The Royal Line of Succession

I've been incredibly busy lately but I do want to keep updating this blog on a semi-regular basis. I'm shooting for once a day! Instead of a long, drawn out article, I'm going to post the first 99 people in line for the British throne after the death of the current queen Elizabeth II.

The succession is a pretty complicated matter and one could write all whole textbook on just that subject. The monarchy never excluded women, but it would usually skip them in favor of male relatives. This changed when Mary I became the first undisputed female monarch to rule in her own right in 1553. Even though women weren't excluded, their brothers always had precedence over them. This is no longer the case. In 2015, the Succession of the Crown Act (2013) allowed women to have precedence over any younger brothers they may have, This law  only applies to children born into the royal family after October 20, 2011.

In addition to the gender issue, the monarchy still prohibits anyone from ascending the throne if they are a Roman Catholic. This is due to the fact that the Reigning monarch of the U.K. is also the head of the protestant Church of England. However, because of the same parliamentary act that allowed girls precedence over their younger brothers, the monarch can now be married to a Roman Catholic.

The succession is limited to Protestant descendants of Sophia of Hannover, so that leaves about 2000 people eligible for the English throne. An interesting fact that can't be included on this list is that HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Elizabeth II's consort, is 483rd in line to the British throne. He has a claim through his great grandmother, HRH Princess Alice of the United Kingdom. Princess Alice was the second daughter of HM Queen Victoria and the younger sister of Elizabeth II's great grandfather, HM King Edward VII.

1. HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales (b. 1948)

2. HRH Prince William of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge (b. 1982)
3. HRH Prince George of Cambridge (b. 2013)
4. HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge (b. 2015)
5 .HRH Prince Henry of Wales (Harry) (b. 1984)
6. HRH Prince Andrew, The Duke of York (b. 1960)
7. HRH Princess Beatrice of York (b. 1988)
8. HRH Princess Eugenie of York (b. 1990)
9. HRH Prince Edward (b. 1964)
10. James, Viscount Severn (b. 2007)
11. Lady Louise Windsor (b. 2003)
12. HRH Princess Anne, Princess Royal (b. 1950)
13. Peter Phillips (b. 1977)
14. Savannah Phillips (b. 2010)
15. Isla Phillips (b. 2012)
16. Zara Tindall (Phillips) (b. 1981)
17. Mia Grace Tindall (b. 2014)
18. David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley (b. 1961)
19. Hon. Charles Armstrong Jones (b. 1999)
20 . Margarita Armstrong-Jones (b. 2002)
21. Lady Sarah Chatto (b. 1964)
22 . Samuel Chatto (b. 1996)
23. Arthur Chatto (b. 1999)
24. HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (b. 1944)
25. Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster (b. 1974)
26. Xan Windsor, Lord Culloden (b. 2007)
27. Lady Cosima Windsor (b. 2010)
28. Lady Davina Lewis (b. 1977)
29. Senna Lewis (b. 2010)
30. Tane Mahuta Lewis (b. 2012)
31. Lady Rose Gilman (b. 1980)
32. Lyla Gilman (b. 2010)
33. Rufus Gilman (b. 2012)
34. HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (b. 1935)
35. George Windsor, Earl of St. Andrews (b. 1962)
Edward Windsor, Baron Downpatrick (excluded by becoming a Roman Catholic)
Lady Marina Charlotte Windsor (excluded by becoming a Roman Catholic)
36. Lady Amelia Windsor (b. 1995)
Lord Nicholas Windsor (excluded by becoming a Roman Catholic)
Albert Windsor (excluded by being Roman Catholic)
Leopold Windsor (excluded by being Roman Catholic)
Louis Windsor (excluded by being Roman Catholic)
37. Lady Helen Taylor (b. 1964)
38. Columbus Taylor (b. 1994)
39. Cassius Taylor (b. 1996)
40. Eloise Taylor (b. 2003)
41. Estella Taylor (b 2004)
42. Prince Michael of Kent (b. 1942)
43. Lord Frederick Windsor (b 1979)
44. Maud Windsor (b. 2013)
45. Lady Gabriella Windsor (b. 1981)
46. HRH Princess Alexandra the Hon. Lady Ogilvy (b. 1936)
47. James Ogilvy (b. 1964)
48. Alexander Ogilvy (b. 1996)
49. Flora Ogilvy (b. 1994)
50. Marina Ogilvy, Mrs Paul Mowatt (b. 1966)
51. Christian Mowatt (b. 1993)
52. Miss Zenouska Mowatt (b. 1990)
53. David Lascelles, 8th Earl of Harewood (b. 1950)
54. Hon. Alexander Lascelles (b. 1980)
55. Hon. Edward Lascelles (b. 1982)
56. Hon. James Lascelles (b. 1953)
57. Rowan Lascelles (b. 1977)
58. Tewa Lascelles (b. 1985)
59. Sophie Lascelles (b. 1973)
60. Hon. Jeremy Lascelles (b. 1955)
61. Thomas Lascelles (b. 1982)
62. Ellen Lascelles (b. 1984)
63. Amy Lascelles (b. 1986)
64. Tallulah Lascelles (b. 2005)
65. Henry Lascelles (b. 1953)
66. Maximilian Lascelles (b. 1991)
67. David Carnegie, 4th Duke of Fife (b. 1961)
68. Lord Charles Duff Carnegie (b. 1989)
69. Hon. George William Carnegie (b. 1991)
70. Hon. Hugh Alexander Carnegie (b. 1993)
71. Lady Alexandra Etherington (b. 1959)
72. Amelia Mary Carnegie Etherington (b. 2001)
73. HM King Harald V of Norway (b. 1937)
74. HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (b. 1973)
75. HH Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway (b. 2005)
76. HRH Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway (b. 2004)
77. Princess Martha Louise of Norway (b.. 1971)
78. Maud Angelica Behn (b. 2003)
79. Leah Isadora Behn (b. 2005)
80. Emma Talullah Behn (b. 2008)
81. Haakon Lorentzen (b. 1954))
82. Olav Lorentzen (b. 1985)
83. Christian Lorentzen (1988)
84. Sophia Lorentzen (b. 1994)
85. Ingeborg Ribeiro (b. 1957)
86. Victoria Ribeiro (b. 1988)
87. Ragnhild Lorentzen Long (b. 1968))
88. Alexandra Lorentzen Long (b. 2007)
89. Elizabeth Lorentzen Long (b. 2011)
90. HH Princess Astrid of Norway (b. 1932)
91. Alexander Ferner (b. 1965)
92. Stella Ferner (b. 1998)
93. Carl-Christian Ferner (b. 1972)
94. Cathrine Johansen (b. 1962)
95. Sebastian Johansen (b. 1990)
96. Madeleine Johansen (b. 1993)
97. Benedikte Ferner (b. 1963)
98. Elisabeth Ferner Beckman(b. 1969)
99. Benjamin Ferner Beckman (b. 1999)

