King Charles III became our King in September 2022, after the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Do you know who is next in line for the throne? This guide explains the Royal Family and the line of succession, as many people are unsure how it works.
If you’re interested in tracing your own lineage, our family tree research can help you understand your heritage.
Charles III, King, 1948
Following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Charles ascended to the throne. Diana Spencer became the Princess of Wales after she married Charles, the former Prince of Wales. They had two sons, William and Harry, before later divorcing. Diana tragically died in a car accident in 1997. In 2005, Charles wed Camilla Parker Bowles, who is currently Queen Camilla.
William, Prince of Wales, 1982
Next in line for the throne is William. As Prince of Wales, William supports the King and carries out a wide range of royal duties. He wed Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, in 2011. The couple have three children:
- Prince George of Wales (born 2013)
- Princess Charlotte of Wales (born 2015)
- Prince Louis of Wales (born 2018)
Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, 1984
Following his 2018 marriage to Meghan Markle, Prince Harry later stepped back from senior royal duties. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are the couple’s two children. In 2019, Prince Archie of Sussex was born, the first child of Harry and Meghan. The second child of Harry and Meghan is Princess Lilibet of Sussex, born in 2021.
Prince Andrew
Although Prince Andrew no longer carries out royal duties, he remains in the line of succession. He has two daughters with Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York:
- Princess Beatrice (born 1988)
- Princess Eugenie (born 1990)
Princess Beatrice has one daughter:
- Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi (born 2021)
Princess Eugenie has two sons:
- August Philip Hawke Brooksbank (born 2021)
- Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank (born 2023)
You can learn more about how the royal line of succession works on the official Royal Family website.
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, 1964
Prince Edward is the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. He carries out royal duties in support of the King. He is married to Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and they have two children:
- Lady Louise Windsor (born 2003)
- James, Earl of Wessex (born 2007)
Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, 1950
Princess Anne is the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Although she is older than her brothers Andrew and Edward, she comes after them in the line of succession due to the rules in place at the time of her birth. The rules governing succession stem from historic legislation such as the Act of Settlement, which you can explore on the UK Parliament website.
She has two children:
- Peter Phillips (born 1977)
- Zara Tindall (born 1981)
Peter Phillips has two daughters:
- Savannah Phillips (born 2010)
- Isla Phillips (born 2012)
Zara Tindall has three children:
- Mia Grace Tindall (born 2014)
- Lena Elizabeth Tindall (born 2018)
- Lucas Philip Tindall (born 2021)
Our professional heir hunting services can assist in locating rightful beneficiaries and verifying family connections.
Contact Fleetwood Heir Hunting at 0208 9707486 if you would like to speak with an expert about your family tree or any other genealogy-related issues.