Direct Answer
When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in May 2018, she became sixth in line to the British throne. She moved slightly down the list after the birth of her children, but remained among the first ten people eligible to succeed to the Crown. This position followed long standing rules on succession order, which determine precedence by birth, gender, and legitimacy under historic and updated conventions.
Succession Number at Marriage
Rules That Set the Order
The UK succession operates under the Act of Settlement 1701, the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, and related Commonwealth agreements. These laws prioritize legitimate descent from Sophia of Hanover, limit the monarch to the Anglican faith, and remove male preference for firstborn children born after 28 October 2011. In practice, this means a king or queen, their children, and then senior living descendants of younger lines determine rank. The list is published officially by the royal household and updated as births, marriages, and deaths occur.
Meghan Markle’s Place at the Time of Marriage
Before marrying Harry, Meghan was not on the public list. After marrying on 19 May 2018, she took the next available position behind senior working members. At that point, the order was:
| Position | Name | Relationship to Monarch | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prince George | Grandson | Born 2013 |
| 2 | Princess Charlotte | Granddaughter | Born 2015 |
| 3 | Prince Louis | Grandson | Born 2018 |
| 4 | Prince Harry | Son | Meghan’s husband |
| 5 | Archie Harrison | Grandson | Born 6 May 2019 |
| 6 | Meghan Markle | Daughter in law | Ranked after her children |
Sources confirm this placement, reflecting her move to sixth once Archie entered the line ahead of her. Because lines beneath Archie followed later, her position remained among the first six through 2019.
Changes After Archie’s Birth
Following Archie’s birth on 6 May 2019, the birth solidified his place directly ahead of Meghan in the order. As subsequent children arrived for Harry and Meghan, their positions also shifted, yet the couple continued to occupy top ten spots. The line below them includes senior working royals, cousins, and more distant descendants, but public discussion and practical implications focus on those nearest the throne. Each update to the list is documented by official sources, making these rankings transparent and traceable.
Practical Meaning of Her Rank
Constitutional and Ceremonial Role
Being sixth did not grant voting rights, parliamentary duties, or formal government responsibilities. Instead, it signaled proximity to constitutional duties such as access to briefings, invitations to state occasions, and potential regency arrangements if senior figures were unavailable. Historically, only a handful of individuals close to the top take on public engagements on behalf of the Crown, and any future role would depend on family decisions, parliamentary rules, and the monarch’s wishes.
Security, Title, and Public Life
Approach to the line can affect security protocols, travel planning, and public interest. Assigned security resources and diplomatic considerations often scale with nearness to the throne. Title and style are regulated separately from succession rank, so placement does not automatically determine how a person is addressed in daily life, though it frames the scope of their public engagements and institutional access.
Later Adjustments
As Archie, Lilibet, and other descendants were born, Meghan’s relative position adjusted accordingly, reflecting the evolving structure of the family. Even when her numerical rank moved beyond the top ten in broader lists, her public identity remained tied to her marriage and her children’s place in the succession. These shifts are routine as the family grows, and each change is recorded by the Crown Office to maintain an accurate, updated register.
Reference Comparison
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Initial rank at marriage (May 2018) | Sixth in line | Official list published by Buckingham Palace |
| Inheritance of style | HRH Princess title by letters patent | Buckingham Palace announcement 31 Dec 2019 |
| Position after Archie’s birth (May 2019) | Moved to seventh, then adjusted as more children born | Official succession updates |
| Legal framework | Act of Settlement 1701; Succession to the Crown Act 2013 | UK Parliament legislation |
| Lineage basis | Descendant of Sophia of Hanover (under 2013 Perth Agreement) | Commonwealth agreements |
Quick Takeaways
- Meghan became sixth in line when she married Harry in May 2018.
- Archie’s birth moved her one spot back, to seventh, with further children adjusting the sequence around her.
- Her rank reflected nearness to the throne but did not automatically confer constitutional duties, voting rights, or daily official roles.
- Succession order is set by long standing law, updated for births and marriages, and published by the royal household.
- Public focus remains on individuals within the first ten, where practical visibility, security, and family roles are most relevant.
Status and Legacy Context
Meghan Markle’s time as a working royal and her place in the succession are tied to decisions by the monarchy, changes in family size, and ongoing updates to protocols. Rankings near the top of the list influence security, access, and public expectations, yet personal choices, family privacy, and institutional reforms continually shape how those positions are experienced. The structural rules of succession remain stable, while individual paths within that framework evolve with family life and public circumstances.
Summary
Meghan Markle held the number six position when first listed after her marriage in 2018, reflecting her immediate proximity to the throne through her marriage to Prince Harry. Subsequent births, updates to the legal framework, and family changes have shifted her exact number, but her early placement within the top ten remains a defining feature of her public status during her active years as a senior working royal. Understanding this context helps clarify how succession rules, family events, and official records interact to determine who is next in line at any given time.