# prince william **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 21, 2004, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-william/235514 "2004-03-21T05:05:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![chiefgnome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@chiefgnome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiefgnome)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-william/235514/21 "2004-03-23T11:22:16Z")
> [@lilabet](#): > > This made me think…what if William gets marreid, but is infertile, therefore can’t have kids. If he then adopted kids - would they be in line to the throne or not?? No, they wouldn’t. Under the Act of Settlement the throne goes to the _Heir of the Body_ of the Electress Sophia, exclusing Catholics or those married to Catholics. In terms of British peerage law “Heir of the body” means that only natural children count, not adopted ones. If William does die without an heir though, then Harry would indeed be next in line. ---
**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-william/235514/22 "2004-03-23T14:17:15Z")
> [@chiefgnome](#): > > Heir of the Body of the Electress Sophia. What the heck is that? ---
**Author:** ![Bromley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Bromley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bromley)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-william/235514/23 "2004-03-23T14:23:32Z")
Descendant. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-william/235514/24 "2004-03-23T16:00:40Z")
The Electress Sophia was a person; specifically, she was a granddaughter of King James I. An “heir of the body” would be a blood descendant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-william/235514.md?page=1)