All 4 of Queen Elizabeth’s Children from Oldest to Youngest
Queen Elizabeth—who taught us the proper way to wear pearls and monochrome outfits—passed away at age 96 in September 2022. In response to the outpouring of condolences and support, the palace released a statement that read, "Thank you for all your kind words of condolence as we remember Queen Elizabeth II."
In honor of her historic 70-year reign, we’re taking a look at a vital piece of her inner circle: her four kids. For example, did you know that Prince Edward is her youngest child? Or that Anne, Princess Royal, is the queen’s second oldest, yet she’s ranked below all her siblings in the British line of succession?
Read on for a complete list of Queen Elizabeth’s children, from oldest to youngest.
1. King Charles (75)
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He’s the oldest child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, ultimately making him the successor. So, now that Queen Elizabeth has passed away, King Charles has taken over the British throne and made history as the oldest royal to ever ascend the throne at 73 years old.
He is currently married to Camilla Parker Bowles (aka the Queen Consort), though he’s widely known for being the ex-husband of Princess Diana. The couple exchanged vows in 1981 and had two children—Prince William (41) and Prince Harry (39)—prior to divorcing in 1996, just one year before her tragic death.
The royal philanthropist is currently linked to over 400 charities and organizations, and he’s an outspoken advocate for climate change and the conservation of historic buildings. However, thing have changed since he became king.
In his first speech to the nation as monarch, he said, per Global Citizen, "It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply. But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others.”
In February 2024, the monarch was sadly diagnosed with cancer. Mere days after the news broke, however, the king appeared to be in good spirits and said, "I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days. As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement."
2. Anne, Princess Royal (73)
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Anne is Queen Elizabeth’s only daughter. When she was born, Anne was third in line to the British throne behind her mother and King Charles. Since then, she’s been bumped down to number 17 (yes, you read that correctly) due to the inclusion of her younger brothers, along with King Charles’s children and grandchildren.
The Princess Royal is currently married to Timothy Laurence, but they don’t have any kids together. The royal shares two children with ex-husband Mark Phillips: Peter (46) and Zara Tindall (42).
FYI, Princess Anne was named the hardest-working royal family member of 2023, according to the data released by The Court Circular. She carried out a total of 212 royal engagements, including charity gatherings, award ceremonies, memorials, sporting events and luncheons. And this marked the sixth time the princess earned the title. In 2022, she came in first place with 214 outings. She was also named the busiest royal in 2021, 2018, 2016 and 2015.
3. Prince Andrew (64)
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He previously stepped down from his royal duties, but he’s still a prominent figure in the family. In 1986, Prince Andrew married Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson (64), and they share two children: Princess Beatrice (35) and Princess Eugenie (34).
Prince Andrew and Fergie later divorced in 1996, but they’ve maintained a cordial relationship. Not only does Ferguson reportedly still live with Prince Andrew, but she also previously revealed they’re “the happiest divorced couple in the world.”
In 2014, the prince faced shocking allegations that involved convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. While he denied the accusations, he still faced criticism for his connection to Epstein. Due to the scandal, he stepped back from his royal duties and was stripped of his royal titles and patronages by the queen.
4. Prince Edward (58)
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He’s the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, putting him at number 14 in the line of succession. Prince Edward is one of the lesser-known royals, but he began taking on more responsibilities after his dad retired from public service in 2019.
Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie Rhys-Jones, tied the knot at St George’s Chapel in 1999. They now have two children together, Lady Louise (20) and James, Viscount Severn (16).
Per the official royal website, he's quite passionate about the arts—especially theater and music. His patronages include the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, The Orpheus Centre Trust, Creative Youth, Northern Ballet and the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland.
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