5 Things That Will Likely Change For Princess Charlotte When She Turns 18

Princess Charlotte is currently third in line to the throne, behind her older brother, Prince George, and her father, Prince William. While William and Princess Kate have tried their best to give her and her siblings a normal upbringing, certain changes are bound to happen when the Princess turns 18, given her royal lineage. Not everything will change automatically on her birthday; some bound to come either from law or from the monarch himself.

Charlotte is already protected because of her position in the Royal Family, but things will undergo a transition once she turns 18. Her taxpayer-funded security will transition to an independent, case-by-case threat assessment managed by the Joint Terrorist Analysis Centre (JTAC) and the Home Office. Her status as a royal will determine her long-term security arrangements, depending on the role, responsibilities, and the titles she assumes.

With George destined to take over the throne after King Charles and William, Charlotte and her brother Prince Louise will assume the roles of 'spares.' As per the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, Charlotte keeps her position in the line of succession ahead of Louis, and her royal responsibilities are likely to grow as she turns 18. By ending the old system of male-preference primogeniture, the Succession to the Crown Act will help redefine the dynamic of the modern monarchy. However, she will not be compelled to take on royal roles simply because she's 18. Instead, she can take her time; as an adult, she will then have more authority and legal freedom to make her own decisions.

The royal ladies typically don crowns and tiaras for royal state affairs, but Charlotte, as of now, has worn none. Previously, royal expert Marlene Koenig told Town & Country that "there's no rule book" when it comes to a royal woman's first tiara. She explained, "Princess Anne certainly wore a tiara as a teenager; she wore a tiara for her 21st birthday picture, all before she got married." However, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana both wore tiaras for the first time on their respective wedding days. So, it is most likely that Charlotte will wear her first tiara on reaching adulthood, and turning 18 is definitely the stepping stone. Jewelry maker Anna Byers also once told GB News, "Princess Charlotte will most likely wear her first tiara at 18."

Charlotte could one day have a rare title that currently belongs to her great-aunt, Princess Anne. The title is traditionally given to the monarch's eldest daughter, is held for life, and is currently used by Anne. Charlotte can only have the title after the current Princess Royal's tenure ends. There is also another possibility where the monarch can bestow upon her a new title of her own, as she, after turning 18, will no longer be 'Princess of Wales,' as the title is traditionally reserved for the heir's wife. So, Princess Royal or not, Charlotte is likely to get a title on turning 18.

Under the special category data under the UK GDPR, Charlotte will get greater control over her healthcare information on turning 18. The law is similar to America's HIPAA. As per the NHS guidelines, Charlotte will be treated in the same way as adults, and GP surgeries must obtain consent before sharing their data with parents or guardians. By 18, Charlotte would therefore be firmly in charge of her own healthcare arrangements as an adult. NHS guidance on patients turning 18 also states that parents no longer automatically retain access to accounts such as MyChart, although an adult can choose to give them access.