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Could Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Baby Ever Be King or Queen? Here’s Where They’d Fall in Line to the Throne
As Meghan Markle’s due date approaches, many fans can’t help but wonder where the royal baby fits in the line of succession to the British throne. It turns out, Meg and Prince Harry’s child will be seventh in line, which means it’s unlikely he or she will actually get the chance to rule. Just take it from Prince Charles, who at the age of 70 hasn’t gotten to rule, and he’s first in line after his mom, Queen Elizabeth.
In 2013, the Succession to the Crown Act was passed, which basically “amended the provisions of the Bill of Rights and the Act of Settlement to end the system of male primogeniture, under which a younger son can displace an elder daughter in the line of succession. The Act applies to those born after 28 October 2011,” according to the royal family’s official website. Prior to this law, men automatically outranked women in their placement to the throne.
The first royal to benefit from this was Princess Charlotte — Prince William and Kate Middleton’s 3-year-old daughter. Due to this act, she basically gets dibs on getting the crown before her little brother, Prince Louis, but not before Prince George, because he’s older than her. In other words, birth order supersedes gender.
However, this doesn’t mean that Meghan and Harry’s baby is necessarily in line after Louis. That’s the case for now, unless William and Kate have another child. William’s kids are in line to the throne before Harry and any of his children because he is in second in line, which automatically places his immediate family at the top.
The following is the line of succession to the British throne once the new royal baby arrives:
- Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales
- Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge
- Prince George of Cambridge
- Princess Charlotte of Cambridge
- Prince Louis of Cambridge
- Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex
- Harry and Meghan’s Child
- Prince Andrew, The Duke of York
- Princess Beatrice of York
- Princess Eugenie of York
- Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex
Honestly, though, who cares about ruling? Just having royal perks seems like more than enough!
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