The most important baby in the British Empire

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November 20, 1928

The "most important baby in the British empire" is having to rave the "orgy of being photographed for the newspapers, reports the Chicago Daily Tribune.

She is Princess Elizabeth of York, the 2 1/2-year-old daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York.

The princess is important because she is, for now, in the direct line of succession to the British throne.  She has a "very good chance of one day being Queen Elizabeth II."

Everyone wants a photo of the little princess.  She is said to be a "delightful baby," and most editors want to publish her photograph, even if "she were not a possible future queen."

Princess Elizabeth's uncle, the Prince of Wales, is the heir apparent.  He remains unmarried, and "seems unlikely" to ever marry.  This means Elizabeth's father, the Duke of York, remains second in line to the throne.

The princess' position would change only if the Prince of Wales married and had children or if "she should have the bad luck to have a brother." 

Succession to the British throne is based on male primogeniture, brothers before sisters, sons before daughters.

But if the Prince of Wales died without male issue, the Duke of York would become the heir apparent, and Elizabeth, if she never had a brother, would be next in line.