The royal family line of succession is deeply rooted in centuries of history, but Princess Beatrice’s new baby has pushed down one key member.
Royal fans were delighted to hear the news that Princess Beatrice had given birth to a baby girl on 22 January, at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London.
Her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, announced the news on Instagram, and said: “Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi. We welcomed Baby Athena into our lives last week.
“She is tiny and absolutely perfect. We are all (including Wolfie and Sienna) already completely besotted with her.”
However, the new royal arrival shakes up the deep-rooted line of succession, meaning one key member is further from the throne than she was before.
Let’s take a look at all the royals in line to the throne – of which there are 63…
Prince William
(JACOB KING/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
William became the Prince of Wales when his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II died.
He is the eldest son of King Charles and Princess Diana, making him first in line to the throne – and most likely out of all royals, the future king.
Prince George
(Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
George is King Charles’ grandson, and is the eldest son of William and Kate, making him second in line to throne.
As his father is likely to become king much later in his life, it’s quite possible that George will be the future king in decades to come.
Princess Charlotte
(Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Queen Elizabeth II made a vital change to how the line of succession works during her monarchy.
Before the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, eldest sons always determined who was closest in line.
But now a female royal’s spot in line to the throne is not bumped by the arrival of a younger brother.
Prince Louis
(Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Because of the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, Louis is fourth in line to the throne behind his older siblings.
Before the act was in place, he would have taken over is older sister as third in line, just because of his gender.
Prince Harry
(Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Despite stepping back from his role as a senior royal, Harry is still fifth in line to the throne.
He is Queen Elizabeth’s grandson, but was the youngest son of King Charles and Princess Diana.
Therefore William’s children automatically get bumped further up in the line.
Prince Archie
(Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Archie is Queen Elizabeth’s great-grandson, but was only given his official title when his grandfather King Charles came to the throne.
His official title was confirmed in March 2023 at the time of his sister’s christening, and he is sixth in line to the throne.
Princess Lilibet
Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor is seventh in line to the throne, as she is the youngest child of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Prince Andrew
(Christopher Furlong – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Despite stepping back from royal duty due to his ties with Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew remains eighth in line to the thrown, as the second eldest son of Queen Elizabeth.
Princess Beatrice
(Jonathan Brady – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Prince Andrew’s eldest daughter Beatrice is ninth in line to the throne, and is married to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
The two welcomed the arrival of their second child, Athena, just one week ago.
Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi
Sienna is the first child of Beatrice and Edoardo, and was born in 2021.
She is currently tenth in line to the throne.
Athena Elizabeth Mozzi
.png)
(PA)
Athena is the latest arrival to the royal family, born on 22 January 2025.
She is 11th in line to the throne, overtaking her auntie – Princess Eugenie.
Princess Eugenie
(Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Eugenie is currently 12th in line to the throne, as Prince Andrew’s younger daughter.
August Philip Hawke Brooksbank
(Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
August is the first child of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, and is currently 13th in line after the birth of his cousin.
Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank
In 2023, Princess Eugenie gave birth to her second son, who is currently 14th in line.
He was also the first of Queen Elizabeth’s great-grandchildren to be born following her death.
Prince Edward
(Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
The youngest child of the late Queen has been pushed down to 15th in line to the throne.
James, Earl of Wessex
(Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
The Queen’s grandson James, son of Prince Edward, is now 16th in line to throne following all of his cousins.
Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor
(Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Prince Edward’s daughter Lady Louise is 17th in line.
Princess Anne
(Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
Anne was the only daughter of the Queen, and despite being older than two of her brothers, they come before her and her children in the line of succession due to their gender.
The Succession to the Crown Act 2013 wasn’t passed until after her birth.
But there are many other members of the royal family that are distantly in line to the throne…
