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Princess Eugenie's baby: How the royal line of succession has changed

Watch: Royal Family’s delight as Eugenie welcomes a baby boy

Princess Eugenie has announced the birth of her baby boy with husband Jack Brooksbank.

Eugenie’s son, whose name has not been confirmed yet, has been born at 11th in line to the throne – and his arrival changes moves many royals down a position.

Although the princess is not a working member of the Royal Family, her place as a daughter of the Queen’s son keeps her in line to the throne, and so her son is too, regardless of what job his mother does.

Prince Edward, Eugenie’s uncle and the youngest son of the Queen, is now bumped down a place to 12th. His son, James the Viscount Severn, will also be bumped down to 13th, and Edward’s daughter Lady Louise Windsor, is now 14th.

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She and her aunt, Princess Anne, have been displaced in the line of succession by their younger brothers, because of the historic law about the position of male heirs.

KING'S LYNN, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 25: Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank attend Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate on December 25, 2018 in King's Lynn, England. (Photo by UK Press Pool/UK Press via Getty Images)
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank at the Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene in 2018. (UK Press Pool/UK Press)

The law was changed in 2013, but did not apply retrospectively, so Anne is still below both of her brothers and their children and grandchildren.

Anne is now at 15th, with her son Peter Phillips at 16th, and his children below that. Zara Tindall is now at 19th, and her two daughters will be at 20th and 21st.

Read more: Prince William is now as popular as the Queen, according to poll

When she has her third child later this year, the child will be born at position 22nd. The baby will knock on all those after her another place.

Some of the senior royals this affects are the Queen’s cousins, including people like the Duke of Kent. He is now 38th, but will be 39th by the time Zara has her baby.

The top 10 positions remain unchanged by the arrival of Eugenie and Jack’s baby.

Queen Elizabeth II is joined by members of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Place to acknowledge the crowd after the Trooping the Colour ceremony, as she celebrates her official birthday. (Photo by Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty Images)
The birth of Eugenie's baby has a knock-on effect on the line of succession. Royal Family here during the 2019 Trooping the Colour. (Victoria Jones/PA Images)

Female heirs stopped being displaced by their younger brothers in 2013, when the law was changed in time for Prince William and Kate’s first child, just in case they had a girl.

The law’s first impact happened when Prince Louis was born because Princess Charlotte remained fourth in line.

Read more: Princess Eugenie makes rare video appearance ahead of baby due date to remember tragic anniversary

The line currently reads the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, the Duke of Sussex, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, the Duke of York, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie.

It’s very unlikely Eugenie’s baby will ever be king. He is not entitled to have a royal styling or title.

Watch: How the line of succession works

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