How Princess Eugenie’s Newborn Baby Girl Alters the Line of Succession to the Throne
How Princess Eugenie’s Newborn Baby Girl Alters the Line of Succession to the Throne

Stephanie PetitWed, August 5, 2026 at 3:46 PM UTC
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Princess EugenieCredit: Dave Benett/Getty; Jack Brooksbank
Princess Eugenie has welcomed her third child, prompting a shift in the line of succession to the British throne.
Eugenie, 36, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, 40, welcomed a baby girl on Aug. 3. Their daughter joins big brothers August, 5, and Ernest, 3.
Although Princess Eugenie’s children don’t have royal titles, they are all in the line of succession to the throne. Her daughter, whose name was not immediately released along with the news of her birth, now holds the 15th spot in the line of succession.
The birth of Eugenie’s third child means that her uncle Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth, moves down to the 16th spot.
Princess Eugenie is currently in the 12th spot in the line of succession, followed by her three children in order of their birth.
King Charles is the current British monarch, with his older son, Prince William, as his heir. William is immediately followed in the line of succession by his three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis. Prince Harry then takes the fifth spot, followed by his two children: Prince Archie, Princess Lilibet.
The former Prince Andrew remains in the line of succession to the throne, currently in the eighth place, despite being stripped of his royal titles and honors last year. Princess Eugenie’s older sister, Princess Beatrice, and her nieces, Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi and Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, are also ahead of Eugenie.
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Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank attend Cheltenham Festival on March 13, 2024Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
Thanks to the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, Princess Eugenie and Jack’s daughter will not be passed in the line of succession if she someday has a little brother. The law replaced male-preference primogeniture with absolute primogeniture, meaning the eldest child takes the throne before younger brothers or sisters, regardless of gender, for anyone born after October 28, 2011.
Princess Eugenie’s daughter’s place in the line of succession was also not impacted by the fact that she was born outside the U.K. Eugenie welcomed her third child at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal, where the family has lived part-time since 2022 due to Jack’s job.
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The British royal family’s official social media pages announced Princess Eugenie’s baby news on Aug. 4, sharing a photo of the little girl wearing a pink onesie featuring wings on the back and a hat, which was taken by her father.
The official announcement said, “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 pm, at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. The baby was born weighing 6 pounds 9 ounces.”
“Their Majesties The King and Queen and other members of The Royal Family were delighted to be informed of the news,” the statement continued.
Princess Eugenie also shared the same photo on her personal Instagram page, writing, “Jack and I are so excited to announce Baby Girl Brooksbank!! We are beyond in love with our girlie.”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”