British royal family line of succession: Who is in line for the throne after Queen Elizabeth II’s death?

Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday just hours after being placed under medical supervision, raising concerns about the monarch’s health and the future of the British throne.

The queen was the longest-reigning monarch in British history, reigning since 1952 when she ascended to the throne at just 25 years old after her father’s death. She was later crowned in 1953 at 27 years old, meaning the country hasn’t initiated its line of succession in nearly 70 years.

Here’s a breakdown of the royal family’s line of succession.

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Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles.

(Jane Barlow/Pool via AP)

How the line of succession was established

The basis for the line of succession was established by British law after being codified in the Bill of Rights in 1689 and the Act of Settlement in 1701.

The line was established after James II fled the country in 1688, leaving the throne vacant with no ruler. Parliament ruled that he had “abdicated the government” and then offered the throne to his daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange as joint rulers.

At that time, it was established that Parliament would regulate the throne’s succession and that a sovereign could lose his or her title if they are deemed to have misgoverned.

Who can, and who can’t, succeed the throne

The Bill of Rights and the Act of Settlement both lay out the conditions one must meet in order to succeed the throne.

Under the Act of Settlement, only Protestant descendants of Princess Sophia are eligible to take the throne. Additionally, a Roman Catholic is excluded from succeeding the throne under the Bill of Rights and Act of Settlement.

The sovereign must also be in communion with the Church of England and vow to preserve the Church of England and the Church of Scotland in order to take the throne. They must also pledge to uphold the Protestant succession.

Line of succession

With Queen Elizabeth II’s death, her son Prince Charles is the immediate heir to succeed the throne.

After that, Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, is third in line, followed by Prince George of Cambridge. After that, it’s Princess Charlotte of Cambridge followed by Prince Louis of Cambridge.

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Sixth in the line of succession is Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, followed by Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor. After that, the line of succession is handed to the Duke of York, followed by Princess Beatrice.

The line of succession then continues as such: