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A who's-who of the royal family

The British royal family is one of the most famous families on the planet. But with 23 members in the sovereign line of succession alone (and then another 40 or so more distant royals), there's... well, a lot of people to remember.

So who's who in the top tier of the royal family? Where do they sit in line to the throne? and how should you be addressing them if you were, say, ever to bump into them one day? (Chance would be a fine thing.) Here's everything you need to know about the royals, from full names, to titles, residences and more...

Queen Elizabeth II

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Full name: Elizabeth Alexandra Mary

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Date of birth: 21 April 1926

Family position: Monarch

Place in line of succession: Currently on the throne

Best known title: Her Majesty the Queen

Other titles: She has 16 different regnal titles, one for each of the current Commonwealth realms, but they're all pretty similar to this: 'Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of [insert different country names] and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.'

Lives in: Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle – the Queen divides her time between the two residences. She spends Christmas at Sandringham Estate and her summer holiday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

Prince Charles

Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images
Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

Full name: Charles Philip Arthur George

Date of birth: 14 November 1948

Family position: Charles is the eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II.

Place in line of succession: Charles is the heir apparent to the British throne – the first in the order of succession.

Best known title: His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales

Other titles: Prince Charles is sometimes referred to as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland. He is also occasionally called the Duke of Cornwall while in the southwest of England.

Lives in: Clarence House is his official London residence, but he also has a country home where he spends a lot of time, Highgrove House in Gloucestershire.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Full name: Born Camilla Rosemary Shand; after her first marriage, she was known as Camilla Parker Bowles.

Date of birth: 17 July 1947

Family position: Camilla is married to Prince Charles, the eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II.

Place in line of succession: N/A

Best known title: Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall

Other titles: In Scotland, Camilla is sometimes referred to as the Duchess of Rothesay, and is also sometimes called the Duchess of Cornwall while in the southwest of England. Techically, Camilla is the Princess of Wales, but when she married Charles, it was announced that her title wouldn't be styled that way – likely because there had already been a Princess of Wales, Diana.

Lives in: Clarence House, Camilla and Charles’ official London residence. The couple also often spend time at Highgrove House, their Gloucestershire home.

Prince William

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Full name: William Arthur Philip Louis

Date of birth: 21 June 1982

Family position: William is the eldest son of Prince Charles, and the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II.

Place in line of succession: 2nd

Best known title: His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge

Other titles: While in Scotland, Prince William is sometimes called the Earl of Strathearn, and also Baron Carrickfergus while in Northern Ireland.

Lives in: A four-storey home at Kensington Palace known as Apartment 1A. William and his family also spend a lot of time at their Norfolk country estate, Anmer Hall.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Full name: Born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton

Date of birth: 9 January 1982

Family position: Kate is the wife of Prince William, who is the son of Prince Charles and the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II.

Place in line of succession: N/A

Best known title: Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge

Other titles: Kate is sometimes called the Countess of Strathearn while she’s in Scotland, and may be referred to as Lady Carrickfergus while in Northern Ireland.

Lives in: An apartment in Kensington Palace, with William and their children. They also spend time at Anmer Hall, their country home in Norfolk.

Prince George

Photo credit: Pool/Samir Hussein - Getty Images
Photo credit: Pool/Samir Hussein - Getty Images

Full name: George Alexander Louis

Date of birth: 22 July 2013

Family position: George is the first child of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the grandson of Prince Charles and the great-grandson of Queen Elizabeth II.

Place in line of succession: 3rd

Best known title: His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge

Other titles: None

Lives in: The Cambridges’ apartment in Kensington Palace. The family also spend time at Anmer Hall, their Norfolk country home.

Princess Charlotte

Photo credit: RoyalFamily - Instagram
Photo credit: RoyalFamily - Instagram


Full name: Charlotte Elizabeth Diana

Date of birth: 2 May 2015

Family position: Charlotte is Prince William’s daughter, the granddaughter of Prince Charles and the great-granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II.

Place in line of succession: 4th

Best known title: Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge

Lives in: The Cambridges’ apartment in Kensington Palace. The family also spend time at Anmer Hall, their Norfolk country home.

Prince Louis

Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images
Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

Full name: Louis Arthur Charles

Date of birth: 23 April 2018

Family position: Louis is the youngest child of Prince William, the grandson of Prince Charles and the great-grandson of Queen Elizabeth II.

Place in line of succession: 5th

Best known title: His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge

Other titles: N/A

Lives in: The Cambridges’ apartment in Kensington Palace. The family also spend time at Anmer Hall, their Norfolk country home.

Prince Harry

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Full name: Henry Charles Albert David

Date of birth: 15 September 1984

Family position: Harry is the second son of Prince Charles and the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II.

Place in line of succession: 6th

Best known title: His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex

Other titles: Harry is sometimes called the Earl of Dumbarton in Scotland, as well as Baron Kilkeel while in Northern Ireland.

Lives in: Santa Barbara, California, where he moved with his wife Meghan after they stepped back from their roles as working members of the royal family. Their home is reportedly worth £11.2 million.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

Photo credit: Pool - Getty Images
Photo credit: Pool - Getty Images

Full name: Meghan isn’t actually her first name – she was born Rachel Meghan Markle.

