Queen Elizabeth II is set to mark 65 years — Sapphire Anniversary — on the British throne Monday. At 90 years of age, the queen’s recent health issues has raised speculations whether she give up her royal duties.
The queen took throne in 1952, in the absence of a male successsor following the death of her father King George VI. In Britain, succession to the British throne is determined by descent, gender, legitimacy and religion. However, in 2011, the Act of Settlement was altered before Prince George’s birth to make sure that the succession would not be affected by gender of the child.
The queen’s husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, is the longest serving British consort. The two are parents to four children — Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. After her, her eldest son Charles will take throne. However, his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, is unlikely to get the queen’s title due to her troubled past with Britons over her relationship with Charles while he was married to Princess Diana.
After Charles, the king will be his first son the Duke of Cambridge Prince William. His wife Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton would hold the ceremonial title of queen without any claim to the throne. But, their second child — daughter Princess Charlotte — could ascend the throne to become England’s queen only if her elder brother Prince George dies or abdicates before fathering an heir or if something happens to his heir.
William’s brother Prince Harry is fifth in line to the throne after George and Charlotte.
The queen and Philip’s second child, Prince Andrew is a father to two daughters — Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie — with his then-wife Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. His marriage with Sarah was dissolved in 1996.
Andrew’s brother Earl of Wessex, Edward has two children with his wife Sophie Rhys-Jones — Lady Louise and the Viscount Severn, James.
The queen’s only daughter Anne is the Princess Royal. She has married twice and has two children — Peter and Zara — from her first marriage to Captain Mark Phillips. Both Peter and Zara do not have royal titles because they are descendants of the female line and because Mark Phillips rejected the offer of an earldom after he married Anne.
Anne’s son Peter Phillips, who is the queen eldest grandchild, has two daughters — Savannah and Isla — with wife Autumn Kelly. The daughter of princess royal, Zara Tindall, is a successful athlete and has bagged silver medal at the London Olympics in 2012. She is married to former rugby player Mike Tindall and the two are parents to a daughter, Mia Grace.
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