Queen Changed Rules So Princess Charlotte Could Still Be In Line For Throne

When Queen Elizabeth II was born, there was a chance she’d never actually get a shot at the throne.

Under the Act of Settlement of 1701, brothers were allowed to jump their sisters in the line of succession — so even if a girl was born first, her younger brother would end up ahead of her in line for the throne.

If Princess Margaret had been a boy, or if any other younger brothers had come along after her, Elizabeth wouldn’t have been first in the line of succession.

In 2013, that all changed with the Succession of the Crown Act, which ended male primogeniture. In 2015, the Act was officially put into place, just two months before Princess Charlotte’s birth.

What that means is that no matter what gender the new royal baby is, Charlotte will maintain her place in the line of succession.

Find out more about this fascinating rule below!

[H/T: PopSugar]

Thumbnail Photo: Wikimedia / Christopher Neve

 Twitter / @RoyalFamily

Prior to 2015, a prince born after a princess would jump his sister’s spot in the line of succession.

 Wikimedia / U.S. Navy

As an example, we look at Queen Elizabeth II’s children, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward. Before Andrew and Edward’s births, Anne was third in line for the throne. However, she moved to fifth after her younger brothers were born.

 Instagram / @KensingtonRoyal

When Princess Charlotte was born in 2015, she became fourth in line for the throne, behind her father, grandfather, and older brother George.