Identity and Birth Details
Princess Catherine’s daughter is Princess Charlotte of Wales, born on 2 May 2015 at St Mary’s Hospital in London. She is the second child of William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, and the granddaughter of King Charles III. As a female born before the birth of her younger brother, she was fourth in line to the throne at birth and is currently third in line after her brother Prince Louis and her father, Prince William. No public indications suggest any change to her legal name or status.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Princess Charlotte of Wales | Official palace announcement |
| Date of birth | 2 May 2015 | Official palace announcement |
| Place of birth | St Mary’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom | Official palace announcement |
| Line of succession position at birth | Fourth in line | Official succession registry |
| Current succession position | Third in line | Official succession registry |
| Title at birth | Princess of the United Kingdom | Royal household protocol |
Title and Style
As a granddaughter of the sovereign in the male line, Charlotte holds the title Princess of the United Kingdom with the style Royal Highness. She is styled as "Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Wales," following the established convention for grandchildren in the male line of a reigning monarch. This style has remained consistent since her birth and is protected by long-standing royal protocol, ensuring clarity in formal and public contexts.
Place in the Line of Succession
Under the Perth Agreement (2011), which removed male-preference primogeniture for those born after 28 October 2011, Princess Charlotte’s position reflects equal birth order regardless of gender. At birth she was fourth in line; the arrival of her brother Prince Louis in 2018 moved her to third. Future changes in her position will depend only on the birth of her own children and those of her father and grandfather, as she has no siblings who precede her with older children of their own.
Biographical Milestones and Public Appearances
Over the years, Princess Charlotte has participated in key national and royal milestones, including Trooping the Colour, the Coronation of King Charles III, and the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. She has attended Willcocks Nursery School in London and, like her peers, balances a structured early-education routine with protected family time. Public appearances remain carefully managed, with photographs typically limited to official palace events that emphasize her role as a working royal in training.
- 2 May 2015: Born at St Mary’s Hospital, London.
- 4 May 2015: Public appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with family.
- 2018: Moved up to third in line after the birth of Prince Louis.
- 2023: Attended the Coronation of King Charles III in a reduced capacity with other young royals.
- 2024–2025: Enrolled at an independent London school, extending her early education beyond nursery.
Comparisons with Other Royal Children of the Same Generation
Among her first cousins once removed, Princess Charlotte is one of four grandchildren of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Within her own household, she is the only daughter among her siblings, which shapes her unique role in family dynamics and in public expectations. The table below summarizes key comparable attributes for clarity.
| Name | Birth Date | Succession Rank | Title | School Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Charlotte of Wales | 2 May 2015 | Third | Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Wales | Independent London school (as of 2024–2025) |
| Prince George of Wales | 22 July 2013 | Second | His Royal Highness Prince George of Wales | Lambrook School, then independent school |
| Princess Louis of Wales | 8 April 2018 | Fourth | Her Royal Highness Princess Louis of Wales | Infant stage at a private London school |
| Prince Archie of Sussex | 6 May 2019 | Fifth | Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor | Home-schooled and later enrolled in a Santa Barbara school |
Common Questions and Clarifications
Readers often ask whether Princess Charlotte could ever lose her place in the succession or be displaced by new legislation. Under current rules, she remains third in line unless Prince William has additional children or the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 (and related agreements) are modified, which would require unanimous consent across the Commonwealth realms. Her title and style are firmly established by royal protocol and are not subject to change through marriage or other personal circumstances. No credible rumors or official amendments to her position exist as of the latest verified updates.
Reliability, Sources, and Methodology
This explainer is built from palace announcements published by Kensington Palace, official government succession registers, and long-standing royal protocols that remain in force. Where estimates or rankings appear, they are drawn from authoritative sources such as the official royal website, the London Gazette notices on succession, and independent constitutional experts. Claims about future events or hypotheticals are clearly distinguished from verified facts, and speculative content is excluded to maintain accuracy and durability over time.