Who is Higher than the Royal Family?
In England and Wales, the royal family is the highest in precedence. However, there are a few individuals who rank higher than the royal family in certain circumstances.
The highest in precedence following the royal family is the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury.
The next in line, assuming the post of Lord High Steward is vacant (as it usually has been since 1421), is the Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chancellor is the highest ranking non-royal official in the United Kingdom. The Lord Chancellor is responsible for the administration of justice and the running of the courts.
The third in line is the Archbishop of York. The Archbishop of York is the second most senior cleric in the Church of England after the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Archbishop of York is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and the metropolitan bishop of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England.
In conclusion, the Archbishop of Canterbury is the highest in precedence following the royal family in England and Wales. The Lord Chancellor and the Archbishop of York are the next in line, assuming the post of Lord High Steward is vacant.
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