HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales

Prince Charles is presently heir to the British throne. He will not become king until his mother, Queen Elizabeth, abdicates (gives up the throne), retires or dies. When either of these happen, Prince Charles may abdicate and pass the throne to his eldest son Prince William.

What is the title of the heir to the British throne?

The heir to the throne is always called the Prince of Wales. The title was introduced by King Edward l in 1301, after the conquest of Wales.

If the eldest child of the monarch is female, will she become heir to the throne?

Yes, if she does not have any brothers.

No, if she has a brother.

In Britain the crown normally passes from monarch to eldest son. As King George VI had no son, it passed to his elder daughter, now Queen Elizabeth II. If a monarch has sons, they take precedence over daughters: thus, although HR The Princess Royal is older than her brothers HRH The Duke of York and HRH The Earl of Wessex, they (and their children) precede her in the order of succession.

Who can be heir to the British throne?

Succession in the United Kingdom is governed by the Act of Union 1800, which restates the provisions of the Act of Settlement 1701 and the Bill of Rights (1689). Only Protestant heirs of Princess Sophia, granddaughter of James I, may succeed to the British throne. Neither Catholics, nor those who marry a Catholic, nor those born out of wedlock, may remain in the line of succession.

The current Royal Line of Succession is:
(see also the Royal Family Tree )

1. HRH The Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales (1948), eldest son of HM Queen Elizabeth II
2. HRH Prince William of Wales (1982), elder son of HRH The Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales
3. HRH Prince Henry of Wales (popularly referred to as Prince Harry), (1984), younger son of HRH The Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales
4. HRH The Prince Andrew, The Duke of York (1960), second son of HM Queen Elizabeth II
5. HRH Princess Beatrice of York (1988), elder daughter of HRH The Prince Andrew, The Duke of York
6. HRH Princess Eugenie of York (1990), younger daughter of HRH The Prince Andrew, The Duke of York
7. HRH The Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex (1964), youngest son of HM Queen Elizabeth II
8. James Windsor, Viscount Severn (2007), son of HRH The Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex
9. Lady Louise Windsor (2003), daughter of HRH The Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex
10. HRH The Princess Anne, The Princess Royal (1950), only daughter of HM Queen Elizabeth II
11. Peter Phillips (1977), son of HRH The Princess Anne, The Princess Royal
12. Zara Phillips (1981), daughter of HRH The Princess Anne, The Princess Royal
13. David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley (1961), son of HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
14. The Honourable Charles Armstrong-Jones (1999), son of David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley
15. The Honourable Margarita Armstrong-Jones (2002), daughter of David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley
16. Lady Sarah Chatto (1964), daughter of HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
17. Samuel Chatto (1996), son of Lady Sarah Chatto
18. Arthur Chatto (1999), son of Lady Sarah Chatto
19. HRH Prince Richard, The Duke of Gloucester (1944), son of HRH The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, 3rd son of HM King George V
20. Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster (1974), son of HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
    

Royal Family Tree