In the off chance that HM King Harald V of Norway should ever secede to the throne, he would rule Norway and the United Kingdom as separate countries. This has been done a few times before in the instance of Normandy, Scotland and Hannover.



George VI, The Leader

King George VI, 1939. Painted by Frank Ernest Beresford.

When the concept of great leader in Britain, one's mind usually goes to Elizabeth I or Winston Churchill. Although both of them and many other monarchs and PM's were great leaders, I would vote for King George VI as one of Britain's greatest leaders. What? That guy that ruled before Elizabeth? What did he do? He actually did a lot and held the country together. Although monarchs hold no power (a fact quickly pointed out by anti-monarchists), they are essentially the spiritual leader of Britain. They've been guides of the British people since Alfred the Great, 

George VI was actually born with severe social anxiety and had a difficult stammer. Throughout his childhood he would here comments like "stupid" and "retarded." Not just by other children, but by his own parents. A fear that completely trumped his social anxiety was his fear of the public. As a member of the Royal family, you can see how that would be quite a conflict. Aside from a few public humiliations, he grew up to live a fairly quiet life with his aristocratic wife and their two daughters (one of whom being the current Elizabeth II). The future George VI was able to do this because his elder brother, the future Edward VIII was the heir to the throne.

The family of George VI. (From Left to Right) HRH Prince Albert, Duke of York (future HM King George VI), HRH Princess Elizabeth of York (future HM Queen Elizabeth II), HRH Elizabeth, Duchess of York (future HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother), HRH Princess Margaret of York (future HRH Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon)

In 1936, the father of Edward and George died and Edward VIII was a King of the United Kingdom, as well as Emperor of India. In a quick turn of events over the next six months, Edward VIII continued a passionate love affair with the American socialite, Wallis Simpson. By the end of the year, Edward VIII abdicated in order to marry Wallis. She was an American divorcee and the church would not allow him to remain king and marry her. This was a scary moment for Britain because no sitting monarch had abdicated in such a fashion. Britain was basically in a state of panic. Enter George VI. 

Wallis Simpson and HM King Edward VIII (later Wallis, Duchess of Windsor and HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor)

George VI never wanted to be king and was suddenly proclaimed King upon his brother's abdication. He was given the task of having to reinstate the validity of the monarchy, the lifeblood of the country. It was up to him to assume his brother's role and keep the prestige, all while battling anxiety and a speech impediment. Fortunately, he did so flawlessly and was soon a beloved monarch. 

George VI in his coronation robes.

Unfortunately, his joy didn't last long when The United Kingdom went to war with Nazi Germany and George VI had to be a wartime leader. He chose to remain in his country that was being bombed daily and even sustained damage to his own home, Buckingham Palace. He was an active participant in the war effort and even put his own family on rations, like the rest of the public. He also encouraged his wife and daughters to participate in the war effort and both Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret were common fixtures in wartime Britain.

Not long after the war ended, George VI developed lung cancer from years of smoking and stress. Although he was rapidly becoming more ill, George VI continued to carry out his duties as King, only surrendering more power to his daughter as he neared the end of his life. He eventually succumbed to Lung Cancer in 1952 at age 56.

