Queen Elizabeth II’s reign is the longest of any British monarch in history–she was only 25 when she was crowned , and turned 96 in April.
Most people alive today will only have known the Queen as their monarch. But who is next in line to the throne?
Find out below how the British monarch is chosen, as well as the full royal family line of succession.
How is the heir to the British throne chosen? The rules used to state that that the oldest son would inherit the throne, following the system of male primogeniture. This would allow a younger brother to inherit the throne before his older sister.
However, in 2011, following the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding, the rules changed to allow the first born child to be the heir to the throne, even if she were a girl. The leaders of the 16 Commonwealth countries unanimously approved the changes in October 2011.
The Succession to the Crown Act (2013) amended the provisions of the Bill of Rights and the Act of Settlement. It meant that the new rules would apply to anyone born after October 28, 2011.
The Act also changed the rule that previously disqualified those who married Roman Catholics from the line of succession.
The line of succession is also regulated by Parliament, and a Sovereign can be deprived of their title due to misgovernment.
2016: Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to the Prince’s Trust Centre in Kennington, London, to mark the 40th anniversary of the charity
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1953: Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
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1957: The Queen, in a gold lame dress, is seen in the Long Library at Sandringham shortly after making the traditional Christmas Day broadcast to the nation. On the desk are portraits of Prince Charles and Princess Anne. The Queen is holding the copy of ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’, from which she read a few lines during her message. The broadcast was televised this year for the first time and was carried by both the BBC and ITV. It was the 25th anniversary of the first radio message to the Commonwealth by her grandfather, King George V
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2007: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at Broadlands for their Royal Wedding Diamond Anniversary
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1952: The new Queen, Elizabeth II (formerly Princess Elizabeth), returns to Clarence House, London, with the Duke of Edinburgh from London Airport after the sudden death of her father, King George VI. She succeeded the King on his death a day earlier
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1954: Prince Charles and Princess Anne stand with their parents, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following their return from the Commonwealth tour
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1955: Watched by Lady Churchill, Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill bows low to Queen Elizabeth II as he welcomes her and the Duke of Edinburgh to 10 Downing Street for dinner
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1956: The Queen strolls through Windsor Great Park with Prince Charles, Princess Anne, and two of her corgies. The were there to watch the Duke of Edinburgh play polo
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1958: Miners see the Queen wearing white overalls, scarf and helmet and black gumboots during her visit to Rothes Colliery Fifeshire. It was the Queen;s first visit to a coal mine and she spent about half an hour underground visiting the coal face
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1959: Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor joined by Sugar, one of the Royal corgis
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1960: The Queen holding Prince Andrew during an outing in the grounds at Balmoral, Scotland, where the Royal Family are on holiday
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1961: Queen Elizabeth II and her son, the Prince of Wales, out riding at Windsor Castle
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1962: The Queen wears a warm leopard-skin coat on a very cold March day at the Sandown Park race meeting. With her is the Queen Mother. … Horse Racing – Sandown Par
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1963: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, wearing their Order of the Thistle robes, after the Order’s service in Edinburgh
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1964: Queen Elizabeth II leaving after the State Opening of Parliamen
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1965: The Royal Family in the gardens of Frogmore House, Windsor, Berkshire, as they celebrate the Queen’s 39th birthday. (l-r) The Queen, baby Prince Edward, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh
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1966: The World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium
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1967: Queen Elizabeth II at the garden party in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Women’s Services
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1968: The Royal Family in the grounds of Frogmore House, Windsor, Berkshire. Left to right: Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles (behind the Queen) and Prince Andrew
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1969: The Queen crowns her son, Prince Charles, as Prince of Wales during the investiture ceremony at Caernarfon castle
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1970: Queen Elizabeth II with Prime Minister Edward Heath and American President Richard Nixon and his wife Pat Nixon at Chequers, the official country residence of the Prime Minister in Buckinghamshir
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1971: Queen Elizabeth II leaving the King Edward VII Hospital for Officers after visiting Princess Anne. The Princess had an emergency operation for the removal of an ovarian cyst
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1972: The Queen in her study at Balmoral. … Royalty – The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh Celebrate Silver Weddin
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1973: Queen Elizabeth II sitting on a grassy bank with the corgis at Virginia Water to watch competitors, including Prince Philip, in the Marathon of the European Driving Championship, part of the Royal Windsor Horse Show
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1973: Queen Elizabeth II, with Chief Instructor, Small Arms Corp LT Col George Harvey, firing the last shot on a londonbusinessblog SA 80 rifle when she attended the centenary of the Army Rifle Association at Bisley as she turns 90 on the April 21st
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1974: Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she celebrated her 48th birthday at Windsor Castle
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1975: Queen Elizabeth II stands near an oak sapling which she planted in a garden of the Government Guesthouse in Tokyo. The oak sapling had been brought to Japan from Windsor Castle
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1976: Queen Elizabeth II on her 50th birthday with Prince Philip and their youngest son Prince Edward, 12, in the grounds of Windsor Castl
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1977: Queen Elizabeth II on a walkabout in Portsmouth during her Silver Jubilee tour of Great Britai
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1978: Queen Elizabeth II with a Jersey cow she was presented with at the Country Show at Le Petit Catelet, Saint John, Jersey, as she and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the island of Jersey, Channel Island
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1979: Queen Elizabeth II during a walkabout in Muscat while visiting Oman
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1980: Queen Elizabeth II with some of her corgis walking the Cross Country course during the second day of the Windsor Horse Trials
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1981: Queen Elizabeth II walking through the crowds at the Royal Ascot race meetin
