How the royal line of succession changed in 2022

Ellen Manning
·10 min read
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The death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022 sparked an outpouring of grief in the UK and further afield.

Her death saw the line of succession in the royal family change, with Charles becoming King and his eldest son William the heir to the throne.

William's children - George, Charlotte and Louis - are next in line, followed by William's brother Harry, the Duke of Sussex, who remains in the line of succession along with his own children despite stepping back from royal duties.

This is the latest line of succession of the royal family:

1. The Prince of Wales

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 06: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Prince William, Prince of Wales departs after attending the annual Reception for Members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace on December 6, 2022 in London, England. This year's Reception for the Diplomatic Corp is the first hosted by King Charles III and the first since 2019 following a two year hiatus due to the COIVD-19 pandemic. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Following the Queen's death, William took on the title of Prince of Wales. (Getty)

William took on Charles' former title when he and his wife, Kate Middleton, became the Prince and Princess of Wales. They also hold the title of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge.

2. Prince George of Wales

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Prince George of Wales during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her Father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
William's eldest son George is second in line to the throne. (Getty)

William's eldest son, George, will turn 10 in July 2023. He is the eldest grandchild of King Charles III and second in line of succession to the British throne behind his father, William.

3. Princess Charlotte of Wales

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 15: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Princess Charlotte of Wales attends the 'Together at Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 15, 2022 in London, England. Spearheaded by Catherine, Princess of Wales and supported by The Royal Foundation, this year's carol service is dedicated to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the values she demonstrated throughout her life. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Princess Charlotte is third in line to the throne. (Getty)

Princess Charlotte of Wales, William's daughter, is third in line to the throne, after her father and older brother. Her full title is Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Wales.

Charlotte is the first and youngest female in line for the throne. She takes precedence over her younger brother, Prince Louis, thanks to amendments to the Succession to the Crown Act in 2013, which was changed to allow a firstborn daughter of William and Kate to override any younger brothers, whereas previously brothers would always come before their sisters in the line of succession.

4. Prince Louis of Wales

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 05: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Prince Louis of Cambridge attends the Platinum Pageant on The Mall on June 5, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Prince Louis of Cambridge follows his older siblings in the line of succession. (Getty)

Prince Louis, youngest of the Prince and Princess of Wales' three children, follows his older siblings in the line of succession. All three are ahead of their uncle Harry in the line of succession.

5. The Duke of Sussex

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attends The State Funeral Of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her Father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
The Duke of Sussex is fifth in line to the throne. (Getty)

William’s younger brother Harry is now fifth in line for the throne. He and wife Meghan may have stepped back from royal duties but the Duke of Sussex remains in the line of succession, as do his children.

Despite giving up the HRH (His Royal Highness) title and being stripped of his his honorary military titles and royal patronage appointments, Harry still retains the right to the throne.

6. Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor

This official christening photograph released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shows Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex with their son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor at Windsor Castle with with the Rose Garden in the background, near London, Britain July 6, 2019. Chris Allerton/Pool via REUTERS NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE. NO MERCHANDISING, ADVERTISING, SOUVENIRS, MEMORABILIA or COLOURABLY SIMILAR. NOT FOR USE AFTER AFTER 31 DECEMBER, 2019 WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION FROM ROYAL COMMUNICATIONS. NO CROPPING. Copyright in this photograph is vested in The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. No charge should be made for the supply, release or publication of the photograph. The photograph must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published.
Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, pictured with them at Windsor Castle in 2019. (Reuters)

Harry and Meghan's son Archie, is sixth in line to the throne, behind his father, uncle and cousins.

Asked in the now-famous interview with Oprah Winfrey if Archie being a prince was important to her, the Duchess of Sussex answered: "If it meant he was going to be safe, then of course."

7. Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor

Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor follows her older brother Archie in the royal line of succession. (Instagram/archewell_sussex_)
Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor follows her older brother Archie in the royal line of succession. (Instagram/archewell_sussex_)

Named after the royal family's nickname for the Queen, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor - known as Lili - follows her brother and father in the line of succession.