As time went on, George VI's leadership was usurped by his daughter, Elizabeth II's legacy. Although Elizabeth II was a great leader, it's important to remember George VI's contributions. Without his strong leadership after the abdication of his brother, the monarchy may have well ceased to exist. Without his strong leadership during the war, Britain may have not maintained such a tough objection to Nazi Germany. 

Charlotte, The Queen We Never Had

Princess Charlotte of Wales

These days, it seems impossible to imagine anyone but the great Queen-Empress Victoria ruling over the economic, political and industrial peak of the British Empire. Shockingly enough, the strict, motherly Victoria with her nine children and long widow's veil almost did not become Queen. She was not likely to ascend the throne at all and many thought she would live a quiet life as the only child of the fourth son of a King. The distinction of the beloved heir to the throne belongs to none other than Princess Charlotte of Wales.

Who? Well, Princess Charlotte of Wales was the woman that many thought and hoped would be their strong, popular monarch. She seemed to be hope for the future. In the early part of the 19th century, King George III (the monarch who lost the colonies) had gone insane, leaving his oldest son, George, to rule in his place as Prince Regent. Although George III was a strong monarch who famously "gloried in the name of Briton," his children were a different story. There were fifteen of them, and all of them seemed obese, socially stunted and obscenely self indulgent. Of the embarrassing children of George III, the Prince Regent was the worst. He spent millions, far over his allotted allowance, on great parties or opulent mansions. Everyone from the upper class to the working class looked at him with contempt. The Prince Regent was also famous for being overweight, a symbol of indulgence in Georgian Britain. On one occasion, he traveled to Scotland and his sizable gut hung below the hemline of the kilt (gross, right?).

King George III

Prince George, the Prince Regent

The public perception of the Prince Regent

Fortunately, behind the gloom of the Prince Regent was his only child, Princess Charlotte of Wales.The daughter of the heir and the only legitimate grandchild of King George III at the time, Princess Charlotte was destined to become Queen of the expanding British Empire. A breath of fresh air, Charlotte was beautiful, fun loving and witty. Her trade mark became the flowers she would wear in her hair. Charlotte was by far and away the most popular royal. Her mother had been Caroline of Brunswick and had long since separated from the Prince Regent and lived abroad. It seemed the hopes of a nation were riding on the shoulders of the teenage Princess. 

Princess Charlotte with her iconic flowers.

In 1816, after refusing the proposals of the Prince of Orange, Charlotte married Leopold of the German Duchy, Saxe-Coburg-Saalfield (the future king of the Belgians). With a Prince in hand, the future of the monarchy seemed bright. In 1817, 21 year old Princess Charlotte revealed her pregnancy of a future heir. This kicked off a sense of celebration within Britain.Unfortunately, after a problematic birth, the baby died. Charlotte seemed fine at first but eventually became delirious and died shortly afterwards. 

The outcry after Princess Charlotte's death in 1917 was akin to that of Diana's in 1997. The nation went into statewide mourning. Everything from hastily written biographies to miniature effigies to commemorative tea pots were sold all over the country. The future of the monarchy seemed bleak and all of the Prince Regent's brothers rushed to sire heirs. The Duke of Kent, the fourth son of George IV, married a German princess named Viktoria and shortly afterwards, Princess Victoria of Kent was born. When the Duke of Kent's older brothers failed to produce heirs, Princess Victoria became next in line for the throne. She would later reign as Queen Victoria.

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's Longest Reigning Monarch

As of September 9, 2015, HM Elizabeth II will become the longest reigning monarch that Britain has ever seen. She came of age during World War II, was coordinated at a time of simple post-war prosperity and continues to reign as successfully as ever during the technological age,

After taking the throne at the young age of 25, Elizabeth has finally passed her great great grandmother, Queen Victoria. That's 63 years on the British throne! That's 12 UK Prime Ministers, 12 US Presidents and 9 tonight show hosts!

Although she seems a rather uneventful figure head, it's quite the contrary. Throughout her 63 year reign, Elizabeth has given a comforting leadership to the British people and has overcome National and Public scandal. On a larger scale, she had a government that battled the Irish troubles as well as current tensions in the Middle East. In the 1980's, she was even so bold as to privately oppose Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's South African apartheid policies. Personally, the Queen has battled the scandal of her family's disastrous marriages and has managed to come out on top with a monarchy more popular than it has ever been.

What I find most fascinating about this second Elizabethan age is that it wasn't even supposed to happen. Born a daughter of the Duke of York, it was meant to be her uncle, Edward VIII, and his descendants taking the throne. To the shock of the nation, her uncle abdicated after a half-year on the throne and her father, George VI, became king, making Elizabeth heir presumptive. When George became King, many of his advisers urged him and his wife to have a son that would have a stronger claim to the the throne than his two daughters, the oldest of whom being Elizabeth. To the great fortune of the British people, George VI had faith in his daughter's abilities to rule and all these years later, he would regret that decision.