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1982: Queen Elizabeth II taking photographs during her visit to the South Sea Islands of Tuvalu. Behind her is the Duke of Edinburgh
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1983: Queen Elizabeth II inspects the Guard of Honour at Jomo Kenyatta International Airpor
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1984: Queen Elizabeth II and Rt Rev John Denis Wakeling, the Bishop of Southwell, entering Southwell Minster amid cheering crowds, where she distributed Maundy Money to pensioner
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1985: Queen Elizabeth II takes the salute of the Household Guards regiments during the Trooping of the Colour ceremony in London, which marks the Queen’s official birthday
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1986: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh on the Great Wall of China at the Bedaling Pass, 50 miles north-west of Beijing, on the third day of their State Visit to the country
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1987: The Queen makes her traditional Christmas Day address to the nation and the Commonwealth. The broadcast is produced by Sir David Attenborough (not pictured) for the second year running
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1988: The Duke of Edinburgh helps Queen Elizabeth II to alight from the new £120,000 Australia State Coach, Australia’s bicentennial gift, at the Houses of Parliament as they arrive for the State Opening
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1989: The Queen with former US president Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy at Buckingham Palace where the Queen bestowed a knighthood on Mr Reagan. He was made an honorary Knight of Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. … Investitures and Award
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1990: Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes
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1991:The Queen gestures to Ruud Lubbers, Prime Minister of the Netherlands and President of the EC Council of Ministers, at Buckingham Palace as the leaders of the G7 Summit countries gathered for a pre-dinner photo-call in the Music Room.The Duke of Edinburgh had been expected to join the leaders and fill the empty chair
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1992: Queen Elizabeth II surveys the scene at Windsor Castle following the fire
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1994: The Queen walks through the gravestones at Bayeux Cemetery after a D-day Commemoration service
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1995: South Africa’s President Nelson Mandela greets Queen Elizabeth II as she steps from the royal yacht Britannia in Cape Town at the official start of the her first visit to the country since 1947
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1996: The Queen lays a wreath at the gates of Dunblane Primary School accompanied by the Princess Royal. … The Queen with the Princess Royal lays flowers at Dunblane School
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1997: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, view the floral tributes to Diana, Princess of Wales, outside Buckingham Palace
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1998: The Queen, Colonel in Chief of the Corps of the Royal Engineers looks though a Theodolite during her visit to the 42 survey Engineer Group at Denison Barracks Hermitage
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1999: The Queen joined Mrs Susan McCarron, her ten-year-old son James and Housing Manager Liz McGinniss for tea in their home in the Castlemilk area of Glasgow
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2000: The Queen and the Queen Mother leave church by horse drawn carriage on the Sandringham Estate, Norfolk
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2001: Queen Elizabeth II during her visit, to Elstree Studios where the famous British soap opera EastEnders is filmed
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2002: Queen Elizabeth II enjoys a walk about, after visiting the Old Government House in Fredericton, New Brunswick during her two week Royal visit to Canada
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2003: HRH Queen Elizabeth II poses with the triumphant England squad during a reception at Buckingham Palace for the World Cup
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2004: Queen Elizabeth II peers round a corner during a visit to the Royal Albert Hall in London, marking the end of an 8 year restoration program. … Queen Elizabeth II visits Royal Albert Hall
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2005: The Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles leave St Georges Chapel in Windsor, followed by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II
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2006: Queen Elizabeth II sits in the Regency Room at Buckingham Palace in London as she looks at some of the cards which have been sent to her for her 80th birthday
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2008: Queen Elizabeth II, delivers a speech at the start of a state banquet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, unseen, at Windsor Castle in Windso
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2009: Queen Elizabeth II plants a tree as she visits Newmarket Animal Health Trus
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2010: The Duke of Edinburgh looks on (left) as Queen Elizabeth II talks with Pope Benedict XVI exchange gifts during an audience in the Morning Drawing Room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburg
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2011: Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire, where she laid a wreath next to the wall of the Armed Forces Memorial where the 2010 names are inscribed, after she attended a service of thanksgiving to mark the return of soldiers from a five-month tour of duty in Afghanistan’s Helmand province
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2012: The National Anthem is sung to Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace during the Diamond Jubilee Concert
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2013: Queen Elizabeth II joins The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (5 SCOTS) for a group photograph during her visit to Howe Barracks in Canterbury, Ken
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2014: Angelina Jolie is presented with the Insignia of an Honorary Dame Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George by Queen Elizabeth II in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace
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2015: Queen Elizabeth II waves to British Royal Navy crew members performing a salute on the HMS Bulwark amphibious assault ship during a tour of the Grand Harbour in a traditional Maltese fishing boa
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2017: Queen Elizabeth II meets Quinn, the ‘skeleton’ horse as she listens to a briefing on the latest innovations in equine health as she visits the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment at the Hyde Barracks, London
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2018: Queen Elizabeth II sits next to Anna Wintour (right) as they view Richard Quinn’s runway show before presenting him with the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design as she visits London Fashion Week’s BFC Show Space
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2019: Queen Elizabeth II welcomes newly elected leader of the Conservative party Boris Johnson during an audience in Buckingham Palace, London, where she invited him to become Prime Minister and form a new governmen
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2020: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle ahead of his 99th birthday
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20021: Queen Elizabeth II takes her seat for the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, Berkshire
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Who is the next heir to the throne? Charles, The Prince of Wales , is next in line to the throne, as he is the Queen’s eldest son.
