Princess Charlotte will make royal history
Princess Charlotte will become the first female royal to retain her position in line to the throne when her baby sibling arrives, even if the child is a brother.
Prior to the Succession to the Crown Act, which was passed in 2013, the arrival of a brother would have diminished Charlotte's claim to the throne. The ruling stated: "In determining the succession to the Crown, the gender of a person born after 28 October 2011 does not give that person, or that person's descendants, precedence over any other person (whenever born)."
The previous ruling, which stated that brothers would always come before sisters in the line of succession, had been in place since 1701.
Currently, the line of succession stands as Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George - the birth of George marked the first time in 119 years that the monarchy had a three generations of heirs. Princess Charlotte is fourth in line, while Prince Harry will move down from his position as fifth with the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's third child.
It is believed that the Duchess's baby is due in late April, although Kensington Palace has never confirmed the exact due date.
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