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Charles, William, George, Charlotte... this is the line of succession to the British throne© Getty Images

This is the line of succession to the British throne

To prepare for the coronation of King Charles on May 6th, we take a closer look at the line of succession and the future of the British monarchy


Shirley Gomez
Senior Writer
MAY 5, 2023 12:31 PM EDT

After the death of   Queen Elizabeth II  , her eldest son, Prince Charles, became the direct heir to the British crown, and was named the new King, while the Duchess of Cornwall became the Queen consort. Tomorrow, May 6th, 2023, King Charles III will be crowned as the new monarch, marking a historic moment as it will be the first time since 1937 that a Queen Consort is also crowned. As we prepare for this significant moment in the history of the British monarchy, let’s take a closer look at the line of succession.

Carlos is followed by his eldest son, Prince William, and later, his three children with the Duchess of Cambridge. What about Prince Harry and his children? What about the other children of the late Queen? We have below the complete line of succession to the British throne.

In 2013, the norm that regulates the succession to the throne underwent a modification. It now establishes that children born in the first place have preferences regardless of gender, eliminating the historical rule of men over women. However, this law is not retroactive, so Prince Edward, the youngest of the monarch’s four children, is in 14th place, and his older sister Princess Anne, will occupy 17th place.

The Royal Family Attend Church On Christmas Day© GettyImages

With the death of Queen Elizabeth, at the age of 96, on September 8, the line of succession to the British throne changed, and now has a new heir to the throne.

Principe Carlos© GettyImages

Charles of Wales, 73, is the direct heir to the British throne. The son of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh will become the king of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations kingdom of 54 member countries.

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit the Foundling Musem in London© GettyImages

Prince William, 40, is second in line to the throne. He is the eldest son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana. He is married to the Duchess of Cambridge, and they are the parents of three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. All three figure in succession to the throne.

Prince George smiles at the beach in new birthday photo© WireImage

In third place is Prince George, 9. He is the eldest son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02: Princess Charlotte of Cambridge during a visit to SportsAid House at the 2022 Commonwealth Games on August 02, 2022 in Birmingham, England. The Duchess became the Patron of SportsAid in 2013, Team England Futures programme is a partnership between SportsAid, Sport England and Commonwealth Games England which will see around 1,000 talented young athletes and aspiring support staff given the opportunity to attend the Games and take a first-hand look behind-the-scenes. (Photo by Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty Images)© GettyImages

Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, known as Princess Charlotte, is seven years old and is fourth on the throne. She is the only female daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02: Princess Charlotte of Cambridge during a visit to SportsAid House at the 2022 Commonwealth Games on August 02, 2022 in Birmingham, England. The Duchess became the Patron of SportsAid in 2013, Team England Futures programme is a partnership between SportsAid, Sport England and Commonwealth Games England which will see around 1,000 talented young athletes and aspiring support staff given the opportunity to attend the Games and take a first-hand look behind-the-scenes. (Photo by Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty Images)© Getty Images

Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, known as Princess Charlotte, is seven years old and is fourth on the throne. She is the only female daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

...and a pose!© GettyImages

Prince Louis, the youngest of the three children of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, is four years old and just started his academic training in kindergarten.

"The Lion King" European Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals© GettyImages

Despite having parted ways with his official duties with the Royal Family, Prince Harry, 37, appears in line for the throne. The Duke of Sussex lives in California with his wife, Meghan Markle, and his two children.

Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor christening© GettyImages

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, Meghan and Harry’s eldest son, 3, is seventh in line for the crown. Unlike his cousins, neither Archie nor his younger sister has a noble title.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry release new photo of daughter Lilibet© Misan Harriman

Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, the youngest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, is only one year old and is already eighth in the line of succession.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry release new photo of daughter Lilibet© Misan Harriman

Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, the youngest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, is only one year old and is already eighth in the line of succession.

Prince Andrew's Instagram has been made private, while his Twitter account is no longer active© Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is listed as ninth in the line of succession. Despite his recent controversies over sexual abuse, the 62-year-old duke could one day accede to the throne in case the eight members of the Royal Family who are before him are missing.

Gabriela Peacock Hosts An Intimate Dinner To Celebrate Her Book "2 Weeks To Feeling Great" At The Pavilion Club© GettyImages

Princess Beatrice, 34, is the eldest daughter of Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York. She is married to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and they have a daughter, little Sienna Elizabeth, born in September 2021.

Sienna Mapelli Mozzi© @theroyalfamily

Princess Beatrice gave birth to her first child, Sienna Mapelli Mozzi, on September 18, 2021. The baby, about to turn one year old, is 11th in the line of succession.

Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee 2022 - Platinum Pageant© GettyImages

In 12th place appears Princess Eugene, Beatriz’s younger sister. The youngest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York is 32 years old and is married to Jack Brooksbank. The couple welcomed their first child together, little August, in February 2021.

Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee 2022 - Platinum Pageant© GettyImages

August Brooksbank, 1, appears in the line of succession in 13th place.

Principe Eduardo y su esposa, la Condesa de Wessex© GettyImages

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, is the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. He is 58 years old and is 14th in the line of succession.

Principe Eduardo y su esposa, la Condesa de Wessex© GettyImages

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, is the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. He is 58 years old and is 14th in the line of succession.

BRITAIN-ROYALS-PHILIP© GettyImages

James Mountbatten-Windsor, Viscount Severn, 14, is the youngest son of the Earls of Wessex. He is listed as 15th in the line of succession, above his older sister, Lady Louise Windsor.

Lady Louise Windsor reportedly had a job at a garden center this summer© GettyImages

Lady Louise Windsor, the eldest daughter of the Earls of Wessex, 18, is 16th in the line of succession. The young woman leads a discreet life like her brother and will start college in the fall.

2021 Royal Ascot - Day One© GettyImages

Princess Anne is the second daughter of Queen Elizabeth; however, she appears in the 17th position of succession to the throne due to the regulatory norm. This rule has already been modified; however, it is not retroactive. Ana, 71, is the mother of Zara and Peter Phillips, resulting from her failed marriage to Mark Phillips.

Isla and Savannah attended the service with their father Peter Phillips, who is the Queen's eldest grandchild.© WireImage

Peter Phillips, 44, is Queen Elizabeth’s eldest grandson. He is 18th in the line of succession. His daughters Savanah, 12, and Isla, 10, appear as possible heirs to the throne in 19th and 20th places, respectively.

Zara and Mike's son Lucas turned one on March 21, 2022© GettyImages

Zara Tindall, Peter’s younger sister, appears in the line of succession in 21st place. Zara, 41, is married to Mike Tindall, and they are the parents of three children. The couple’s children are also part of the line of succession.

Mike Tindall and Zara Tindall kids© Getty Images

Zara and Mike are the parents of three children: Mia Tindall, 8; Lena Tindall, 4; and little Lucas Tindall, 1, are in the line of succession to the throne, in places 22nd, 23rd, and 24°, respectively.

Mike Tindall and Zara Tindall kids© GettyImages

Zara and Mike are the parents of three children: Mia Tindall, 8; Lena Tindall, 4; and little Lucas Tindall, 1, are in the line of succession to the throne, in places 22nd, 23rd, and 24°, respectively.