The royal family have made a major change to the line of succession, following the birth of Princess Eugenie’s daughter, Adelaide, on August 3. Her new baby is now 15th in line to the throne, bumping the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, down to 16th.
Eugenie has retained her spot at number 12, behind her older sister, Princess Beatrice, and her two children, Sienna and Athena Mapelli Mozzi.
Eugenie’s two sons, August and Ernest, sit just below her in 13th and 14th place, respectively. In the line of succession, Eugenie’s baby is styled as Miss Adelaide Brooksbank, as she does not have a royal title.
The significance of Adelaide’s name
She was born Adelaide Elizabeth Annina Brooksbank on August 3, with her first name being a tribute to the wife of King William IV, Queen Adelaide, and to Maria Adelaide, a saint-like figure in Portugal.
Her middle name, Elizabeth, of course refers to her great-grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, after whom many royal children have been named, including Princess Beatrice. Annina is reportedly a name of personal significance to Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank.
Retaining her spot
© Instagram / @princesseugenieThanks to the Succession to the Crown Act that came into being in 2013, Adelaide will retain her spot at number 15 even if Eugenie welcomes another son, as the act declares that female royals born after October 2011 will not be displaced in line by younger male royals.
The male preference primogeniture ended before Prince William’s son, Prince George, was born in July 2013.
Ahead of Eugenie in the line of succession are Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Harry, Prince Archie, Princess Lilibet, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Princess Beatrice, Sienna Mapelli Mozzi and Athena Mapelli Mozzi.
Andrew’s contentious position
Despite his connection to the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew has not lost his place in the line of succession.
His brother, King Charles, removed Andrew’s princely title in the wake of the scandal, yet removing him from the line of succession altogether would require an Act of Parliament and the consent of the king.
Andrew’s daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, retained their princess titles in the wake of their father’s scandal, but their children do not have royal titles as they are not direct grandchildren of the reigning monarch.
Eugenie’s baby joy
© Getty ImagesEugenie and Jack announced the happy news of Adelaide’s arrival on August 4 alongside a photo of the new baby sleeping soundly.
“Jack and I are so excited to announce Baby Girl Brooksbank!! We are beyond in love with our girlie,” the princess wrote on social media.
© Instagram/Princess EugenieMeanwhile, the palace released a statement that read: “Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, born on Monday, 3rd August 2026, at 6:20 p.m., at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. The baby was born weighing six pounds nine ounces.”
“Their Majesties The King and Queen and other members of The Royal Family were delighted to be informed of the news,” the statement concluded.
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