Queen Elizabeth II is currently the longest reigning female monarch in history with a number of celebrations planned for her Platinum Jubilee in June.
Princess Elizabeth was never actually expected to become queen as she was third in the line of succession behind her uncle Edward and her father. Following Edward's abdication and her father's death however, she ascended to the throne in 1952, aged just 25.
Five years before she became queen, she married Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, with whom she had four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward. Prince Philip died in April 2021, aged 99.
Read More: Deborah James presented Damehood in 'surreal' home visit from Prince William
Due to her failing health, the Queen, who has eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, has cancelled a number of public engagements over the past year. Other members of the royal family have stepped in and carried out duties on her behalf.
Queen Elizabeth's oldest son, Prince Charles is the heir apparent to the British throne but who would come after him if he decides to hand down the crown? We have listed the members of the royal family in the order in which they stand in line to the throne below.
The Prince of Wales
Prince Charles is the Queen's eldest son as well as the oldest and longest serving heir apparent in British history. He has two children with his ex-wife, Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997.
The couple separated in 1992 and Prince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles in April 2005.
The Duke of Cambridge
Prince Charles and Princess Diana's oldest son is currently second in line to the British throne. Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, was only 15 when his mother died.
He met his future wife Kate Middleton at St Andrew's University and married her in 2011. They have three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis of Cambridge.
Prince George of Cambridge
Being the eldest child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George is third in the line of succession. He was born on July 22 in 2013,
He occasionally accompanies his parents while they carry out their royal duties and it is expected that he will one day become the British monarch.
Princess Charlotte of Cambridge
Princess Charlotte is the only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who have nicknamed her "Lottie" and "Mignonette". She was born on May 2 in 2015 and her full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana after her grandfather, great-grandmother and her grandmother.
She is fourth in line to the throne.
Prince Louis of Cambridge
Prince Louis was born on April 23 in 2018 at St Mary's Hospital in London. His father, the Duke of Cambridge, was present for his birth.
Prince Louise is the first British prince to be ranked behind an elder sister in the line of succession. It is likely that he will take up a senior role in the royal family in the future but unlikely that he will ever become king.
The Duke of Sussex
Prince Harry married American actress Meghan Markle in 2018 at Windsor Castle. However, two years later, the couple announced they would step down as senior members of the royal family and divide their time between the UK and North America.
They have two children: Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor. Both Prince Harry and Meghan keep their HRH stylings but are not permitted to use them.
Prince Harry is sixth in line.
Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor
The Sussexes' first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was born on 6 May in 2019. The couple chose not to use a title for their first born and wish to raise him as a private citizen.
He has dual nationality of the United Kingdom and the United States.
Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor
Named after her paternal great-grandmother, whose nickname is "Lilibet", and her paternal grandmother, Princess Diana, she is eighth in the line of succession to the British throne.
Lilibet Diana was born on June 4 in 2021 in California and is affectionally called "Lili" by her parents. Like her brother Archie, Lilibet also has dual nationality.
The Duke of York
Prince Andrew is the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Following an interview about his friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019.
A civil sexual assault case was filed against him by Virginia Giuffre which was settled out of court in February 2022. Prince Andrew is ninth in line and has two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
His siblings, Prince Edward and the Princess Royal are 14th and 17th in line.
Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
When Princess Beatrice was born in 1988, she was fifth in line of succession to the British throne. She is now tenth.
Princess Beatrice, who is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, married property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in 2020. They have one daughter, Sienna Elizabeth, who was born on September 18 in 2021.
The rest of the succession line in order in which they stand in line to the throne:
- Miss Sienna Mapelli Mozzi
- Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank
- Master August Brooksbank
- The Earl of Wessex
- Viscount Severn
- The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor
- The Princess Royal
- Mr Peter Phillips
- Miss Savannah Phillips
- Miss Isla Phillips
- Mrs Michael Tindall
- Miss Mia Tindall
- Miss Lena Tindall
- Master Lucas Tindall
- How loving parents have kept South Shields sweethearts Chloe and Liam's memory alive, five years on from Manchester atrocity
- South Shields mum who fled and tried to smuggle children into Jersey in dinghy ready to face extradition battle
- Wanted: Police searching for Forest Hall man in connection with stalking offences
- Newcastle notes: 'Whatever it takes' Toon chief's exciting message, Botman battle, Howe's key talks
