Sophie, Countess of Wessex, 55, and Prince Edward, 56, have two children – Lady Louise Windsor, 16, and James, Viscount Severn, 12. The Queen’s youngest grandchildren are currently 12th and 13th in line to the throne but this will change upon the arrival of Princess Eugenie, 30, and Jack Brooksbank’s royal baby early next year.
Princess Eugenie, 30, is the youngest child of the Queen’s second son Prince Andrew, 60, and Sarah Ferguson. Eugenie is currently 10th in line to the British throne and her first child will be 11th in the line of succession.
Eugenie and Jack’s baby is due in early 2021, Buckingham Palace confirmed last week.
In a statement announcing the couple’s royal baby news, Buckingham Palace said: “Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank are very pleased to announce that they are expecting a baby in early 2021.
“The Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, Mr and Mrs George Brooksbank, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are delighted with the news.”
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Eugenie and Jack’s baby will be Queen Elizabeth II, 94, and Prince Philip’s ninth great-grandchild and their arrival will rejig the current line of succession.
Prince Edward is currently 11th in the line of succession, one place behind Eugenie, but his spot will be taken by the new royal baby.
This means Edward will shift down to 12th in line and his children Lady Louise and James will be bumped down in turn to 13th and 14th in line to the throne.
While Lady Louise and James are not being raised with HRH styles, they will be able to choose whether or not to use their royal titles when they turn 18.
He added: “This is the nature of the elasticity of our constitution, it moves to accommodate as and when required.
“A present example being the children of Prince Edward, both styled as the children of a peer, when in fact they are by the 1917 Warrant HRH’s. Expediency will always win out.”
Last month Lady Louise and James delighted royal fans when they joined their parents for a special royal engagement.
The Wessexes helped clean up a beach in Portsmouth to raise awareness around the local working being to help preserve wildlife in the region.
