Queens historic gesture for Princess Charlotte that changed the Royal family forever

The nation is currently in mourning following Thursday's tragic news that Queen Elizabeth II had passed away at the age of 96.

Although her legacy will live on indefinitely following a lifetime full of achievements, one gesture in particular will see the Royal Family change forever.

That gesture was made to her great-granddaughter, Princess Charlotte, and has seen the seven year old Princess sparred from the same unfair treatment that had impacted her own daughter, Anne, Princess Royal.

The said treatment saw Princess Anne dropped down the line of succession simply because of her gender, the Daily Express reports.

Although she was born before her brothers Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, they were put in line for the throne before her.


Princess Charlotte – who will one day inherit the prestigious Princess Royal title from her great-aunt – is the only daughter of Prince and Princess of Wales, and is the couple's middle child between her older brother Prince George and younger brother Prince Louis.

Previously, that would have seen Prince Louis moved up in the line of succession. That was until the Queen issued the Succession of the Crown Act before the birth of Prince William and Princess Catherine's first child.

The Act saw an update to the discriminatory royal laws and meant that their child would have equal right to the throne regardless of their gender.

As a boy, George's place as third – and now second – in line to the throne did not change, but the Queen's rule meant that Charlotte kept her place and was not bumped down when Louis arrived.

Constitutional expert Iain MacMarthanne explained: "The 2013 Act sought to bring multiple pieces of outdated and discriminatory legislation relating to the monarchy up to date.

"Through this Act male primogeniture was abolished, allowing the firstborn child irrespective of gender to become heir apparent.

"The disqualification from inheriting the throne by marrying a Catholic was removed; and the Royal Marriages Act of 1772 was repealed, resulting in only the first six in line to the throne being required to obtain the sovereign's permission."

Not only did the Queen ensure fair treatment for female royals but she also updated the 1917 royal warrant that would have prevented Prince William's children from taking HRH titles.

The Queen changed the law ahead of George's birth in 2013, which echoed a change her father, King George VI, had made in 1948 to ensure his grandchildren would be able to take on royal titles.

Mr MacMarthanne added: "Under George V's 1917 Warrant determining who and who could not be an HRH, the children of the then Princess Elizabeth of Edinburgh would fall foul of it until such times as she became Queen.

"As a female Elizabeth could not pass on to her children the styles and titles of HRH and prince and princess, only male children of a sovereign could.

"When in 1948 she was due to give birth it was realised that any child she had, despite being second in line to the throne, would not have royal status and be born a ‘commoner'.

"Accordingly, her father, George VI, issued Letters Patent regulating the situation and ensured that in this instance, as Elizabeth was heir to the throne, her children would enjoy the style HRH and have the title prince or princess.

"The Queen herself was called upon to make a similar change when it came to the birth of Prince George.

"As the great-grandson of the sovereign, he, like Prince Charles before him, would have been born without royal style or title under George V's Warrant of 1917.

"Just as her father had done it took the Queen issuing Letters Patent to remedy the situation."

READ NEXT:

  • King Charles emotionally greets cheering crowds with a handshake at Buckingham Palace

  • Closures and cancellations after Queen's death – from Proms and shops to TV
  • King Charles's reign to see money, passports and national anthem change
  • Royals worldwide remember the Queen's 'unforgettable contribution' in moving tributes
  • For the latest updates on the Royal Family, sign up to OK!'s weekly royals newsletter

Source: Read Full Article