Current Third in Line to the British Throne
As of the most recent public records, the third in line to the British throne is Prince Louis of Wales, the younger child of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales. He follows his older brother Prince George and his sister Princess Charlotte in the line of succession, according to the established rules of succession for the British monarchy. The line of succession is governed by the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, which removed male primogeniture for those born after 28 October 2011, meaning birth order now determines rank regardless of gender. The official line of succession is maintained by the British government and published alongside other key state records.
The British line of succession is a formal order that starts with the sovereign and then lists descendants and eligible relatives by birth and marriage. The first person in line is the heir apparent, followed by subsequent children and their descendants. The third in line position is determined strictly by birth order among the children of the heir apparent. Changes in the line of succession are updated by the Privy Council and announced through official government channels. The current structure reflects the descendants of King Charles III and his immediate family.
Prince Louis of Wales: Background and Role
Prince Louis of Wales was born on 23 April 2018 at St Mary's Hospital in London. He is the third child and second son of William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales. His full name is Louis Arthur Charles, and he holds the title of Prince Louis of Wales as a member of the British royal family. As the third in line to the British throne, he is currently the youngest child in the immediate line of succession to the British monarch.
Prince Louis is being raised alongside his siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte within the British royal household. He is expected to take on public duties as he grows older, consistent with the role of senior members of the royal family. His position in the line of succession means he will be closely connected to future state and ceremonial functions. The British royal family continues to balance public engagements with privacy for younger members of the household.
Succession Rules and the British Monarch
The rules of succession for the British throne are set by law and constitutional convention. The current sovereign is King Charles III, who became monarch following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. The heir apparent is his eldest son, William, Prince of Wales, and the second in line is Prince George. The third in line is Prince Louis, followed by Princess Charlotte and then Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, according to the official order of succession published by the British government.
The Succession to the Crown Act 2013 changed the rules so that the order of succession is no longer affected by gender for those born after 28 October 2011. The Act also removed the disqualification for those who marry a Roman Catholic, though the monarch must remain in communion with the Church of England. These changes were part of broader reforms across Commonwealth realms to modernize the succession process. The official line of succession is regularly updated and can be viewed on the website of the British monarchy.
For an overview of the British monarchy and the role of the sovereign, you can visit the official page at the Royal Family website. Additional context on the legal framework is available through the official British government site at GOV.UK.