Guest Column: What will the future hold for the new prince?

The birth of a child is always a time of excitement, renewal and looking forward to the future.
James TaylorJames Taylor
James Taylor

No more is this true than in the case of a royal baby.

As with his elder brother and sister, Prince Louis of Cambridge emerged into the sunlight outside the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, where his father and uncle were also born, to the glare of the world’s media with photographers and camera crews having been camped outside for the previous few weeks to catch a glimpse of the new prince.

His names, Louis Arthur Charles, are firmly in the royal tradition and show the close ties between Prince William and his father.

One of the Duke of Cambridge’s own names is Louis after the Duke of Edinburgh’s uncle Earl Mountbatten of Burma who was killed in 1979.

Arthur is also a name shared by the Duke of Cambridge and his father and Charles is, obviously, the Prince of Wales’s own name.

Although a third child, the new prince’s birth has been quite a significant event historically.

Since the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 came into effect, which meant that boys and girls have equal rights to the succession, Prince Louis is now fifth in line to the throne and Princess Charlotte retains her place at fourth.

Of course, with an elder brother in Prince George, the chances of either of the younger Cambridge children inheriting the throne are remote.

The last time a third-born child inherited the throne was Queen Victoria’s uncle, William IV, in 1830.

The birth has also brought some speculation that the Duke of York may re-marry his former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York.

This is because the Act also means that only the first six members of the royal family in the line of succession will require the monarch’s consent to marry as opposed to all members of the family as previously.

The birth means that the Duke of York is now seventh in line to the throne and could marry without the Queen’s permission.

However, although they remain the best of friends, I think it’s probably unlikely.

It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Prince Louis and his siblings.

The Prince of Wales is said to favour a smaller monarchy in the future with fewer members of the royal Family carrying out engagements.

As the younger brother of the future king, we will have to wait and see how the new prince fits into this.

More immediately, I think it’s unlikely that we will see Prince Louis at the wedding of his uncle, Prince Harry next month, although it’s just possible he might be brought out onto the balcony after this year’s Trooping the Colour in June.