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Why Princess Charlotte Is 4th in Line for the Throne

3 minute read
Sophia, Electress of Hanover
Sophia, Electress of HanoverHulton Archive/Getty Images
By Lily Rothman
Updated: | Originally published: ;

The new royal princess, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, younger sister to the heir to the British throne, could ascend to the throne one day—but right now, she is fourth in line, after grandfather Prince Charles, father Prince William and her older brother George.

But had it not been for a now-obscure 1701 law, the baby might not have been royal at all, much less fourth in line for the throne. The ancestor that the royal baby has to thank for its place in the line of succession is Sophia, Electress of Hanover.

Here’s what happened: as explained by the official website of the British monarchy, the late 17th century wasn’t exactly a stable time in England. King James II had created some major disgruntlement by converting to Catholicism—the King of England is the head of the (Protestant) Church of England, so that was a problem—and ended up fleeing the country. His daughter, Mary II, and her husband, William of Orange (William III), were Protestant, and ended up being given the throne by Parliament.

Oh Baby: 121 Years Of Infant Royals On Camera

This was the last time a Queen met her greatgrandchild. In 1894, Queen Victoria holds the newly christened Prince Edward, later Edward VIII.
This was the last time a Queen met her greatgrandchild. In 1894, Queen Victoria holds the newly christened Prince Edward, later Edward VIII.Popperfoto/Getty Images
This tot, pictured in 1896, didn't expect to be king but when his elder brother Edward VIII abdicated, George VI took over.
This tot, pictured in 1896, didn't expect to be king but when his elder brother Edward VIII abdicated, George VI took over. Popperfoto/Getty Images
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, born to the Scottish aristocracy in 1900, would become royal through marriage to the future George VI. Their eldest daughter is the current Queen.
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, born to the Scottish aristocracy in 1900, would become royal through marriage to the future George VI. Their eldest daughter is the current Queen. Popperfoto/Getty Images
In 1926, as a tiny baby, Princess Elizabeth already displays the solemn face that she has deployed so often in her public duties since becoming Queen.
In 1926, as a tiny baby, Princess Elizabeth already displays the solemn face that she has deployed so often in her public duties since becoming Queen.Bob Thomas–Popperfoto/Getty Images
The naughty sister: the baby Princess Margaret, flanked by Princess Elizabeth and their mother, led a colorful life. Prevented from marrying her first love, a divorced commoner, she later married, and divorced, fashionable photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones.
The naughty sister: the baby Princess Margaret, flanked by Princess Elizabeth and their mother, led a colorful life. Prevented from marrying her first love, a divorced commoner, she later married, and divorced, fashionable photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones. Popperfoto/Getty Images
Before Princes Charles was born in 1948, his grandfather King George VI did away with a long-held custom that demanded the Home Secretary be present at royal births. Here Charles is pictured with his mother, at that stage still Princess Elizabeth.
Before Princes Charles was born in 1948, his grandfather King George VI did away with a long-held custom that demanded the Home Secretary be present at royal births. Here Charles is pictured with his mother, at that stage still Princess Elizabeth. AP
Princess Anne, second child of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, pictured at her 1950 christening, must have been born with horse sense. She won a gold and two silver medals at European equestrian competitions and rode for the U.K. in the 1976 Olympics.
Princess Anne, second child of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, pictured at her 1950 christening, must have been born with horse sense. She won a gold and two silver medals at European equestrian competitions and rode for the U.K. in the 1976 Olympics.Fox Photos/Getty Images
She already had an heir. Here's Queen Elizabeth with the spare: a chubby, 6-month-old Prince Andrew, in the grounds of Balmoral Castle, Scotland in 1960.
She already had an heir. Here's Queen Elizabeth with the spare: a chubby, 6-month-old Prince Andrew, in the grounds of Balmoral Castle, Scotland in 1960.AP
This 1964 snap of Prince Edward in his cot, with brother Andrew and his mother, the Queen, already suggests an interest in what's going on behind the camera. He went on to found a TV production company in 1993.
This 1964 snap of Prince Edward in his cot, with brother Andrew and his mother, the Queen, already suggests an interest in what's going on behind the camera. He went on to found a TV production company in 1993.AP
The Queen admires her first grandchild, Peter Phillips, at Balmoral Castle in November 1977. Peter's mother, Princess Anne, declined royal titles for both of her children.
The Queen admires her first grandchild, Peter Phillips, at Balmoral Castle in November 1977. Peter's mother, Princess Anne, declined royal titles for both of her children.Anwar Hussein
Zara Tindall, née Phillips has become a top flight equestrian, like mom Princess Anne. Pictured here in 1981, mother and daughter were much photographed at the 2012 Olympics when Anne presented Zara with a silver medal.
Zara Tindall, née Phillips has become a top flight equestrian, like mom Princess Anne. Pictured here in 1981, mother and daughter were much photographed at the 2012 Olympics when Anne presented Zara with a silver medal.Lichfield–Getty Images
"And one day you will marry a beautiful Princess called Kate." Prince William looks to the future, in 1983.
"And one day you will marry a beautiful Princess called Kate." Prince William looks to the future, in 1983.Tim Graham–Getty Images
Prince Harry, aged 9 months, watches a military parade with his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, and brother William, in 1985.
Prince Harry, aged 9 months, watches a military parade with his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, and brother William, in 1985. Roy Letkey–Reuters
The spitting image of her dad Prince Andrew, but for the red hair inherited from mother Sarah, Duchess of York, Princess Beatrice looks pensive at her 1988 christening.
The spitting image of her dad Prince Andrew, but for the red hair inherited from mother Sarah, Duchess of York, Princess Beatrice looks pensive at her 1988 christening.Tim Graham–Getty Images
Another addition to the house of York: Princess Eugenie, with her mother Sarah, at her christening in 1990.
Another addition to the house of York: Princess Eugenie, with her mother Sarah, at her christening in 1990. Bill Allen–AP
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, with their newborn baby boy, Prince George of Cambridge, Tilly the retriever, left, a Middleton family pet and Lupo, the couple's cocker spaniel, right, at the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, in early August, 2013.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, with their newborn baby boy, Prince George of Cambridge, Tilly the retriever, left, a Middleton family pet and Lupo, the couple's cocker spaniel, right, at the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, in early August, 2013. Michael Middleton–AFP/Getty Images
Prince George and his sister Princess Charlotte at Anmer Hall in Norfolk, Britain, mid-May 2015.
Prince George and his sister Princess Charlotte at Anmer Hall in Norfolk, Britain, mid-May 2015. HRH The Duchess of Cambridge

