Royalty is a story of second sons

 Royalty is a story of second sons. It's not always the first born that inherits the throne. Sometimes, patience rewards those who wait and believe in their destiny. Or not. After all, since Cain and Abel, history has always been about rival brothers.

"As history shows, being born second - or spare to the heir - doesn't always mean the top royal job is out of reach.

From the Anglo Saxon King of Wessex, Edward the Elder, to Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth II own father, George VI, there are numerous examples of second-borns having assumed the throne.

The reasons are varied. The timeline of the kings and queens of England is littered with examples of treachery, adultery, murder and just plain bad luck."

Believe it or not, there's research on the matter of first/second born children.

"Researchers found first-born children more likely to be academic achievers, external, as well as being more conscientious, with this descending in birth order. On the other hand, second-born children are likely to be thinner in later life than their older siblings, according to a study by the University of Auckland.

They have more tact, make good negotiators and hold a lot more friends, says Australian parenting expert Michael Grose."

As you may very well know, our dearly beloved Henry VIII was a second son.

"Henry VII's claim to the throne as a distant descendant of Edward III was more than tenuous.

As a result, his second son and successor Henry VIII was determined to secure the Tudor throne with a male heir, an effort which saw him ex-communicated from the Catholic Church and the establishment of the Church of England."

Bron :BBC