Princess Eugenie’s New Daughter Adelaide Changes the Royal Line of Succession
The arrival of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s third child has brought another change to the British line of succession.
Adelaide Elizabeth Annina Brooksbank was born on August 3, 2026, in Lisbon, Portugal. The newborn is now 15th in line to the throne, moving Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, down one position to 16th.
Eugenie remains 12th in the succession, behind her older sister Princess Beatrice and Beatrice’s daughters, Sienna and Athena Mapelli Mozzi. Eugenie’s sons, August and Ernest, occupy 13th and 14th place respectively.
Although Adelaide is part of the line of succession, she does not hold a royal title and is styled Miss Adelaide Brooksbank.
The meaning behind Adelaide’s name
Eugenie and Jack chose Adelaide Elizabeth Annina Brooksbank for their daughter, with each part of the name carrying significance.
Adelaide is a tribute to Queen Adelaide, the wife of King William IV, as well as Maria Adelaide, described as a saint-like figure in Portugal.
Her first middle name, Elizabeth, honours her great-grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. The name has appeared across several generations of the Royal Family and is also among Princess Beatrice’s names.
Annina, meanwhile, is reportedly a name with personal significance to Eugenie and Jack.
Why Adelaide will keep her place in the succession
Under the Succession to the Crown Act, which came into effect in 2013, Adelaide will remain ahead of any younger brother Eugenie may have in the future.
The legislation ended the system under which younger sons could move ahead of older daughters in the succession. It applies to members of the Royal Family born after October 2011.
The change was introduced before Prince George, the eldest son of Prince William, was born in July 2013.
As a result, Adelaide’s position at number 15 would not be displaced by the future birth of a younger brother.
Ahead of Eugenie and her children are Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Harry, Prince Archie, Princess Lilibet, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Princess Beatrice, Sienna Mapelli Mozzi and Athena Mapelli Mozzi.
Eugenie then occupies 12th place, followed by August, Ernest and Adelaide.
Andrew remains in the line of succession
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor also remains in the succession despite the controversy surrounding his connection to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
King Charles removed Andrew’s princely title following the scandal, but removing him from the line of succession would be a separate constitutional matter requiring an Act of Parliament and the King’s consent.
His daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, retained their princess titles following the controversy involving their father.
Their children, however, do not hold royal titles because they are not direct grandchildren of the reigning monarch.
That means Eugenie’s daughter enters the succession simply as Miss Adelaide Brooksbank.
Eugenie and Jack announce their third child
Eugenie and Jack announced Adelaide’s arrival on August 4, sharing a photograph of their newborn daughter sleeping.
“Jack and I are so excited to announce Baby Girl Brooksbank!! We are beyond in love with our girlie,” Eugenie wrote on social media.
The palace also issued an official announcement confirming details of the birth.
“Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, born on Monday, 3rd August 2026, at 6:20 p.m., at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. The baby was born weighing six pounds nine ounces.”
The statement added that King Charles, Queen Camilla and other members of the Royal Family had been informed.
“Their Majesties The King and Queen and other members of The Royal Family were delighted to be informed of the news,” it concluded.
Adelaide is Eugenie and Jack’s third child and their first daughter, joining older brothers August and Ernest. Her arrival expands the family to five while also placing another member of the Brooksbank family into the British line of succession at number 15.