8. The Duke of York

WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 19: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on September 19, 2022 in Windsor, England. The committal service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, took place following the state funeral at Westminster Abbey. A private burial in The King George VI Memorial Chapel followed. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
The Duke of York is the first person in the line of succession who is not a descendant of the current reigning monarch. (Getty)

Despite being mired in scandal in recent years, King Charles' younger brother Andrew is eighth in line to the throne, and the first person who is not a descendant of the current reigning monarch.

9. Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

Britain's Princess Beatrice of York follows by car the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, as it travels on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy, from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in London on September 19, 2022, after the State Funeral Service of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. PAUL ELLIS/Pool via REUTERS
Princess Beatrice of York is the eldest daughter of Prince Andrew, the King's younger brother. (Reuters)

As the eldest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, Princess Beatrice is ninth in line to the throne after her father.

Following the death of the Queen, she was also promoted to one of four Counsellors of State. According to the royal family's website, Counsellors of State include the spouse of the sovereign, and the next four people in the line of succession who are over the age of 21, which means the current Counsellors of State are Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, and Princess Beatrice.

10. Miss Sienna Mapelli Mozzi

Britain's Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi attend the Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey, in London, Britain December 15, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/Pool
Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi did not release an official picture of their daughter Sienna, preferring a more private approach. (Reuters)

Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi is the first child of Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, who welcomed her into the world on 18 September, 2021.

Her name pays tribute to both her father's Italian roots and her great-grandmother, the Queen.

No pictures have been released of Sienna, with Beatrice keeping her out of the limelight.

11. Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: Princess Eugenie attends the 'Together at Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 15, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Princess Eugenie is Prince Andrew's younger daughter and follows her older sister in the line of succession. (Getty)

Princess Eugenie is the younger daughter of Prince Andrew, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II and a niece of King Charles III.

When she was born she was 6th in the line of succession to the British throne but has since slipped back to 11th.

12. Master August Brooksbank

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 05: Princess Eugenie and August Philip Hawke Brooksbank attend the Platinum Pageant on The Mall on June 5, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
Princess Eugenie's son August Philip Hawke Brooksbank is 12th in line to the throne. (Getty)

August Philip Hawke Brooksbank is Princess Eugenie's son and was born in February 2021. Since then he has made regular appearances on her Instagram account and appeared with the Royal family at various state occasions.

13. The Earl of Wessex

Britain's Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, looks on as he walks through the Royal Botanic Gardens with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during his state visit in London, Britain, November 23, 2022. REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, is King Charles III's younger brother but is 13th in line to the throne behind many of his nieces and nephews. (Reuters)

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, is the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III's younger sibling.

Despite being the Queen's son, he is superseded in the line of succession by many of his nieces and nephews due to the rules of succession.

14. Viscount Severn

BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - AUGUST 02: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) James, Viscount Severn watches the England v India Women's hockey match during the 2022 Commonwealth Games at the University of Birmingham Hockey & Squash Centre on August 2, 2022 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
James, Viscount Severn, is the son of the King's brother Edward, Earl of Wessex. (Getty)

James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor, or Viscount Severn, is the younger child of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Forfar.

He is the youngest grandchild of Elizabeth II and a nephew of King Charles III. He is 14th in the line of succession to the throne.

15. The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor

Britain’s Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor participates in the Champagne Laurent-Perrier Meet of the British Driving Society during The Royal Windsor Horse Show in Windsor, Britain, May 15, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor inherited her grandfather's love of carriage driving. (Reuters)

Lady Louise Windsor, as she is generally known, is the elder child of Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

Despite being older than her brother James, Viscount Severn, she was pushed down the line of succession following his birth because the changes to rules of succession introduced ahead of Prince George's birth in 2013 came later, making her the last female member of the Royal Family to be pushed down in the line of succession following the birth of a younger brother.

16. The Princess Royal

Britain's Anne, Princess Royal, attends the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in London, Britain, September 19, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/Pool
Anne, Princess Royal, is one of the children's (Reuters)

Anne, Princess Royal, is the second oldest of Queen Elizabeth's four children and older than both Andrew and Edward.

