Princess Charlotte's historic gift from late Queen that caused major change to the Firm

Princess Charlotte was granted a major historic gift from the late Queen Elizabeth that caused a major change in the line of succession.

The young royal, who celebrates her ninth birthday today, was saved from an unfair shift in royal status after her younger brother's birth due to one change made by the late Queen.

At the time of Princess Anne's birth, the Succession of the Crown Act meant that once her two youngers brothers' were born, she was then pushed down the line - but this didn't happen to Charlotte.

In 2013, the year of Prince George's birth, the late Queen updated the royal laws which meant that babies born into the Royal Family would have equal rights, regardless of their gender.

As a girl, Princess Charlotte - then fourth in line to the throne - kept her place upon Louis's birth in April 2018.

Explaining the change in 2013, constitutional expert Iain MacMarthanne said: "The 2013 Act sought to bring multiple pieces of outdated and discriminatory legislation relating to the monarchy up to date.

"Through this Act male primogeniture was abolished, allowing the firstborn child irrespective of gender to become heir apparent.

"The disqualification from inheriting the throne by marrying a Catholic was removed; and the Royal Marriages Act of 1772 was repealed, resulting in only the first six in line to the throne being required to obtain the sovereign's permission."

Princess Charlotte was born on May 2, 2015 and is the second child of the Prince and Princess of Wales - who, at the time of her birth, already had Prince George, now 10.

As a sweet nod to her late great-grandmother, Charlotte was given the middle name of 'Elizabeth'. She was also given 'Diana' as a middle name, which is her late paternal grandmother, Princess Diana's name.