Will Princess Charlotte Become The Princess Royal?

She made royal history when she became the first female member in Britain’s royal family to maintain her place in the throne’s line of succession following the birth of a male heir.

But, will Princess Charlotte become Princess Royal?

Princess Royal is a substantive title awarded by a British monarch to his or her eldest daughter. This title currently holds Princess Anne. She accepted it in June 1987, when she was 36 years old.

Upon the Queen’s death, Princess Anne will still retain the title, despite Prince Charles being the new monarch, as he has no daughters.

But, when Prince William is crowned King, his daughter Charlotte will eventually become Princess Royal. Still, if William grants Charlotte the title, it won’t happen until his Aunt Anne passes away. As the current title holder, Anne holds the title for the rest of her life. 

“The title of Princess Royal is traditionally bestowed on the eldest daughter of the monarch,” royal expert Duncan Larcombe tells Town And Country Magazine. “It is a title that remains for life, so Princess Charlotte will have to wait at least until the death of the current Princess Royal.”

According to Larcombe, there are very strict rules for dating the Princess Royal.

“Under ancient British law, any man who sleeps with the Princess Royal before they are married is guilty of high treason—punishable by execution!” Larcombe says. “Perhaps Princess Charlotte’s future boyfriends had better look out. At the very least, Wills and Kate are likely to wait until after Charlotte marries before giving her the title.”

There is also a chance that Charlotte will skip the title and instead be awarded a peerage.

Marlene Koenig, a royal historian, told Hello! Magazine: “Now with gender equal succession, I think it would be more possible to grant a peerage to Charlotte.

“Prince Louis will get one when he marries, so it would only be fair if Charlotte was named a Duchess on her wedding day.

“She and her children will be ahead of Louis’ line in the succession.”

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