Prince Harry and Meghan’s new baby boy pushes some of his older relatives farther down the list
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have welcomed their new baby boy, who was born early Monday morning. He comes into the royal family seventh in line for the throne. The baby, whose name has not yet been announced, is Queen Elizabeth’s eighth great-grandchild, but he bumps some older cousins — as well as great-uncles and aunts — in the line of succession to the throne.
It’s a familiar tale for second- and third-born children as they move further and further back in the line of succession — something new dad Harry has experienced himself.
Here’s a breakdown of how Britain’s line of succession works:
The line of succession in Britain is a direct line. First in line for the throne is Queen Elizabeth’s eldest son, Prince Charles; second in line is Charles’s oldest son, Prince William; and third in line is William’s oldest son, Prince George. Since George is not yet 6 years old and has no children, his sister Princess Charlotte, 4, follows at fourth in line, and youngest sibling Prince Louis, 1, is fifth.
Louis‘ birth in 2017 put Harry at sixth in line for the throne, and Harry and Meghan’s new baby is now seventh.
Queen Elizabeth changed the 300-year-old rules in 2012, ahead of Prince George’s birth, so there is no longer a preference for boys over girls, which is why Charlotte is now ahead of her younger brother.
