(NewsNation) — The British royal family continues to play a key role in national affairs and remains a centerpiece of global conversation, especially after turbulence and changes in recent years.
Despite scandals and tension involving several of the royal family members, their cultural influence burns as bright as ever.
But who is part of the royal family? And who’s next in line for the throne? Here’s a breakdown of who’s who.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla
King Charles officially became king after Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022. However, he wasn’t officially crowned as king until the ceremony at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023.
King Charles was previously married to Princess Diana before they divorced in 1996. One year later, Princess Diana died in a car crash. In 1999, King Charles revealed his relationship with Queen Camilla to the world, and they were married in 2005. According to Business Insider, King Charles and Queen Camilla did have an affair in 1986.
King Charles was diagnosed with cancer in 2024.
Prince William and Princess Kate
Prince William is the son of the late Princess Diana and King Charles.
William and Princess Kate have been together for over two decades and met while they were in college. PEOPLE reported that the couple briefly split in 2007 but got engaged in 2010. Their wedding took place at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.
The two share three children together: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have caused quite a stir since their relationship started. In 2016, their relationship was revealed on the front page of a tabloid in the UK. At the end of 2017, the couple reportedly got engaged, according to Newsweek, and Harry revealed that Meghan wouldn’t be given police protection.
By 2019, Meghan was dealing with a lot of hate from the public. She allegedly told Oprah Winfrey in 2021, “I just didn’t want to be alive anymore. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought.”
The couple ended up quitting their roles within the royal family in January 2020. In May, Harry confirmed that he hasn’t been in contact with his father.
“I would love reconciliation with my family,” Harry said. “There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore, life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has, he won’t speak to me because of this security stuff. But it would be nice to reconcile.”
One insider told NewsNation that King Charles is refusing to undergo chemotherapy, but might see Prince Harry at the end of May.
Harry and Meghan share two children together: Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.
Other members of the royal family
The royal family also consists of Prince Andrew, who has faced backlash for allegedly being tied to Jeffrey Epstein. There is also Princess Beatrice, the oldest daughter of Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
Princess Beatrice is a stepmother to her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi’s, son, Christopher “Wolfie” Woolf. She and her husband also have two daughters: Sienna and Athena.
Princess Eugenie, who is 12th in line to the throne, is the youngest daughter of Prince Andrew and Ferguson. She has two children with her husband, Jack Brooksbank: August Philip Hawke Brooksbank and Ernest “Ernie” George Ronnie Brooksbank.
Other members of the royal family include:
- Prince Edward
- James, Viscount Severn
- Lady Louise Windsor
- Anne, Princess Royal
- Peter Phillips
- Savannah Phillips
- Isla Phillips
- Zara Tindall
- Mia Grace Tindall
- Lena Elizabeth Tindall
- Lucas Philip Tindall
The royal family line of succession
After Queen Elizabeth passed in 2022, the line of succession was adjusted. King Charles took over almost immediately, but who is in line after him? First, Prince William would be in line, followed by his son, Prince George.
