Royal Succession Plan Altered by Late Queen Elizabeth’s Gift to Princess Charlotte

Princess Charlotte celebrates her ninth birthday today, marking the occasion with a historic gift from her late great-grandmother that has had a profound impact on the royal family's succession plan.

The late Queen Elizabeth bestowed upon Princess Charlotte a remarkable gift that ultimately altered the course of her position within the royal hierarchy.

As the young royal turns nine, it is worth reflecting on the significant change brought about by this special gesture.

A crucial adjustment made by the late Queen spared Princess Charlotte from facing an unfair alteration in her royal standing following the birth of her younger brother.

Under the Crown Act in effect at the time of Princess Anne's birth, she would have been moved down the line of succession after the arrival of her two younger brothers.

However, Princess Charlotte was exempt from this potential shift, thanks to the intervention of the late Queen.

In 2013, the late Queen Elizabeth made a pivotal modification to the royal rules, coinciding with the birth of Prince George, to ensure that all children born into the royal family would be afforded equal rights regardless of their gender.

This amendment proved to be crucial for Princess Charlotte, who, at the time of Prince Louis's birth in April 2018, retained her fourth position in line for the throne.

Constitutional specialist Iain Mac Marthan provided insight into the significance of the 2013 amendment, highlighting its aim to modernize and eliminate outdated and discriminatory laws related to the monarchy.

The Act effectively abolished male primogeniture, establishing the firstborn child as the rightful heir irrespective of gender.

Furthermore, the repeal of the Royal Marriages Act of 1772 reduced the requirement for seeking the Sovereign's consent to only the first six individuals in line for the throne.

Additionally, the prohibition on inheriting the throne by marrying a Catholic was also lifted.