Date of birth: 4 August 1981

Family position: Married to Prince Harry, son of Prince Charles and grandson of Queen Elizabeth II

Place in line of succession: N/A

Best known title: Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex

Other titles: Meghan will sometimes be referred to as the Countess of Dumbarton in Scotland and Baroness Kilkeel in Northern Ireland.

Lives in: Santa Barbara, California, with Harry and their son Archie and daughter Lili. The family live in a mansion set within a gated community.

Archie Mountbatten-Windsor

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Full name: Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor

Date of birth: 6 May 2019

Family position: Archie is the first child of Prince Harry, grandson of Prince Charles and great-grandson of Queen Elizabeth II.

Place in line of succession: 7th

Best known title: Master Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor – Archie currently doesn't have a royal title. Prince Harry and Meghan had several surname options to choose from, but ultimately went with Mountbatten-Windsor, which is available to descendants of Prince Philip and the Queen.

Other titles: None

Lives in: Santa Barbara, California, with his parents Meghan Markle and Prince Harry and his baby sister.

Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor

Full name: Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor

Date of birth: 4 June 2021

Family position: Lilibet is Archie's little sister, making her the second child of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Place in line of succession: 8th

Best known title: Miss Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor – Lili also doesn't have a royal title, but may be entitled to be referred to as a princess once her grandfather, Prince Charles, becomes king.

Other titles: None

Lives in: Santa Barbara, California, where she was born.

Princess Anne

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Full name: Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise

Date of birth: 15 August 1950

Family position: Anne is the second child – and only daughter – of Queen Elizabeth II.

Place in line of succession: 16th

Best known title: Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal

Other titles: Princess Anne, which was how her title was styled before she became the Princess Royal.

Lives in: Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, with her husband Sir Timothy Laurence and her daughter and son-in-law, Zara and Mike Tindall.

Prince Andrew

Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images
Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

Full name: Andrew Albert Christian Edward

Date of birth: 19 February 1960

Family position: Andrew is the third child of Queen Elizabeth II.

Place in line of succession: 9th

Best known title: His Royal Highness the Duke of York

Other titles: Andrew can be referred to as the Earl of Inverness in Scotland, and as Baron Killyleagh in Northern Ireland.

Lives in: The Royal Lodge in Windsor, with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

Princess Beatrice

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Full name: Beatrice Elizabeth Mary

Date of birth: 8 August 1988

Family position: Beatrice is the daughter of Prince Andrew and the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II.

Place in line of succession: 10th

Best known title: Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. When Beatrice married her husband she dropped, “of York” from her title and added her husband’s name instead.

Other titles: Beatrice’s title at birth was Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of York.

Lives in: St James’s Palace in London, with her husband. The property is convenient for the couple as Edoardo’s son Wolfie lives close by in west London. Before her marriage, Beatrice lived here with her sister, Eugenie.

Princess Eugenie

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Full name: Eugenie Victoria Helena

Date of birth: 23 March 1990

Family position: Eugenie is Prince Andrew’s daughter and the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II.

Place in line of succession: 11th

Best known title: Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank. Like her sister Beatrice, when Eugenie married her husband Jack Brooksbank, she dropped the “of York” from her original title, adding her husband's name instead.

Other titles: Eugenie’s title before her marriage was Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York.

Lives in: Frogmore Cottage in Windsor (the former home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle).

August Brooksbank

Photo credit: Instagram
Photo credit: Instagram


Full name: August Philip Hawke Brooksbank

Date of birth: 9 February 2021

Family position: August is the first child of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank.

Place in line of succession: 12th

Best known title: Master August Brooksbank. August doesn’t have a royal title, as these can only be inherited from male heirs.

Other titles: None

Lives in: Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, with his parents.

Prince Edward

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Full name: Edward Anthony Richard Louis

Date of birth: 10 March 1964

Family position: Edward is the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II.

Place in line of succession: 13th

Best known title: His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex

Other titles: Edward is sometimes referred to as the Earl of Forfar in Scotland.

Lives in: Bagshot Park in Surrey, with his wife Sophie and their children Louise and James.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Full name: Born Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones

Date of birth: 20 January 1965

Family position: Sophie is married to Prince Edward, who is Queen Elizabeth II's youngest child.

Place in line of succession: N/A

Best known title: Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex

Other titles: Sophie is sometimes referred to as the Countess of Forfar in Scotland.

Lives in: Bagshot Park in Surrey, with Prince Edward and their two children, Louise and James.

Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Full name: Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor

Date of birth: 8 November 2003

Family position: Louise is Prince Edward’s daughter and the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II.

Place in line of succession: 15th

Best known title: Lady Louise Windsor. When Louise’s parents Prince Edward and Sophie married, they decided with the Queen’s approval that their children would gain the courtesy titles of the children of an earl, rather than Prince or Princess.

Other titles: None

Lives in: Bagshot Park in Surrey, the residence of her parents Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

James, Viscount Severn

Photo credit: Pool/Samir Hussein - Getty Images
Photo credit: Pool/Samir Hussein - Getty Images

Full name: James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor

Date of birth: 17 December 2007

Family position: James is the son of Prince Edward and the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II.

Place in line of succession: 14th

Best known title: James, Viscount Severn. As with his older sister, Lady Louise Windsor, James received the courtesy titles of the son of an earl, with the Queen’s approval.

Other titles: None

Lives in: Bagshot Park in Surrey, the residence of his parents Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

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