03 February 2024 , 23:00
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The late Queen made a life-changing decision for Princess Charlotte that cemented her future before she was even born.
Charlotte was born in May 2015 and is currently the third in line for the throne after her father Prince William and older brother Prince George. Before she was born, girls would be overtaken in the line of succession by their brothers. For example, when Princess Anne was born she was second in line behind her brother Charles. However, when Andrew was born he then became second in line.
This would have affected Princess Charlotte, had the late Queen not stepped in to change the rule. The late Queen issued the Succession of the Crown Act in 2013, which means all royal children have equal rights to the throne - regardless of their gender.
This means that Princess Charlotte didn't lose her place in the line of succession behind her brother when Prince Louis was born in April 2018.
Constitutional expert Iain MacMarthanne explained: "The 2013 Act sought to bring multiple pieces of outdated and discriminatory legislation relating to the monarchy up to date. Through this Act male primogeniture was abolished, allowing the firstborn child irrespective of gender to become heir apparent.
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"The disqualification from inheriting the throne by marrying a Catholic was removed; and the Royal Marriages Act of 1772 was repealed, resulting in only the first six in line to the throne being required to obtain the sovereign's permission." Recently, we reported how keen-eyed royal watchers have been blown away by how Princess Charlotte has a closer resemblance to a relative than her parents.
The youngster was at a Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey with her siblings and the Prince and Princess of Wales. And Charlotte had royal fans gasping at how much she looked like her great-grandmother the late Queen Elizabeth.
Social media users took to X (formerly Twitter ) to note their amazement and one user (@roxannereaction) said: “She’s gonna be a heartbreaker when she grows up. The beauty of Catherine and Diana.” Another (@imagine93700999) said she saw more of Queen Elizabeth, saying: “I can also see our late queen in Princess Charlotte.”
And @carolewithane13 agreed, saying: “I see the Queen so much in Princess Charlotte.” The entire Wales family looked stylish and colour-matched as they entered with the Dean of Westminster Abbey, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle. Linked to Princess Kate's Shaping Us campaign, the service will showcase "the hope of new life and why it is so important to build supportive, nurturing worlds around children and the adults in their lives".