The British Royal Family Line of Succession

The line of succession to the British Royal Family often seems to be misunderstood.   Having grown up in the UK and studying history there I can’t understand why people don’t know how the line of succession for the British royal family works, but even my hubby gets it wrong – and I thought I’d educated him by now!!

Basically boys trump girls and Catholics, adopted children and illegitimate children are out of the running. Most of the succession rules are outlined in the 1701 Act of Succession which was basically written to keep England unified under the Church of England and to stop any more religious persecutions that had been brought about by the likes of Mary I and others

At the time that the line of succession was established women had none of the rights that they have today (at least not in England) and it was believed a woman succeeding to the throne would mean that she would need to be married and thus the future of England could be controlled by an overseas king.   This was not seen as good.   Let’s look at the modern Royal family to see where this comes into play.

Queen Elizabeth II has four children born in this order – Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward.  Obviously Charles is first in line for the throne, he is followed by his two sons William and Harry.   If something should happen to the three of them the next in line is NOT Anne because she’s a girl instead it would go to Andrew.   However, if something should happen to Andrew then the next two people in line for the throne are his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie.   The Queen’s 2^nd born – Anne is actually number 10 in line for the throne.

Well the British monarch is also the head of the Church of England so it’s quite understandable that this role couldn’t go to a Catholic.   If someone who is in line for the throne should marry a Catholic then they have to forfeit their rights to the throne, however their children are still eligible for the throne as long as they are brought up in the Anglican faith.  

Recently Peter Phillips (the Queen’s grandson and number 11 in line for the throne) married a girl who had been brought up as a Catholic.   Autumn had to renounce her Catholic faith and convert to the Church of England before they were married in order for Peter to stay in line for the British throne.

Well back in 1701 DNA testing was not available, in fact all royal births had to be witnessed to made sure that the baby wasn’t substituted so leaving out illegitimate children did made perfect sense.  

In recent years this has meant that 2 of David Lascelles children are ineligible for succeeding to the throne as they were born out of wedlock, whereas his younger two children are eligible.

The Queen had 4 children – 3 boys and 1 girl. Before the Queen had any grandchildren the succession rights went to her sons first, in their birth order followed by her daughter. When anyone who was in line for the throne had children they would be next in line after them following the same rules as above.

This means that at the moment the line of succession for the British Royal family is this –

1. Charles, Prince of Wales (the Queen’s eldest son)
2. William, Duke of Cambridge (Charles’ eldest son)
3. Harry (Charles’ youngest son)
4. Andrew, Duke of York (the Queen’s second eldest son)
5. Beatrice (Andrew’s eldest daughter – he has no sons)
6. Eugenie (Andrew’s youngest daughter)
7. Edward, Earl of Wessex (the Queen’s youngest son)
8. James, Viscount Severn (Edward’s youngest child, but only son)
9. Lady Louise Windsor (Edward’s daughter)
10. Anne (the Queen’s only daughter)
11. Peter Phillips (Anne’s son)
12. Savannah Phillips (Peter's eldest daughter)
13. Isla Phillips (Peter's second daughter)
14. Zara Phillips (Anne’s daughter)

Before her death the Queen’s sister Princess Margaret would have been next in line. The Queen and Margaret were the only children of the late King George VI. Princess Margaret had two children and so the line of succession continues through them in the same manner as above.

15. David Armstrong Jones, Viscount Linley (Margaret’s son)

16. Hon. Charles Armsrtong Jones (David’s son)

17. Margarita Armstrong Jones (David’s daughter)

18. Lady Sarah Chatto (Margaret’s daughter)

19. Samuel Chatto (Sarah’s eldest son)

20. Arthur Chatto (Sarah’s youngest son)

Now that we’ve gone through the Queen’s father King George VI’s descendants we look to his father’s descendants ie the Queen’s uncles and aunts and their off-spring. The Queen had 4 uncles and 1 aunt on her father’s side. Her eldest uncle was the former Edward VIII who abdicated, the next in line would have been Henry Duke of Gloucester who died in 1974. He had two children William and Richard. William is deceased and left no issue which leads us to Richard.

21. Richard, Duke of Gloucester

22. Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster (son of Richard)

23. Xan Windsor, Lord Culloden (son of Alexander)

24. Lady Davina Lewis (daughter of Richard)

25. Lady Rose Gilman (daughter of Richard)

The Queen’s next uncle was George, Duke of Kent who is also deceased, but who had three children – Edward, Alexandra and Michael.

26. Edward, Duke of Kent (son of George, Duke of Kent)

Edward’s son George, Earl of St Andrews is no longer in line for the throne because he married a Catholic.

27. Lady Marina Windsor (daughter of George, Earl of St Andrews – her brother Edward and sister Amelia both converted to Catholicism, but she hasn’t so she is still in the line of succession.)

28. Lady Helen Taylor (daughter of Edward)

29. Columbus Taylor (son of Helen)

30. Cassius Taylor (son of Helen)

31. Eloise Taylor (daughter of Helen)

32. Estella Taylor (daughter of Helen)

Edward’s son Nicholas converted to Catholicism which meant he was no longer in the line of succession.

George, Duke of Kent’s youngest son is Michael of Kent who lost his place in the line of succession when he married a Catholic. His children, however were brought up in the Church of England so are still in the line of succession.

33. Lord Frederick Windsor (Michael’s son)

34. Lady Gabriella Windsor (Michael’s daughter)

35. Alexandra, Lady Ogilvy (daughter of George, Duke of Kent)

36. James Ogilvy (son of Alexandra)

37. Alexander Ogilvy (son of James)

38. Flora Ogilvy (daughter of James)

39. Marina Mowatt (daughter of Alexandra)

40. Christian Mowatt (son of Marina)

41. Miss Zenouska Mowatt (daughter of Marina)

That brings us to the Queen’s paternal aunt Princess Mary, Princess Royal she died leaving 2 sons George and Gerald.

42. George Lascelles, 7^th Earl of Harewood (son of Princess Mary, Princess Royal)

43. David Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles (son of George)

David Lascelles and his wife had their first two children before they were married which means that they are not in the line of succession.

44. Hon Alexander Lascelles (son of David)

45. Hon Edward Lascelles (son of David)

46. Hon. James Lascelles (son of George)

47. Rowan Lascelles (son of James)

48. Tewa Lascelles (son of James)

49. Sophie Lascelles (daughter of James)

One of James Lascelles children was also born out of wedlock meaning that she is also not in the line of succession.

50. Hon Jeremy Lascelles (son of George)

So there you have it the fifty people in line for the British throne at the moment and how the rule of succession works.