Prince George is only five years old, but is already third in line to the throne. The young prince is the son of Prince William and Kate Middleton and the great-grandson of the current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. That means, one day in the future, George is expected to take over the throne and become king.

However, there is one rule laid out in the laws of succession to the British throne that could see Prince George – and other royals – lose their claim to it.

The succession to the throne is regulated not only through descent, but also by Parliamentary statute.

The basis for the succession was determined in the constitutional developments of the seventeenth century, which culminated in the Bill of Rights (1689) and the Act of Settlement (1701).

Under the two acts, it states that a “Roman Catholic is specifically excluded from succession to the throne”.

The royals are members of the Church of England, which is a Protestant Anglican church.

The family has been a part of this religion since the 16th century.

That means if Prince George would turn is back on this exact christian belief, he would lose his claim to the throne.

The controversial rule is laid out on the Royal Family’s website.

It reads: “The Act laid down that only Protestant descendants of Princess Sophia – the Electress of Hanover and granddaughter of James I – are eligible to succeed. Subsequent Acts have confirmed this.

“Parliament, under the Bill of Rights and the Act of Settlement, also laid down various conditions which the Sovereign must meet.

“A Roman Catholic is specifically excluded from succession to the throne.

“The Sovereign must, in addition, be in communion with the Church of England and must swear to preserve the established Church of England and the established Church of Scotland.

“The Sovereign must also promise to uphold the Protestant succession.”

However, Prince George would be allowed to marry Roman Catholics without being disqualified.

It further reads: “The Act also ended the provisions by which those who marry Roman Catholics are disqualified from the line of succession.”

The changes came into force in all sixteen Realms in March 2015.

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