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The new royal baby could be encouraged to look for a career outside the royal family when he or she grows up, a historian has predicted.
Judith Rowbotham, a visiting research fellow at Plymouth University, said the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s third child is highly unlikely ever to become king or queen.
“It’s fairly secure to say that they are going to be encouraged not to worry too much about the likelihood of succession to the throne,” Dr Rowbotham said.
Born fifth in line, the baby will fall behind both older brother and future monarch Prince George, and older sister Princess Charlotte in the line of succession.
“From that point of view, I think they’re going to be very much encouraged to look outside the royal family for their opportunities, to go into media or business, or become teachers or academics – whatever their personal inclination.”
It is rare for a third-born royal child to end up as monarch and there has been no instance so far in the House of Windsor.
William IV, a Hanoverian king who ruled from 1830 to 1837, was a third child – of George III and Queen Charlotte.
He was known as the Sailor King for his love of the sea and as Silly Billy for his rambling speeches.
Edward VI was a third child of Henry VIII. His mother was Jane Seymour.
He became king aged nine in 1547 until his death in 1553 from tuberculosis at the age of 15.
Top Comments
I think it will still be very difficult for the child of a king to have a career outside of their royal role. It's hard to see how anyone with such close ties to the king could have a non-royal role and not have people try to take advantage of their ties.
Or they could be accused of using their Royal connections to get ahead. I’d think media was out, didn’t go great for Prince Edward. Business could be tricky too. Maybe working for a charity group full time, or something to do with the arts. Perhaps the military, I reckon Harry would have liked to stay in the Army full time. Another reason why I’d hate to be royal, not much say in your future.
Exactly. It'd be like living in a very nice, very comfortable gilded cage. Get a job and you're accused on using your connections or having people use you for them. Become a full-time royal undertaking duties and get accused of being a leech. Basically, the only thing that would make it worth it would be being a woman and getting to try on all the cool jewels.
Same goes for the woman Harry chose to marry. Would be scrutinised and criticised as marrying for money, power, prestige, lifestyle etc. I heard Chelsy didn't want that gig. I read that in this day and age, any girl from a noble family with existing titles and money wouldn't wish to marry into the royal family. Why would they? They have the title, connections and the wealth. So it was always going to be a commoner. Which meant it would be open season on the poor bride to be. Meghan must be made of strong stuff.
Those tiaras look pretty heavy! And god forbid you marry into the family. No matter how nice you are, you will be portrayed as a scheming, conniving social climber who is only after money and attention. (Because of course the poor men are just naive simpletons taken in by all the feminine wiles.) I'd quite like being that rich, and as you say, the fancy jewels, but none of the rest, thanks!