William and Kate’s daughter Charlotte, five, could become the Princess Royal when her father takes to the throne. Princess Anne, 69, currently uses the title.
In a recent Twitter post celebrating Anne’s upcoming 70th birthday, the Royal Family revealed the Princess Royal title is traditionally given to the eldest daughter of the King or Queen.
The Royal Family said: “HRH Princess Anne was named The Princess Royal, a title traditionally bestowed upon the eldest daughter of The Sovereign, in 1987.
“HRH is the seventh Princess Royal, following Princess Mary, the only daughter of King George V.”
However, the title is not always given to the monarch’s eldest daughter.
The Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, was never the Princess Royal despite being the eldest daughter of King George VI.
This was because Princes Mary had the title at the time.
If Anne is still the Princess Royal when William becomes King, Charlotte will not take the title.
READ MORE: Princess Anne heartbreak: Royal forced to shelve birthday plans
Charlotte is formally known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.
She was born on May 2 2015 at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London.
Charlotte is the second child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Her father William, 38, is second in line to the throne behind Prince Charles, 71.
And Charlotte is fourth in the line of succession.
William and Kate’s oldest child Prince George, seven, is third in line to the throne.
Their youngest child Prince Louis, two, is fifth in line.
