That wikipedia article has many warnings/disclaimers about accuracy at the top, but they do link to this “official” site showing the line of succession:
As was discussed in the thread that I linked to, they don’t need a designated survivor because the succession includes a couple of thousand people. Many of them won’t even be in Europe during the wedding, let alone in Westminister Abbey.
The term “British subject” is long obsolete; simplifying somewhat, it’s been replaced by the statutory term “British citizen”, which would appear to apply equally to the Sovereign as it does to the man on the Clapham omnibus.
And as mentioned either here or in one or more of the numerous other similarly themed threats that have sprouted in recent days, the importance of the succession is minimised in comparison with the US, because the monarchy has pretty much no real power.
Admittedly, there would be a bit of a constitutional hiccough if the next remaining heir proved to be a Mr Joe Shmo of Hicksville, Wyoming, with no interest in being King. But there are ways round such things…!
There are no Joe Schmoes in the line of succession. Everybody on it knows that they are in the line (since it’s been worked out and only includes people who know who they are descended from). They also know just how absurdly unlikely it is for them to be the monarch.
I remember the old comedy film, Kind Hearts and Coronets, in which Alec Guinness’s character murders his way up the line of succession to become a duke. He played all the main parts of the murderer and the victims.
I mentioned on a parallel thread, I know someone who is in the line of succession to the British throne. Unfortunately, he would have to murder several hundred people to actually achieve this. Having assessed the amount of work and the time required, he has decided that it is not practical and he plans to keep the day job.
The number he would need to slay varies all the time with deaths and births, and he does not try to keep count of his current position.
Ahem! Alec Guinness played the victims; it was Dennis Price what dunnit!
(And for anyone who’s never seen this brilliant film, these are not spoilers!)
I’d tell him to marry a Roman Catholic, just to protect himself from anyone lower down the list with more time on their hands!
As you say, the actual list changes constantly… and that’s before taking into account the religious disqualifications. I doubt anyone in official circles wastes their time trying to keep an authoritative list beyond more than a few dozen names.
I predict he will found a great dynasty, and with the reign of his distant descendant, King Xan X, Britain will enter into the most tranquil, serene period of its entire history.
