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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Jennifer Newton

Princess Charlotte made royal history and it's all down to her brother Prince Louis

Today is a big day for Princess Charlotte as she is celebrating her seventh birthday.

It's sure to be a lovely day filled with gifts from her family and a special birthday cake no doubt baked by her mum the Duchess of Cambridge.

As the daughter of future King Prince William, she is the highest female on the line of succession and is fourth in line to the throne.

And in April 2018, the young princess made royal history - and it all had to do with the arrival of her younger brother Prince Louis.

In times gone by, females were bumped down the line of succession by the arrival of any brothers.

Princess Charlotte who turns seven today (Getty Images)
Charlotte at the royals' Easter church service (PA)

However, Charlotte was able to keep her place in fourth, ahead of Louis in fifth thanks to a recent change to the Succession to the Crown Act 2013.

It states: "In determining the succession to the Crown, the gender of a person born after 28 October 2011 does not give that person, or that person’s descendants, precedence over any other person (whenever born)."

If this change hadn't been introduced Charlotte would have been bumped down to fifth with Louis taking her spot.

Charlotte's younger brother Prince Louis is behind her in the line of succession (The Duchess of Cambridge / Kensington Palace)

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However, her older brother Prince George could have had all the headlines for himself if he'd been born a girl, as the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 meant William and Kate's firstborn would go on to become king or queen, whatever their gender.

Charlotte is William and Kate's middle child - and is known for her confident and cheeky persona.

She and her brothers have largely grown up away from the spotlight - only appearing at limited royal events.

However, all three of them are reportedly being lined up to take starring roles in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The three Cambridge children with their mum and dad (KENSINGTON PALACE/AFP via Getty)

According to the Telegraph, the three Cambridge children will all take a “visible” part in the Jubilee celebrations, which are set to take place in June.

The publication says fans could look forward to them taking part in carriage rides at Trooping the Colour.

Louis, the youngest of the three who turned four last weekend, is now the same age as his dad William, when he first rode in a carriage at Trooping the Colour in 1987 alongside his mum Princess Diana and great grandmother the Queen Mother.

While the Cambridges will most likely be making appearances during the bumper four-day bank holiday weekend, it's unclear if their cousins Archie and Lilibet will take part.

Their father Prince Harry said he didn't know if he would come to the UK from his new family home in California for the Jubilee with his children and wife Meghan Markle in a recent interview.

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