diff --git a/Source/XMLElement.swift b/Source/XMLElement.swift
index 1017eaf..a184253 100644
--- a/Source/XMLElement.swift
+++ b/Source/XMLElement.swift
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ import Foundation
 public class XMLElement: XMLContent {
     /// The name of the element
     public let name: String
+    
+    public private(set) var parent: XMLElement?
 
     /// Whether the element is case insensitive or not
     public var caseInsensitive: Bool {
@@ -116,6 +118,7 @@ public class XMLElement: XMLContent {
 
     func addElement(_ name: String, withAttributes attributes: [String: String], caseInsensitive: Bool) -> XMLElement {
         let element = XMLElement(name: name, index: count, options: options)
+        element.parent = self
         count += 1
 
         children.append(element)