King Charles is receiving much attention due to his forthcoming coronation on May 6 which will see him officially crowned in a momentous ceremony at Westminster Abbey, alongside Camilla, Queen Consort.
On February 6, 1952, when he was just three years old, he inherited the heir apparent title on the accession of Queen Elizabeth II, and would go on to be first in line to the throne for seven decades. It made him the longest-serving British heir apparent, breaking Edward VII's 59-year record.
Charles has subsequently spent his life preparing for the crown and, aged 74, he is about to take his seat in the Coronation Chair, known as Edward's Chair, surrounded by his royal family members.
Of course, during his record-breaking time as heir, the then-Prince Charles has become a father to two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, and grandfather to five grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet (Lili).
His eldest son William is now his heir. The line of succession after him is as follows: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Harry, Prince Archie, Princess Lilibet, Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice.
In 2013 Queen Elizabeth II gave royal assent to the Succession to the Crown Act, meaning that both sons and daughters of any future UK monarch would have an equal right to the throne. The late monarch was only able to ascend the throne herself because her father had two daughters and no sons.
Ahead of King Charles’ coronation, here’s a reminder of the monarch’s children and grandchildren:
Prince William
Prince William was born a year after the then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s 1981 wedding at St. Paul's Cathedral on July 29. The current heir to the throne is also referred to as the Duke of Cambridge and Prince of Wales.
He attended the University of St. Andrews (where he met Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales). The Geography graduate went on to serve in the military and has been involved in various charitable work, including working as a patron of Centrepoint, the UK’s largest youth charity for the homeless.
He married Middleton at Westminster Abbey in April 2011. The couple are parents to George, Charlotte and Louis, and live in Windsor, Berkshire.
Prince Harry
Prince Harry (full name Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor) was born on September 15, 1984 at Paddington hospital, the same as his brother, and was later christened at St George's Chapel, Windsor.
Unlike Prince William, he opted out of perusing a degree. Instead, after attending Eton college he took a gap year in Australia, Argentina and Africa to work with numerous charities. Harry served in the Army for 10 years and founded the Invictus Games in March 2014, the international sporting event in honour of 'wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women'.
The prince married former Suits actor Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. They welcomed their first child, Archie, a year later on May 6, 2019, who was delivered at Portland Hospital in London. June 4, 2021 marked the arrival of their second child, daughter Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana.
The couple live in Montecito, California, having decided to step back from their royal duties and leave the UK in 2020.
Together with Markle, Prince Harry founded the Archewell Foundation that empowers and unites local and global communities.
In December 2022, their viral Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan revealed intimate details about their dating history and private family life.
Prince George
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s first-born child Prince George arrived on on July 22, 2013 and was christened at St James' Palace chapel on October 23, 2013. He is second in line to the throne.
His title at birth was 'His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge', but this changed to Prince George of Wales following Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
Princess Charlotte
The Prince and Princess of Wales’ only daughter Princess Charlotte, known as ‘Lottie’ to her mother Kate, was born at St Mary’s Hospital on May 2, 2015. Her father was in the past been overheard calling her ‘Mignonette' (a French-inspired nickname meaning 'cute'), during a garden visit specially designed by Middleton at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2019.
Prince Louis
Prince Louis (Prince Louis Arthur Charles) was born on St George’s Day, April 23, 2018. He joined his older siblings at school for the first time in September 2022, having previously attended Willcocks Nursery School like his big sister.
All three children’s enrolment to co-educational prep school Lambrook in Berkshire came after George and Charlotte attended Thomas's Battersea in London.
In March 2023, The Times reported that Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis would accompany Prince George and the King and Camilla, Queen Consort as they leave the abbey after Charles’ Coronation service.
Prince Archie
Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor came a year after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s nuptials. He was christened in the private chapel at Windsor Castle in the same christening gown as his cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. He made his first appearance two days after his birth when Prince Harry and Markle gave the world a first look at him as they stepped out as a family-of-three at Windsor Castle.
Princess Lilibet
Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born in the US, specifically Santa Barbara, California. Her birth followed the royal couple’s move to Montecito where they currently reside as a family-of-four. Unlike baby Archie, the couple decided to find out the sex of their child when carrying Lilibet.
She was one years old when she first met the Queen, having been born after the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Her first meeting with her great-grandmother happened when the couple was in the UK for the late monarch’s historic Platinum Jubilee, marking her 70 years on the British throne.
Queen’s Great-Grandchildren: A Reminder Of Who’s Who
Sakaynah Hunter is the Digital News Editor at ELLE, covering subjects including politics, health, women’s interest, the royals and entertainment. Having worked in editorial roles across luxury e-commerce, newspaper and magazine journalism, she’s an all-rounder. When Sakaynah’s not at work, she loves psychological thrillers, the ballet and endless conversations over a glass of wine.
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