Following the death of the Queen on Thursday, the royal family has a new line of succession. Interestingly, in the new hierarchy more children than adults now make up the top eight positions.
Prince William, the new Prince of Wales, is now heir to the throne. Prince Andrew, meanwhile, is eighth in line despite recent controversies.
The rules for succession are ancient, going back to the Bill of Rights 1689 and the Act of Settlement 1701. They were, however, amended in 2013 by the Succession to the Crown Act, which was passed mainly to make succession to the Crown not depend on gender and to make provision about royal marriages.
Read more: All schools and nurseries in Scotland to close for Queen's funeral
Historical context
The official royal.uk website says: “The succession to the throne is regulated not only through descent, but also by Parliamentary statute. The order of succession is the sequence of members of the Royal Family in the order in which they stand in line to the throne.”
It also gives the historical context for the rules of succession: “When James II fled the country in 1688, Parliament held that he had 'abdicated the government' and that the throne was vacant. The throne was then offered, not to James's young son, but to his daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange, as joint rulers.
“It therefore came to be established not only that the Sovereign rules through Parliament, but that the succession to the throne can be regulated by Parliament, and that a Sovereign can be deprived of his/her title through misgovernment. The Act of Settlement confirmed that it was for Parliament to determine the title to the throne.
“The Act laid down that only Protestant descendants of Princess Sophia – the Electress of Hanover and granddaughter of James I – are eligible to succeed. Subsequent Acts have confirmed this.”
What is the new line of succession?
Here are the top eight positions:
The eldest son of King Charles and Diana is now heir apparent and next in line.
2. Prince George, nine
Kate and William’s oldest son, George, takes William’s place as second in line.
3. Princess Charlotte, seven
After the death of her great-grandmother, seven-year-old Charlotte becomes the most senior female royal in terms of succession.
4. Prince Louis, four
Kate and William’s youngest child.
5. Prince Harry, 37
He has a new life in California but the Duke of Sussex is still fifth in line.
6. Prince Archie, three
The oldest of Harry and Meghan’s children.
7. Princess Lilibet, 15 months
Named after her great-grandmother, Lillibet met the Queen for the first time this summer.
The Duke of York was stripped of royal duties after the Virginia Giuffre lawsuit was settled, but is still in the official line of succession.