FILE – Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave to the crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the coronation ceremony in London, May 6, 2023. When it comes to the United Kingdom’s royal family, the Americans can’t seem to get enough. That was evident this week, following the announcement of King Charles III’s treatment for cancer on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File) 
In this photo made available by Buckingham Palace on Monday, May 8, 2023, Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla are pictured with members of the working royal family, from left Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Princess Anne, Prince William, the Prince of Wales, Kate, the Princess of Wales, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy and Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace, London. (Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023 via AP) 
FILE – In this Monday, Nov. 2, 1987 file photo, Britain’s Diana, the Princess of Wales, is pictured during an evening reception given by the West German President Richard von Weizsacker in honour of the British Royal guests in the Godesberg Redoute in Bonn, Germany. For someone who began her life in the spotlight as “Shy Di,” Princess Diana became an unlikely, revolutionary during her years in the House of Windsor. She helped modernize the monarchy by making it more personal, changing the way the royal family related to people. By interacting more intimately with the public — kneeling to the level of children, sitting on edge of a patient’s hospital bed, writing personal notes to her fans — she set an example that has been followed by other royals as the monarchy worked to become more human and remain relevant in the 21st century. (AP Photo/Herman Knippertz, File) 
FILE – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth arrives for a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in London, Wednesday, May 29, 2019. Queen Elizabeth II will miss the traditional royal garden party season, where she would normally meet with hundreds of people on the grounds of her residences in London and Edinburgh. The 96-year-old monarch will be represented instead by other members of her family, Buckingham Palace said in a statement. Before the pandemic, the queen invited over 30,000 people each year to the gardens of Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. (Yui Mok/Pool Photo via AP, File) 
Queen Elizabeth II missed a church appearance Thursday, and is expected to be absent from the royal family’s Easter Sunday service. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool, File) 
FILE – In this Aug. 4, 1987 file photo, Britain’s Diana, Princess of Wales, left, and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II smile to well-wishers outside Clarence House in London.For someone who began her life in the spotlight as “Shy Di,” Princess Diana became an unlikely, revolutionary during her years in the House of Windsor. She helped modernize the monarchy by making it more personal, changing the way the royal family related to people. By interacting more intimately with the public — kneeling to the level of children, sitting on edge of a patient’s hospital bed, writing personal notes to her fans — she set an example that has been followed by other royals as the monarchy worked to become more human and remain relevant in the 21st century. ( (AP Photo/Martin Cleaver, File) 
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 10: (L-R) Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch the RAF flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as members of the Royal Family attend events to mark the centenary of the RAF on July 10, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) 
FILE – In this Sept, 24, 2019, file photo, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, talks to children during a walkabout in Bo-Kaap, a heritage site, in Cape Town, South Africa. In countries with historic ties to Great Britain, allegations by Prince Harry and Meghan about racism within the royal family have raised questions about whether those nations want to be closely connected to Britain anymore after the couple’s interview with Oprah Winfrey. (Courtney Africa/Pool via AP, File) 
FILE – In this file photo dated Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012, showing the granddaughter of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, Zara Phillips and her husband Mike Tindall as they arrive for the British royal family’s traditional Christmas Day church service in Sandringham, England. Zara and Mike Tindall are pregnant with her third child and a Buckingham Palace spokesman said Wednesday Dec. 9, 2020, that the queen and her husband Philip are “delighted” by the news.(AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File) 
This image provided by Harpo Productions shows Prince Harry, left, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in conversation with Oprah Winfrey. “Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special” aired March 7, 2021. Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions via AP, File. 
FILE – In this June 11, 2016 file photo, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II waves as she watches the flypast, with Prince Philip, to right, Prince William, centre, with his son Prince George, front, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge holding Princess Charlotte, centre left, with The Prince of Wales standing with The Duchess of Cornwall, and Princess Anne, fourth left, on the balcony during the Trooping The Colour parade at Buckingham Palace, in London. The timing couldn’t be worse for Harry and Meghan. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will finally get the chance to tell the story behind their departure from royal duties directly to the public on Sunday, March 7, 2021 when their two-hour interview with Oprah Winfrey is broadcast. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland, File)
Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are up next as Prince William’s other two children. Then would come Prince Harry and his two children, Archie and Lilibet.
After that, the line of succession would be:
- Prince Andrew
- Princess Beatrice
- Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi
- Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi
- Princess Eugenie
- August Philip Hawke Brooksbank
- Ernest “Ernie” George Ronnie Brooksbank
- Prince Edward
- James, Viscount Severn
- Lady Louise Windsor
- Anne, Princess Royal
- Peter Phillips
- Savannah Phillips
- Isla Phillips
- Zara Tindall
- Mia Grace Tindall
- Lena Elizabeth Tindall
- Lucas Philip Tindall