The rules governing who gets the titles of Prince and Princess have long been an integral part of the British Royal Family, meaning that even those with close ties to the monarch can be bypassed. Lucy Hume, associate director of etiquette company Debrett’s, has her say on the matter.
Accordingly, if Prince George – Prince William’s eldest son – marries and has children, these children will automatically inherit the title “His/Her Royal Highness” (HRH), “Prince” or “Princess”. However, the same does not apply to George’s younger sister, Princess Charlotte. The reason given is because British royal titles have so far been inherited through sons, not daughters.
“Royal titles are inherited through sons, so if Princess Charlotte has children, they will not automatically inherit the titles HRH, Prince or Princess,” Lucy Hume told Town & Country. In Charlotte’s case, she was given the title of Princess because her mother, Catherine, married Prince William in 2011.
However, Hume added that the King can grant royal titles to his daughter’s children. She cited the case of Peter and Zara Phillips – the children of Princess Anne. When Princess Anne’s two children were born, Queen Elizabeth II offered to grant them titles, but Princess Anne and her husband Captain Mark Phillips refused.
Princess Anne and Prince Edward decided not to accept the royal titles bestowed on their children.
In another case, Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones (the Earl and Countess of Wessex) also decided not to accept the titles of Prince and Princess for their two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn. According to the BBC, the decision of this Royal couple “reflects the clear personal wishes of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones as appropriate to the future circumstances of their children”.
Charlotte is the first female member of the British Royal Family to be ahead of her younger brother in the line of succession to the throne. This came after Queen Elizabeth II gave her assent to the Succession to the Crown Act 2013. The Act replaced male primacy with absolute primogeniture for royal children born after 28 October 2011, ending the tradition of the eldest daughter being overtaken by her younger brother in the line of succession. Charlotte is currently third in line to the throne, behind her father Prince William and older brother Prince George. Charlotte is followed by her youngest brother, Prince Louis.