Princess Charlotte won't automatically inherit The Princess Royal title from Anne when Prince William is king
The decision ultimately sits with her father Prince WilliamKing Charles’ sister Anne has held The Princess Royal title for 38 years and counting – but young Charlotte won’t automatically inherit the tradition when William ascends to the throne.
When the day arrives of Prince William’s ascension to the throne, there will be a lot of movement within the royal family. He’ll take his father King Charles’ place, Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales will become Queen and their eldest son Prince George will be next in line of succession to the throne.
But what is in store for their other children, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte – and will she become The Princess Royal in Anne’s place?
Who is The Princess Royal and title explained
The Princess Royal is usually the eldest daughter of the monarch, for Queen Elizabeth II who had four children (three of which were Princes), this was Princess Anne.
It isn’t like other royal titles that can change, for example, Prince William was formerly the Duke of Cambridge before becoming the Prince of Wales when Charles became king in 2022. The Princess Royal title is for life.
Before Anne, the previous Princess Royal was the daughter of King George V and Queen Mary – the aunt of Elizabeth II. As the only daughter of the monarch at the time, she held the title until 1965. Both of her brothers became kings, first Edward VIII when George passed away, before he abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. Her other brother, Albert, then was known as King George VI in his place, and ruled before dying in 1952.
It would be another 22 years before the next Princess Royal, Anne, when the Queen bestowed the title on her daughter.
Anne had to wait patiently for more than three decades before she became The Princess Royal – so what will be the process for Charlotte?
Will Princess Charlotte be the next Princess Royal after Anne?
The title is not inherited nor automatic, and it’ll evidently be down to Prince William when he is king. He’ll make the decision as to whether make his daughter Charlotte the next Princess Royal – but only if Anne is no longer with us. As the royal title is set for life, there can’t be two Princess Royals.
If she does become the next Princess Royal, Charlotte will be one of only eight women within The Firm who have held that title since it was created in 1642.
The symbolic title is one of the highest honours that can be bestowed upon someone from the royal family.
The first woman to have this honour was Mary Henrietta Stuart, the eldest daughter of King Charles I. It was created as her mother Henrietta Maria wanted to adapt the French tradition of a similar nature, which was called Madame Royale.
There has actually already been a Princess Anne and Charlotte who were both Princess Royals as well. The first Anne with the title came in 1727 through King George II, and Charlotte of King George III in 1797.
Read more: 10 of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis’ best sibling moments
Lasting legacy
Anne has left a colourful legacy behind with her title, being the first member of the royal family to compete in the Olympics and being committed of a criminal offence. She was fined £500 for having a dangerous dog out of control in 2002, when one of her Bull Terriers, Dotty, bit two boys in Windsor Great Park.
Known as the most ‘hard-working’ royal, she often conducts hundreds of engagements each year. For the past four years, she has earned the unofficial title by taken part in the most appearances in the Royal Diary – surpassing her brother, who is the king!
Titles aside, Queen Elizabeth II enforced a new rule that ignored genders of monarch’s children when it came to the line of succession. Previously, men would appear before their female siblings, but the late monarch changed this for equality. As it stands, Prince William is next in line to the throne, followed by his son George, Charlotte and Louis.
Do you think Princess Charlotte will be the next Princess Royal after Anne? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @RoyalInsiderOfficial.
