Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, leaving behind a family and a nation who loved her, after 70 years of service.
She wasn’t just a Head of State, she was the head of a family – the Royal Family.
As the reign of King Charles III begins, he also steps up as the head of the family tree.
Charles will be carrying on the legacy of his mother the Queen and his late father, Prince Philip.
The couple who wed in 1947 welcomed several children together, who went on to provide them with several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Tonight, the Vigil of the Princes will see The Queen’s sons and grandsons beside the coffin from 7.20pm as the monarch lies-in-wait at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.
The tradition was last seen in 2002 when The Queen Mother died and lay in state at Westminster.
Let’s refresh on who the Queen’s children are as they mourn their late mother…
The Queen and Prince Philip had four children together.
They are as follows:
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King Charles III is the oldest child and firstborn son of The Queen.
He was born as Charles Philip Arthur George on November 17, 1948 – initially titled His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Edinburgh.
He was born in Buckingham Palace.
At the age of 3, he became first in the line of succession – after the death of his grandfather, King George VI, made his mum Princess Elizabeth become Queen Elizabeth II.
He then inherited titles The Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland, and in 1969 was invested as The Prince of Wales.
Charles served in the Royal Navy, and in 1981 married Lady Diana Spencer, who became The Princess of Wales. Their marriage produced two sons: Prince William and Prince Harry.
In 1996, Charles and Diana divorced after a years-long separation. Tragically, Diana was killed in a Paris car crash in 1997.
In 2005, Charles married Camilla Parker-Bowles, who became The Duchess of Cornwall, and is now the Queen Consort.
William and Kate, Charles’ firstborn son and his daughter-in-law, inherit the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall titles.
Charles is currently 73 years old.
Anne, the Princess Royal, is The Queen’s second-oldest child and only daughter.
She was born as Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise on August 15, 1950 – titled at birth as Her Royal Highness Princess Anne of Edinburgh.
Unlike her elder brother, she was born at Clarence House in London.
When The Queen became monarch in 1952, Anne was then known as Her Royal Highness The Princess Anne.
Anne married Mark Phillips in 1973, and they had two children: son Peter and daughter Zara.
They divorced in 1992, and Anne married Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence – a former equerry to The Queen – in the same year. They are still married to this day.
Anne has, since 1987, been known as The Princess Royal, a title only ever to the eldest daughter of the monarch.
Often, 71-year-old Anne is considered a very popular royal, as well as the hardest-working – attending 387 official engagements in 2021 on behalf of The Queen, the most of any Royal Family member.
She is also an accomplished equestrian, having competed at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Anne is currently 16th in the line of succession.
The Queen’s third child, and second son, Prince Andrew, arrived a decade later.
Andrew Albert Christian Edward was born on February 19, 1960 – eight years into The Queen’s reign – and was officially titled from birth His Royal Highness The Prince Andrew.
Andrew embarked on a career with the Royal Navy and married Sarah ‘Fergie’ Ferguson in 1986.
Upon marriage, he was made The Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killyleagh.
He and The Duchess of York welcomed two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, but ultimately divorced in 1996. The pair have remained friends.
These days, Andrew is marred with controversy over his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – and allegations of sexual assault by a woman named Virginia Giuffre.
In a November 2019 Newsnight interview, Andrew denied the allegations, and months later stepped away from public life.
Ms Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against Andrew in the US in 2021, which was settled without admission of wrongdoing for an undisclosed figure – thought to be in the millions.
In January 2022, The Queen stripped him of his honorary military titles and use of the style His Royal Highness.
He is eighth in the line of succession at present.
The Queen’s youngest child and third son is Prince Edward.
Edward Antony Richard Louis was born on March 10, 1964 – titled from birth as His Royal Highness The Prince Edward.
Like siblings Charles and Andrew, he was born in Buckingham Palace.
Edward has served in the Royal Marines, owned a TV company, and undertake official duties on behalf of The Queen.
He became The Earl of Wessex upon his 1999 marriage to Sophie Rhys-Jones, now known as Sophie, The Countess of Wessex. It is thought that one day they will become The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
The couple are still together and share two children: James, Viscount Severn, and Lady Louise Windsor.
Edward is currently 13th in the line of succession.
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