At birth, Victoria was fifth in line to the British throne.
She was born on 24 May 1819 as the only child of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of George III. The succession ahead of her consisted of George, Prince Regent; Frederick, Duke of York; William, Duke of Clarence; and her father, Edward. Counting Victoria herself therefore placed her fifth.
The position was unexpectedly important because George III’s only legitimate grandchild, Princess Charlotte of Wales, had died in childbirth in 1817. Victoria’s father and his unmarried brothers then became central to the succession. Edward died in January 1820, and Victoria moved up to fourth place; after George IV and Frederick died, and William IV succeeded George IV, she eventually became queen on 20 June 1837. The common mistake is to count only the people ahead of her and call her fourth, rather than stating her numbered place in the succession.