User blog comment:Imperium Guy/British-German Union/@comment-4727448-20120924212422/@comment-4656717-20120926211935

Okay.

The British do not have what the Austrians had, Salic Law (I think), whereby all females were barred from the throne.

The succession goes like this: Male children of the king from oldest to youngest, female children of the king from oldest to youngest.

For instance, if King Bob had three children (in age descending), Mary, Richard and Julie; Richard would get the throne, despite being the second child. If Richard died childless, it would pass on to Mary, being the oldest surviving child of Bob. If Mary was already dead, it would pass on to her children.

Elizabeth became queen because she was the oldest child of George VI, and had no brothers. Even if she had had a 1 month-old brother, he would have succeeded the throne before her.

I believe that earlier this year, the Commonwealth Heads of Government decided to change succession laws which give women an equal chance. So, using the new system, Mary would automatically gain the throne, being the eldest child.

Does that help?