The Princess Royal is often referred to as one of the hardest-working members of the royal family. However, she sits further down the line of succession because the law change that ended the priority of males over females only applies to royal children born after the law took affect in 28 October 2011.

17. Mr. Peter Phillips

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: Peter Phillips and his girlfriend, Lindsay Wallace, look on from the Royal Box on Centre Court during day ten of The Championships Wimbledon 2022 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 6, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Peter Phillips, pictured during The Championships Wimbledon 2022 with his girlfriend Lindsay Wallace, is Princess Anne's son. (Getty)

Peter Phillips is the son of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips and eldest nephew of King Charles III.

Despite being the eldest grandchild of the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, he was not given a royal title at birth because Princess Anne and Captain Phillips wanted their children to live as normal a life as possible.

He shares two daughters with ex-wife Autumn Kelly - both of whom follow him in the line of succession.

18. Miss Savannah Phillips

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 05: Savannah Phillips attends the Platinum Pageant on The Mall on June 5, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
Savannah Phillips is Peter Phillips' oldest daughter with now ex-wife Autumn Kelly. (Getty)

Savannah is the oldest of Peter Phillips' two daughters and was the Queen's oldest great-grandchild and Princess Anne's oldest grandchild.

At the time of her birth she was 12th in line to the throne, but was shunted down the list following the births of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis as well as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's children Archie and Lilibet, and Princess Beatrice's and Princess Eugenie's children Sienna and August.

While she holds a position in the order of succession, Savannah does not have a royal title.

19. Miss Isla Phillips

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 29: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Isla Phillips attends a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey on March 29, 2022 in London, England. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh died aged 99 on April 9, 2021. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Isla Phillips is the younger daughter of Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips. (Getty)

Isla Phillips follows her older sister Savannah in the line of succession, sitting at number 19 at the end of 2022.

Like her sister, she does not hold the title of Her Royal Highness. Her grandmother Princess Anne is believed to have declined an offer by the Queen to give her son - Isla's father Peter Phillips - a title, which means as her father doesn't have a title, neither does she.

20. Mrs. Michael Tindall

Britain Horse Racing - Cheltenham Festival - Cheltenham Racecourse - 15/3/17 Zara Phillips during ladies day Reuters / Stefan Wermuth Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Zara Phillips is the younger daughter of Princess Anne. (Getty)

More commonly known as Zara Phillips or Zara Tindall, Princess Anne's daughter is known in the line of succession as 'Mrs Michael Tindall' - a reference to her husband, former professional rugby player Mike Tindall. The couple have three children together, who all follow her in the line of succession.

Zara Phillips is godmother to Prince George of Wales, son of the Prince of Wales.

21. Miss Mia Tindall

Mia Tindall claps during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, marking the end of the celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in London, Britain, June 5, 2022. Chris Jackson/Pool via REUTERS
Mia Tindall is Zara Tindall's oldest child and 21st in the line of succession. (Getty)

Mia Grace is Zara Tindall's oldest daughter and was born on 17 January 2014 at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. She is 21st in the line of succession.

22. Miss Lena Tindall

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 05: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Zara Tindall and Lena Tindall attend the Platinum Pageant on The Mall on June 5, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Lena Tindall is Zara Tindall's second child and 22nd in line to the throne. (Getty)

After the birth of Mia, Zara Tindall's next two pregnancies ended in miscarriage but her second daughter, Lena Elizabeth was born on 18 June 2018 at the Stroud Maternity Hospital. Lena is 22nd in the line of succession.

23. Master Lucas Tindall

STROUD, UNITED KINGDOM - AUGUST 07: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Lucas Tindall attends day 3 of the 2022 Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park on August 7, 2022 in Stroud, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Lucas Tindall is the third child of Zara and Mike Tindall. (Getty)

Lucas Philip Tindall is Zara and Mike Tindall's third child and was born on 21 March 2021 at the family home in Gatcombe Park.

He was christened at Royal Chapel of All Saints, Windsor Park, on 21 November 2021, alongside his second cousin, August Brooksbank, son of Princess Eugenie.