Royal baby gender: It's a girl – Duke and Duchess' child will be fourth in line to throne

Although unlikely, it is possible the princess could one day be queen

Members of the public celebrate the arrival of a baby girl (LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)

After much speculation, the Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to an 8lb 3oz baby girl who will be fourth in line to the throne.

The princess will be behind her grandfather Prince Charles, father Prince William and brother Prince George, in the line of succession.

The new arrival will move Prince Harry down to fifth in line, whilst Prince Andrew will drop out of the top five and into sixth place.

Recent changes to legislation via the Succession to the Crown Act, 2013, ensure that any younger brother who might be born in the future, would not be able to claim the throne.

The new baby will also automatically become an HRH, following an intervention by the Queen in 2012 permitting the title of Her Royal Highness to be bestowed.

Prior to this change, as the second child of the second heir to the throne, she would have been a Lady.

Although unlikely, it is possible that the Princess could one day be queen.

A second child in direct line to the throne has acceded before - the Queen’s own father, King George VI, replaced his brother, King Edward VIII, following his abdication in order to pursue his romance with Wallace Simpson.