Current Position in the Line of Succession
As of 2026, Prince Harry remains fifth in the line of succession to the British throne, behind his father Prince Charles, his older brother Prince William, and William’s two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Being sixth in line at birth in 1984, his birth did not displace anyone ahead of his parents. Harry remained sixth for years; after William’s children were born, he moved progressively down to fifth when George was born in 2013, then to his current rank as Charlotte and his son Archie (born 2019) were added ahead of him. His spouse, Meghan Markle, and their children do not alter his personal position in the statutory list, which is governed by the Act of Settlement 1701 and updated by the Perth Agreement 2011.
How the British Line of Succession Works
Key Rules and Legal Basis
The line of succession is not symbolic but codified in UK statute law. The core rules prioritize legitimate descent from Sophia of Hanover (1705) and limit the throne to Protestant heirs. The Act of Settlement 1701 established male-preference cognatic primogeniture for distant succession, while the Perth Agreement 2011 removed male preference among those born after 28 October 2011, ended disqualification for marrying a Catholic, and required monarchs to be members of the Church of England. Succession order is determined by birth date, legitimacy, and religion; marriage to a person who is not a British royal does not by itself change a person’s rank.
Order of Key Royal Family Members (Illustrative)
| Position | Name | Relationship to Monarch | Born |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | King Charles III | Monarch | 1948 |
| 2 | Prince William, Prince of Wales | Eldest son of King Charles III | 1982 |
| 3 | Prince George of Wales | Eldest child of William | 2013 |
| 4 | Princess Charlotte of Wales | Second child of William | 2015 |
| 5 | Prince Louis of Wales | Third child of William | 2018 |
| 6 | Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex | Younger son of King Charles III | 1984 |
| 7 | Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor | Son of Harry | 2019 |
| 8 | Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor | Daughter of Harry | 2021 |
| 9 | Prince Andrew, Duke of York | Brother of King Charles III | 1960 |
| 10 | Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi | Niece of King Charles III | 1988 |
| 11 | Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank | Niece of King Charles III | 1990 |
Harry’s Position Relative to William
Prince William is ahead of Harry in the succession because he is the elder brother and because his children are born after him. Under current rules, William’s three children (George, Charlotte, and Louis) occupy positions 3, 4, and 5, pushing Harry to sixth in line at the time of their births. With the addition of Harry’s own children, Archie and Lilibet, Harry remains sixth among individuals whose births were living at the time of each subsequent addition, placing him behind his nephew and nieces but ahead of his younger siblings. The structure ensures stability: the crown passes to the next eligible descendant of Sophia, Protestant by faith, in birth order.
Legal and Marital Context
The Perth Agreement and Modernization
The Perth Agreement 2011 was a multilateral reform adopted by sixteen Commonwealth realms, including the United Kingdom. It altered the rules so that the eldest child, regardless of gender, precedes younger siblings, and removed the disqualification for marrying a Catholic. For those born after 28 October 2011, the requirement to seek the sovereign’s permission for marriage was also modified. Harry married Meghan Markle in 2018 under the provisions then in force, which require the first six in line to obtain the monarch’s consent for marriage. As a result, Harry’s marriage was lawful and does not affect his statutory position; neither does the religion of his spouse.
Marriage, Children, and the Succession List
Under the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, marrying a Catholic no longer removes a person from the line, and the first six in line must obtain the sovereign’s permission to marry. Harry’s children, Archie and Lilibet, are included in the line of succession, ranked after Harry, because they are legitimate, Protestant descendants of the sovereign. Birth order among peers—children of the same parent—follows date of birth. Consequently, Archie precedes Lilibet, and both rank ahead of any later siblings but behind all earlier-born individuals ahead of their father.
Common Misconceptions and Rumor Risk
Reports occasionally circulate suggesting Harry has lost his position, that his children are excluded, or that the line is reshaped by family choices. These claims are inaccurate. The line is determined by birth date, legitimacy, and statutory rules, not by popularity, media coverage, or family disputes. Harry remains sixth in line; Archie and Lilibet follow him in order of birth. No change in law has removed or demoted him, and unless Parliament alters the rules or Harry voluntarily relinquishes his place (which is not provided for), his position is fixed by existing statute.
Implications of His Position
Fifth or sixth in line is a distant rank with limited practical constitutional weight but notable symbolic and personal consequences. It means Harry is unlikely to undertake constitutional duties related to succession, yet he remains a working member of the royal family with public duties and security considerations. The title and status associated with the line of succession do not carry financial entitlements but can affect roles, expectations, and media engagement. For the institution, maintaining an orderly, lawful succession framework supports stability and public confidence; for individuals, it defines the boundaries of public service and privacy within a hereditary system.
Bottom Line on Succession Status
Harry remains a fixed and recognized member of the line of succession at his lawful place in birth order. No headline-grabbing event or personal choice has moved him out of the list. The rules that determine rank are settled, well-understood, and resilient to short-term fluctuation. For anyone asking whether Harry is still in the line of succession, the answer is yes—he is currently sixth, behind William’s children and ahead of his own children, with that rank unlikely to change without deliberate parliamentary reform or personal renunciation under the established legal framework.
People Also Ask
- Who is ahead of Prince Harry in the line of succession?
- Does Meghan Markle affect Harry’s place in the succession?
- Are Prince Harry’s children in the line of succession?
- Can the line of succession be changed by Parliament?
Helpful Context
- Line of succession is governed by statute: Act of Settlement 1701 and the Succession to the Crown Act 2013.
- Only legitimate, Protestant descendants of Sophia of Hanover are eligible.
- Marriage does not remove someone from the line, nor does it reset birth order.
- The Perth Agreement 2011 updated rules for those born after 28 October 2011.
- Positions can shift only through birth, death, disqualification, or formal parliamentary change.