Prince Edward has been pushed further down the royal line of succession following the arrival of Princess Eugenie’s baby daughter.
Eugenie’s baby girl whose name has yet to be announced. Her arrival places her 15th in line to the throne, while Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s sons, August and Ernest, remain 13th and 14th respectively.
The latest addition means Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, has now slipped to 16th place, while Princess Anne has fallen to 19th.
Both have spent decades carrying out royal duties on behalf of the Crown, despite their increasingly distant positions in the succession.
Royal commentator Jennie Bond believes this is an increasingly outdated system.
“I do think the line of succession should be revised and shortened,” Bond told the Mirror that there is something “rather ridiculous” about Edward being pushed down to make room for another of her children.
She said his position as “preposterous”, the succession could instead be limited to a much smaller group for practical reasons.
At present, the first five places are held by Prince William, his children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, followed by Prince Harry.
Bond has previously questioned whether the succession should extend so far beyond the direct line.
The commentator pointed out that many people several places down are unlikely ever to come close to the throne.
2026-08-09 00:26:00
