana, Prince and Princess of Wales. He is the third grandchild and second grandson of Elizabeth II. He was made Duke of Cambridge on April 29th 2011 on his marriage to Catherine Middleton.
3. Prince George of Cambridge
The first child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, George Alexander Louis was born on July 22nd 2013 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington. He is the third great grandchild of Elizabeth II.
4. Princess Charlotte of Cambridge
Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, second child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge holds a special place in royal history. She is the most senior royal so far to be affected by the changes to succession laws which stopped girls being demoted in the line to the throne by younger brothers. She was born on May 2nd 2015 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington and is the fifth great grandchild of Elizabeth II.
5. Prince Louis of Cambridge
The third child and second son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Louis Arthur Charles was born on April 23rd 2018 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington. He is the sixth great-grandchild of Elizabeth II.
6. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
Henry Charles Albert David, always known as Harry, was born on September 15th 1984 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddingtonis. He is the second child of Charles and Diana and was made Duke of Sussex on May 19th 2018 on his marriage to Meghan Markle. He is the fourth grandchild and third grandson of Elizabeth
7. Archie Mountbatten-Windsor
The first child of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was born on May 6th 2019 at the Portland Hospital in London. He is the eighth great-grandchild of Elizabeth II.
8. Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Andrew Albert Christian Edward was born on February 19th 1960 at Buckingham Palace, London as the third child and second son of Elizabeth II and second in line to the throne. He married Sarah Ferguson on July 23rd 1986 and they had two daughters before divorcing in 1996.
9. Princess Beatrice of York
The first child of Andrew and Sarah, Duke and Duchess of York, Beatrice Elizabeth Mary was born on August 8th 1988 at the Portland Hospital, London. She is the fifth grandchild and second granddaughter of Elizabeth II.
10. Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank
Eugenie Victoria Helena was born on March 23rd 1990 at the Portland Hospital, London as the younger daughter of Andrew and Sarah, Duke and Duchess of York. She married Jack Brooksbank on October 12th 2018. Eugenie is the sixth grandchild and third granddaughter of Elizabeth II.
11. Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
The fourth and youngest child of Elizabeth II, Edward Antony Richard Louis was born on March 10th 1964 at Buckingham Palace, London. He was made Earl of Wessex on June 19th 1999 on his marriage to Sophie Rhys-Jones and was created Earl of Forfar on his 55th birthday, in 2019.
12. James, Viscount Severn
James Alexander Philip Theo, born on December 17th 2007 at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, is the second child and only son of the Earl and Countess of Wessex. He is the youngest grandchild of Elizabeth II.
13. Lady Louise Windsor
The first child of the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary was born on November 8th 2003 at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey. Although older than her brother, the succession law changes don’t apply to her as she was born before their inception. Louise is the seventh grandchild and fourth granddaughter of Elizabeth II.
14. Princess Anne, Princess Royal
The second child and only daughter of Elizabeth II, Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise was born on August 15th 1950 at Clarence House in London in the reign of her maternal grandfather, King George VI. She was made Princess Royal in 1987. She married Mark Phillips on November 14th 1973 and the couple had two children before divorcing in 1992. She married Sir Tim Laurence in 1992.
15. Peter Phillips
Born on November 15th 1977 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, Peter Andrew Mark is the first child of the Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips. The eldest grandchild of Elizabeth II, he married Autumn Kelly in May 2008 and the couple has two daughters.
Embed from Getty Images16. Savannah Phillips
The eldest great-grandchild of Elizabeth II, Savannah Anne Kathleen was born on December 29th 2010 at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. She is the first child of Peter and Autumn Phillips.
Embed from Getty Images17. Isla Phillips
Isla Elizabeth, the younger child of Peter and Autumn Phillips, was born on March 29th 2012 at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. She is the second great-grandchild of Elizabeth II.
Embed from Getty Images18. Zara Tindall
Zara Anne Elizabeth was born on May 15th 1981 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington and is the second grandchild and first granddaughter of Elizabeth II. She married Mike Tindall in July 2011 and the couple has two daughters.
19. Mia Tindall
The first child of Zara and Mike Tindall, Mia Grace was born on January 17th 2014 at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. She is the fourth great-grandchild of Elizabeth II.
Embed from Getty Images20. Lena Tindall
Lena Elizabeth was born on June 18th 2018 at Stroud Maternity Hospital in Gloucestershire, the youngest child of Zara and Mike Tindall. She is the seventh great grandchild of Elizabeth II.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe line of succession then moves to the descendants of George VI and George V before spreading out across the UK and Europe to those who count Edward VII and Queen Victoria among their ancestors. There will be more on the British line of succession on Royal Central over the summer. In the meantime, you can enjoy all the installments of our special series here.