What is the Line of Succession to the British Throne?

Answer:

Answer

The Line of Succession to the Throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is determined by a piece of Legislation called the Act of Settlement of 1701.

Broadly speaking, the current monarch is followed by their own, legitimate children. Males are given preference to females and older sons of the monarch come before younger sons and their offspring.

Anyone who is a Roman Catholic, or marries a Roman Catholic, is excluded, as are anyone whose parents were not married when they were born.

The current order is:

Monarch Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - born 1926

Heir Apparent (next in line) His Royal Highness The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, born 1948, then

His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales, eldest son of Prince Charles, born 1982 then,

His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales, second son of Prince Charles, born 1984, then

His Royal Highness The Prince Andrew, Duke of York, second son of Queen Elizabeth II, born 1960, then

Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of York, daughter of Prince Andrew, born 1988, then

Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York, daughter of Prince Andrew, born 1990, then

His Royal Highness The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, third son of Queen Elizabeth II, born 1964, then

His Royal Highness The Prince James of Wessex, Viscount Severn, son of Prince Edward, born 2007, then

Her Royal Highness Princess Louise of Wessex, daughter of Prince Edward, born 2003, then

Her Royal Highness The Princess Anne, Princess Royal, daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, born 1950, then

Peter Phillips, son of Princess Anne, born 1977, then

Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne, born 1981.

The Line then passes to descendants of Queen Elizabeth's late sister, The Princess Margaret.