Around that time, as that side of James II’s family took the throne—rather than the Catholic children produced by his second marriage—Parliament passed a bill that was an attempt to settle who would inherit the throne, in order to avoid future revolutions and wars, which had tended to happen whenever that question didn’t have a clear answer.

Except the people to whom the law applied didn’t exactly cooperate by producing heirs. By 1700, Mary was dead and William was sick. Mary’s sister Anne, who was next in line as the oldest Protestant child of James II, had no more surviving children.

So Parliament made another law, the Act of Settlement of 1701, that said that the heirs of James I’s granddaughter, Sophia of Hanover, would be the heirs to the throne. When Queen Anne died in 1714, Sophia’s son became King George I. George I’s great-great-great-granddaughter was Queen Victoria, whose great-great-granddaughter is the current Queen Elizabeth.

But were it not for that 1701 act, the Catholic children of James II might have made a claim to the throne—at least, that’s what the people who wrote the act worried—and the new baby would have been just a random, extremely distant cousin of the actual royals.

But the Act of Settlement isn’t the only law that affects the young princess’ place in line. Until recently, she could have been bumped down if she ever had a younger brother. In 2011, the Act of Settlement was tweaked before Prince George’s birth, to ensure succession would not be affected by gender or by marriage to a Catholic. (Previously, daughters came to the throne only when there were no sons available.)

Even so, the monarch is still prohibited from being Catholic him or herself—something that has drawn criticism from those who wanted the reforms to go even further.

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Write to Lily Rothman at lily.rothman@time.com