25 Royals in the Line of Succession to the British Throne

On September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully at the age of 96 while surrounded by family at Scotland's Balmoral Castle, making her son Charles—now known as King Charles III—the new head of the British royal family. While King Charles is only just getting started, here are the royals who could one day take his place on the throne—in one very specific order.

1. William, Prince of Wales

At 40 years old, odds are good that Prince William—the eldest son of King Charles III and the late Princess Diana—will ascend to the throne at some point in his lifetime.

2. Prince George of Wales

On July 22, 2013, William and Catherine, Prince and Princess of Wales, welcomed their first child, Prince George of Wales, who jumped ahead of his uncle, Prince Harry, in the line of succession.

3. Princess Charlotte of Wales 

On May 2, 2015, William and Catherine added another member to their growing brood: a daughter, Princess Charlotte. Though Charlotte has a younger brother, Louis (more on him in just a minute), she will maintain her position ahead of him because of the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, which went into effect just a few weeks before her arrival, and removed a long-held rule that stated that any male sibling (regardless of birth order) would automatically move ahead of his older sisters.

4. Prince Louis of Wales

On April 23, 2018, William and Catherine welcomed their third child, Louis Arthur Charles, who pushed his uncle, Prince Harry, even farther down the line to the throne.

5. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

As the second-born son of King Charles III and Princess Diana, Prince Harry's place in the line is a regularly changing one. It last changed in April 2018, when his brother William's third child arrived, and could change again if William and Kate expand their family. And while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have opted to step away from royal life, his position will remain the same.

6. Archie Mountbatten-Windsor

Though the Duke and Duchess of Sussex didn't give their son a title, Archie's place in the line of succession is secure.

7. Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor

On June 4, 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their second child, Lillibet, who is named after her late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

8. Prince Andrew, Duke of York

Prince Andrew is a perfect example of life before the Succession to the Crown Act 2013: Though he’s the third-born child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip—Princess Anne came between him and Prince Charles—because the rules at the time gave preference to male heirs, Prince Andrew would inherit the throne before his older sister.

9. Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

Because Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, had two daughters and no sons, none of that male-preference primogeniture stuff mattered in terms of their placement. But with each child her cousins William and Harry have, Princess Beatrice moves farther away from the throne.

10. Sienna Mapelli Mozzi

On September 18, 2021, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi welcomed their first child, daughter Sienna, who will hold the place in line directly behind her mother.

11. Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank

Though she's regularly seen at royal events, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s youngest daughter spends the bulk of her time indulging her interest in fine art. She has held several jobs in the art world, including director at Hauser & Wirth's London gallery. On October 12, 2018, Princess Eugenie had her own royal wedding when she married wine merchant Jack Brooksbank at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

12. Master August Brooksbank

On February 9, 2021, Princess Eugenie and her husband welcomed their first child, who—like his cousin Sienna—will occupy the place in line right behind his mother.

13. Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex

Like his older brother Andrew, Prince Edward—the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip—jumps the line ahead of his older sister, Princess Anne, because of the old rule that favored male heirs.

14. James, Viscount Severn

James, Viscount Severn—the younger of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex's two children, and their only son—was born on December 17, 2007.

15. Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor

Because the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 wasn’t enacted until 2015, The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor—the elder of Prince Edward’s two children—will always remain behind her brother in the line of succession.

16. Anne, The Princess Royal

Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s second-born child and only daughter, may never rule the throne in her lifetime, but at least she gets to be called "The Princess Royal.”

17. Peter Phillips

The eldest child and only son of Princess Anne and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, stands just behind his mother in line. Interesting fact: Had Phillips’s wife, Autumn Kelly, not converted from Roman Catholicism to the Church of England before their marriage in 2008, Peter would have lost his place in line entirely.

18. Savannah Phillips

On December 29, 2010, Peter and Autumn Phillips celebrated the birth of their first child, Savannah Anne Kathleen Phillips, who was also the Queen’s first great-grandchild. She’s currently 18th in line.

19. Isla Phillips

Less than two years after Savannah was born, Peter and Autumn Phillips had a second daughter, Isla, who stands just behind her sister in line. It wasn’t until 2017 that Savannah and Isla—who were 6 and 5, respectively—made their Buckingham Palace balcony debuts.

20. Zara Tindall

Not one to hide in the background, Zara Tindall—Princess Anne’s second child and only daughter—has lived much of her life in the spotlight. A celebrated equestrian, she won the Eventing World Championship in Aachen in 2006 and was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year the same year (her mom earned the same title in 1971). She’s also Prince George’s godmother.

21. Mia Tindall

Zara Tindall’s daughter Mia is only 8 years old, but she's been making headlines for her outgoing personality for years. And though she’s only 21st in line to the throne, her connection to the tippity top of the royal family is much closer: Prince William is her godfather.

22. Lena Tindall

On June 18, 2018, Mike and Zara Tindall welcomed their second child, another daughter: Lena Elizabeth Tindall. Prince Harry is her godfather.

23. Master Lucas Tindall

Mike and Zara Tindall's third child, and only son, was born on March 21, 2021.

24. David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon

David Armstrong-Jones, the eldest child of Princess Margaret, isn’t waiting around to see if the British crown ever lands on his head. The 60-year-old, who goes by David Linley in his professional life, has made a name for himself as a talented furniture-maker. His bespoke pieces, sold under the brand name Linley, can be purchased through his own boutiques as well as at Harrods.

25. Charles Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley

David Armstrong-Jones’s only son, Charles, may be 25th in line to the throne, but the 23-year-old is the heir apparent to the Earldom of Snowdon.

A version of this story originally ran in 2019; it has been updated for 2022.