Monarch Queen Elizabeth Passes Away at 96: Determining the New Line of Royal Ascension
Queen Elizabeth II Passes Away: A Look at the Line of Succession
In a solemn moment for the British monarchy and the world, Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving monarch in British history, passed away at her Scottish Highland retreat on Thursday at the age of 96. The eldest of the Queen’s four children, Charles, Prince of Wales, became king immediately following her death.
The new heir apparent after King Charles III is his elder son, Prince William, Prince of Wales. Prince William is likely to become the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall upon King Charles's coronation, and his wife, Kate Middleton, will be the Princess of Wales.
Prince Harry, the fifth in line to the British throne, is currently below Prince William and his children in the line of succession. No information about any new titles or changes in titles due to the Queen's death was mentioned. Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, have stepped back from royal responsibilities and moved to the US.
The title 'Prince of Wales' is traditionally held by the heir apparent, which was previously held by Charles, now King. Next in line for the throne after King Charles, Prince William, and their children are Prince George (9), Princess Charlotte (7), and Prince Louis (4).
Prince Andrew, the Queen's second son, is eighth in line to the British throne. However, due to a debate over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, a found guilty sex culprit, Prince Andrew stepped down from his royal duties.
King Charles III is the first king of that name to rule since 1685. The Queen's death has caused an outpouring of condolences across the globe. World leaders are paying homage to the Queen, whose regime spanned 70 years and straddled 2 centuries of seismic social, political, and technological turmoil.
In a unique twist, Camilla, the spouse of King Charles, is not automatically referred to as queen. An agreement was made in 2005 that she would be known as Princess Consort. However, Queen Elizabeth recently announced that she hopes Camilla will be referred to as Queen Consort when Charles becomes king.
This news marks a significant shift in the British monarchy, and the world watches with bated breath as the new reign begins.