When the Queen dies, Charles will become the King of England, and the Duchess of Cornwall , Camilla, will become Queen Consort.
After Charles, Prince William is next in line to the throne, as he is Charles’ eldest son. When William becomes King, the Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine, will become Queen Consort.
Following William, his eldest son Prince George is next in line for the throne, as the first-born child.
Royal family line of succession full list The full line of succession is the following:
1. Charles, The Prince of Wales
2. Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge
3. Prince George of Cambridge
4. Princess Charlotte of Cambridge
5. Prince Louis of Cambridge
6. Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex
7. Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor
8. Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor
9. Prince Andrew, The Duke of York
10. Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
11. Miss Sienna Mapelli Mozzi
12. Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank
13. Master August Brooksbank
14. Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex
15. Viscount Severn
16. The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor
17. Margaret, The Princess Royal
18. Mr. Peter Phillips
19. Miss Savannah Phillips
20. Miss Isla Phillips
21. Mrs. Michael Tindall
22. Miss Mia Tindall
23. Miss Lena Tindall
24. Master Lucas Tindall
The Prince and Princess of Wales with sons Prince William, right, and Prince Harry prepare for a cycling trip in Tresco during their holiday in the Scilly Isles
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Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and cousins Prince Harry and Prince William on holiday in Klosters
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King George VI and (then) Princess Elizabeth on holiday in South Africa
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Roaming along the banks of the River Dee, the kilted Prince of Wales with his Princess during their holiday in Scotland while staying at Balmoral Castle
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Princess Margaret walks to her aircraft at Heathrow Airport, London, to fly to New York to meet her husband Lord Snowdon. They were then due to fly to the Bahamas for a holiday.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales with sons Prince William, right, and Prince Harry relaxing in Tresco during their holiday in the Scilly Isles
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Princess Margaret, Jan Smuts, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Elizabeth on holiday in South Africa. The Drakensberg mountain range can be seen in the background
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The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, waves to friends as she poses for photographers with her daughters, Beatrice (R) and Eugenie, in the ski resort of Verbier
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The Princesses enjoyed an off-duty break from the royal tour of South Africa when they went riding on the golden sands of Bonza Beach
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The Prince of Wales leads his children Harry (left) and William (right) onto the slopes above the alpine skiing resort of Klosters in Switzerland
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The Prince of wales with his sons Prince William (right) and Prince Harry above the Falls of Muick on the Balmoral estate, Scotland where they are taking a summer break
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Princess Anne and Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral
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Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh pause on the rustic bridge in the grounds of the Royal Lodge, Sagana, Kenya
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Princess Diana, Prince William and Prince Harry during their skiing holiday in Lech, Austria
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The Prince and Princess of Wales on holiday with their sons, Prince William and Prince Harry (riding pillion behind his father), on Tresco, Scilly Isles
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The Prince of Wales (L) leads his children Harry (cen) and William (right) onto the slopes over the alpine skiing resort of Klosters in Switzerland
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The Princess of Wales rides a chair lift up the Kriegerhorn with her sons Prince William, left, and Prince Harry, in Lech, Austria
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Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in Kenya
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The Queen, right, with Princess Margaret on the Caribbean island of Mustique
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Prince Harry, Princess Eugenie, Prince William and Princess Beatrice at Klosters
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Queen Elizabeth II with the Duke of Edinburgh and their children Prince Edward, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, and Prince Andrew, at Balmoral
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The Duchess of York celebrating New Year with her daughters Beatrice (left) and Eugenie outside their chalet in the Swiss resort of Klosters
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