What Would Be Different If Prince Charles, Diana Had Daughters, Not Sons?

Prince Charles and Princess Diana have two daughters instead of sons could have changed things for the royal family.

On the online forum site Quora, royal fans shared their thoughts on what they think would’ve happened if this were to be the case. Brian Overland, a student of history, said that the old way of doing things was focused on the classic male-biased primogeniture.

“This meant that the order of succession goes to the oldest son, then to other sons, then only to daughters if the current monarch has no sons. This rule is applied recursively – always favoring the current line and then reverting to uncles and cousins,” he said.

But since things have become more modern and inclusive for the royal family, the order of succession simply goes through the eldest child regardless of gender. In this case, Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s eldest daughter would’ve still been second in line to the throne.

Natasja Rose, a disability support worker, said that Prince Charles and Princess Diana had two daughters, it is highly likely that they will keep trying to conceive until they have a son.

“The princesses wouldn’t have served active combat, most likely, but probably would have followed Granny’s footsteps as combat drivers, medics, or air ambulances. They also would have spent their lives under a deluge of fashion magazines criticizing their looks and what they are wearing and marrying untitled commoners may have been less of an option,” she said.

George Valencia, a graduate of the University of California, said that the difference would be that under the old rules, the crown would be passed on from Prince Charles to Prince Edward’s son, James, Viscount Severn.

But if this happens, Prince Charles could end up acting like King Henry VIII by pushing to have a son with another woman. Other royal fans simply said that if Prince Charles and Princess Diana had two daughters, the first one will have a similar role with Prince William.