Move aside, Prince Harry. A new royal heir has just edged ahead of the popular royal in the line of succession to the British throne.
Prince William and Kate Middleton's announcement Monday that they are expecting their third child means a reshuffle of royal family members who stand in line to inherit Queen Elizabeth II's crown.
The queen, who turned 91 in April, is officially the longest-reigning monarch in British history. She has ruled the United Kingdom for more than 65 years.
In the event of the queen's death, here is how the line of succession for the U.K. monarchy will now look, in light of the new royal baby:
First in line: Prince Charles
As Queen Elizabeth II's eldest son, the Prince of Wales will ascend to the throne when the queen passes away. He is currently 68.
Second in line: Prince William
The Duke of Cambridge, Prince Charles and Princess Diana's eldest child, is the heir apparent to be king when his father passes away. He is 35.
Third in line: Prince George
William and Kate Middleton's eldest son, Prince George, age four, overtook Prince Harry as third in line to the throne when he was born in 2013.
Fourth in line: Princess Charlotte
Princess Charlotte, born in 2015, is fourth in line to be queen. Charlotte would only ascend to the throne in the sad event that her brother George dies without any children to survive him. If George does not have any children, she would be the first queen to rule Britain after her grandmother.
The Succession to the Crown Act 2013 solidifies Charlotte's place as fourth in line to the throne. Before the act was passed, a male heir could surpass a female heir in ascendancy; if the act hadn't come into effect, the new royal baby could have taken her place in the line of succession if it is a boy.
Fifth in line: Prince or Princess X of Cambridge
The unborn royal baby, Prince William and Kate's third child, is now fifth in line to the throne after his or her siblings. That now means that the child is ahead of Prince Harry, his or her uncle. Of course, this new prince or princess would only ascend to the throne in the tragic—and unlikely—event that both their siblings die without bearing children.
Sixth in line: Prince Harry
Prince Charles and Princess Diana's second son, Prince Harry, was once third in line to the throne. Since his brother William and sister-in-law Kate got married and started a family, he has slipped further down the succession ladder. Harry, 32, would only be king in the event that Prince William and all his children died without bearing new heirs.
Seventh in line: Prince Andrew
After Prince Charles' immediate family, the seventh in line to the throne is Queen Elizabeth's third child and second oldest son, Prince Andrew. The 57-year-old is highly unlikely to ascend to the throne given the robust line of heirs produced by Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
Unlike Princess Charlotte, the queen's second oldest child and eldest daughter, Princess Anne, will not benefit from the Succession to the Crown Act 2013. Though she is older than Andrew by 10 years, the act precludes changes to the line of succession to royals born before October 28, 2011.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
