The Royal Family / A guide
The British Royal Family: Who’s Who
The names are familiar, but the relationships and titles can take a little untangling. King Charles III is the reigning monarch, and Prince William is his heir. Here is an introduction to the family’s main branches, with links to our royal profiles.
Facts reviewed .
The King and Queen
King Charles III became King on September 8, 2022, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. His public work includes the responsibilities of the Sovereign and longstanding interests in the environment, the arts, education and communities.
Queen Camilla supports the King’s duties and carries out her own charitable engagements. Reading and literacy, animal welfare, and support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence are among the causes associated with her work.
William, Catherine and the Wales children
Prince William, Prince of Wales, is the elder son of King Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, and first in line to the throne. His wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, is also a working member of the Royal Family.
William’s public work includes conservation and environmental initiatives. Catherine has made early childhood a central focus. Their children are Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis; they follow their father in the line of succession, in that order.
Anne, Andrew, Edward and Sophie
Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, is King Charles’s sister. She has undertaken public engagements for decades and has longstanding connections with charities and organisations across the Commonwealth.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is also Charles’s brother.
Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, is the King’s youngest brother. He and his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, undertake official engagements in support of the monarch. Edward’s work includes championing young people through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Their children are Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex.
Harry, Meghan and the Sussex children
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is the younger son of King Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, and William’s brother. He and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The Duke and Duchess stepped back from their roles as working members of the Royal Family in 2020. They remain members of the family; official royal duties and family relationships are different things.
How the family connects
King Charles’s sons are William and Harry. Anne, Andrew and Edward are Charles’s siblings, not his children. George, Charlotte, Louis, Archie and Lilibet are the King’s grandchildren.
The wider Royal Family includes other branches. This guide introduces the main connections rather than listing every relative. For a visual look at Charles, Diana, their sons and grandchildren, explore The British Royal Family Tree. To understand where the family name came from, read The House of Windsor Explained.
Where succession fits
The line of succession sets out who stands in line to inherit the Crown. It is different from a list of working royals: a place in the succession does not itself mean someone performs official duties.
At our review on September 27, 2026, the first seven were William, George, Charlotte, Louis, Harry, Archie and Lilibet. Read our guide to the line of succession for context, and consult the Royal Household’s current list for the full order.
Frequently asked questions
Who is first in line to the British throne?
Prince William, Prince of Wales, is first in line. His eldest child, Prince George, follows him.
Are Anne, Andrew and Edward King Charles’s children?
No. Anne is Charles’s sister; Andrew and Edward are his brothers. William and Harry are his sons.
Is every member of the family a working royal?
No. Some members carry out official duties in support of the monarch, while others pursue their own work and private lives.
Keep exploring
Browse the Royal Profiles directory for individual biographies, or read our guide to royal titles to understand the names beside them. You can also catch up with our latest royal news. For royal roundups and community updates, you can also join our Royal Circle.
Sources
This guide draws on the Royal Household’s official biographies of The King, The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Princess of Wales, The Princess Royal and The Duke of Edinburgh, alongside its Royal Family overview and succession list. Titles and roles can change; the review date above records when this version was checked.