Royal Baby: Where Will Meghan Markle's First Child Stand in Line to the Throne?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expecting a baby due to be born next Spring, Kensington Palace has announced.
The Palace confirmed that they are "very pleased" to announce the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting a first child, following their wedding earlier this year.
"Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public," the Palace added in a statement.
The couple is currently in Australia, embarking on their first official overseas tour together.
The child, when born, will be seventh in line for the throne, one place behind Harry. It is unlikely that Harry and Markle's child will ever become king or queen of the British monarchy, given how far down the line of succession they will be placed.
The first in line to the throne is Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II's eldest son. He has been next in line for more than 66 years, longer than any other heir in British history. Should he replace the Queen, the 69-year-old will also be the eldest British monarch to ever accede to the throne.
Charles's eldest son and the older brother of Harry, Prince William, is next in line to the throne. The Duke of Cambridge and Kate Middleton's three children then form the next three successions.
Their eldest son, Prince George, is third in line to the throne, followed by his younger sister Princess Charlotte. Prince Louis, who was born in April, is fifth in line.
Harry is sixth in line, with his and Markle's child being seventh regardless of gender.
The Queen's second eldest son Prince Andrew is in eighth place, followed by his and the Duchess of York Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson's two daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, in ninth and 10th.
For the first time, the Queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, will drop out of the top 10 into 11th position after the latest royal baby is born, as shown by this chart from Statista.
Elsewhere, there have been no indications of what name the Harry and Markle will choose for their baby, including if they will stick to traditional royal names or break the mold now the American-born Markle has a say.
However, the child will not be a prince nor a princess, or given a His Royal Highness title, because former British King George V put a limit on the number titles within the Royal Family in 1917, reports the Press Association.
Read more: Prince Harry to Be a Father: 50 Photos That Illustrate His Natural Rapport With Children
