So what happens to the royal family if Kate Middleton gives birth to twins?

It's unlikely, but we can't help wondering..

kate middleton
(Image credit: Getty Images)

It's unlikely, but we can't help wondering..

Unless you've been living under a rock for the last couple of months (we wouldn't blame you – we feel like hibernating too), you'll know that the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, is pregnant with her third child.

Naturally the world and his wife have been in a frenzy since the news broke, with many trying to spot a tiny baby bump when the Duchess made her first public appearance since announcing her pregnancy earlier this month.

While we should point out that there's no known history of twins in the Royal or Middleton families – no mother of a future King or Queen has had twins since the 1400s – we can't help thinking: what happens if, by some coincidence, Kate is carrying twins?

As well as having their hands full with double the bouncing bundles of joy, the arrival of twins would also push Prince Harry even further down the line of succession to the throne. He'd fall to seventh in line to the throne, rather than just sixth if it was only one baby (which it probably is).

Until a few years ago, had the first hypothetical twin been a girl and the second a boy, the male child would have overtaken both of his sisters in the line of succession. Thanks to the abolishment of said rule, though, William and Kate's children will be in line to the throne in age order – which is far less complicated, if you ask us.

However, this royal rule will stop Princess Charlotte's future children from inheriting titles, as well as those of future sisters.

Don't get excited, though, as this is all just speculation.

As far as we're aware, there's only one royal baby on the way.

Lucy Abbersteen
Beauty Contributor

Lucy is a freelance beauty editor and contributor at Marie Claire, and has written for titles including Glamour, Refinery29, Popsugar, woman&home and more. She was previously Marie Claire’s junior beauty editor. During her career, she’s covered everything from backstage beauty at fashion week to interviews with famous faces like Drag Race royalty and Little Mix. As for her beauty ethos, she’s a big advocate for not having to spend a fortune on beauty products to get good results, and when she’s not got beauty on the brain you’ll find her reading or hanging out with dogs.