On the heels of King Charles III's coronation and the arrival of the newest royal in May, discussions around who is next in line for the British throne have become front of mind. Following Queen Elizabeth II's death on Sept. 8, 2022, her firstborn son, Charles, immediately became the sovereign and the rest of the family moved up in the line of succession. While the coronation formalized his place as monarch, Charles has actually been king since the moment his mother passed away. During the coronation ceremony, Prince William, who is next in line, played a prominent role, as did his three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Having reigned for seven decades, Elizabeth was the UK's longest-reigning monarch and was appointed to the throne at just 25 years old. By contrast, King Charles is 74 years old and is the oldest heir to accede to the throne. Charles's wife, Camilla, was crowned alongside him and became Queen.
The line of succession to the British throne has seen several changes over the past years as more and more royal babies have been welcomed into the family. In 2013, the Succession to the Crown Act was passed, meaning gender would no longer play a role in determining the order of progression. With 25 members of the royal family making up the list, it's not easy to get your head around the official protocol. Here's the current roster.