Your handy guide to the British royal family line of succession
Members of the public may have their opinions about who would make the best monarch, but in reality there's a firm pecking order that determines who sits on the British throne.
The line of succession dates back to the 17th century, and is influenced by both descent and parliamentary statute.
What determines the line of succession?
British royal family's line of succession in 2026 Graphic: Polly Hanning
Originally, the order of the line for the throne was determined by the Bill of Rights of 1681 and the Act of Settlement of 1701.
The stipulations laid out in these statutes have undergone some change in the centuries since, most recently in 2015 when the Succession to the Crown Act (2013) came into force.
One of the major changes brought about by this Act was that female royals born after October 2011 would no longer be displaced in the line by their younger brothers.
Princess Charlotte was the first girl in her family to not be displaced in the succession line by a younger brother. HRH The Duchess of Cambridge
Princess Charlotte, born in 2015, was the first to benefit from this amendment, holding her place as fourth in line when Prince Louis was born in 2018.
She now sits in the third spot. Previously, Louis' arrival would have bumped her down the line.
This is why Princess Anne sits below her younger brothers, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew) and Prince Edward, and their children.
Who is in line to the throne now?
The order of succession determines where royals stand in the line to the British throne. Getty
Prince William, the Prince of Wales, is first in the line of succession.
Then come Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, followed by Prince Harry and his two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
Although the Duke and Duchess of Sussex resigned from their roles as senior working royals in 2020, Harry's position in the line of succession, and those of his children, was not affected.
In eighth position is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who remains in the succession line despite his arrest and the various controversies that have resulted in his royal titles being stripped.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor remains in the succession line despite his loss of royal titles and his arrest. AP
Andrew's eldest daughter Princess Beatrice and her daughter Sienna Mapelli Mozzi round out the top 10.
Princess Beatrice's second daughter Athena is 11th in line to the throne.
Her birth in 2025 pushed her aunty, Princess Eugenie, down to 12th place.
It's not clear exactly how many people are eligible to be in the line of succession (it's believed there are several thousand).
Prince Harry, Archie and Lili all remain in the line of succession, despite the Sussexes' resignation as senior royals. Supplied/Archewell/AlexiLubomirski
For brevity's sake, here is the current top 20:
1. Prince William, The Prince of Wales
2. Prince George of Wales
3. Princess Charlotte of Wales
4. Prince Louis of Wales
5. Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex
6. Prince Archie of Sussex
7. Princess Lilibet of Sussex
8. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
9. Princess Beatrice
10. Sienna Mapelli Mozzi
11. Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi
12. Princess Eugenie
13. August Brooksbank
14. Ernest Brooksbank
15. Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh
16. James, Earl of Wessex
17. Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor
18. Princess Anne, Princess Royal
19. Peter Phillips
20. Savannah Phillips
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.
Most viewed in Royals
Prince George is as tall as his parents as they drop him off for his first day at Eton College
Prince Harry and Meghan reportedly ‘a little surprised’ by King Charles’ letter
Harry hasn’t spoken to king since return, takes issue with ‘private citizens’ wording
‘An embarrassing blow’: Why king’s letter draws a line in the sand for Harry and Meghan
