List of heirs to the British throne

This is a list of the individuals who were, at any given time, considered the next in line to succeed the British monarch to inherit the throne of the Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1800), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1922), or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1922–present), should the incumbent monarch die or abdicate. Those who actually succeeded (at any future time) are shown in bold.

The list commences in 1707 following the Acts of Union, which joined the Kingdoms of England and Scotland (previously separate states, with separate legislatures but with the same monarch) into a single Kingdom of Great Britain. Anne became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702 and Queen of Great Britain from 1707. The 1701 Act of Settlement established Electress Sophia of Hanover as successor to the English throne, and this was extended to Scotland through the Treaty of Union (Article II) and the Acts of Union.

Since the establishment of the British throne, there have been five heirs who did not become monarch but would have done so had they lived long enough: Sophia, Dowager Electress of Hanover (first cousin once removed of Anne), Frederick, Prince of Wales (son of George II), Princess Charlotte of Wales (daughter of the future George IV), Frederick, Duke of York (brother of George IV), and Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence (son of the future Edward VII). There have been two heirs who were heirs presumptive for a short period until the monarch had a child: Prince Prince Edward, Duke of York (brother of George III) and King Ernest Augustus of Hanover (uncle of Victoria). There has been one female heir presumptive who was displaced as heir by her younger brother: Victoria, Princess Royal (daughter of Victoria).

MonarchHeirStatusRelationship to monarchBecame heir; reasonCeased to be heir; reasonNext in succession, relation to heir
AnneElectress Sophia of Hanover[1]Heir presumptiveFirst cousin, once removed1 May 1707;
formation of Kingdom of Great Britain
8 June 1714;
died
George Louis, Elector of Hanover
1707–1714, son
George Louis, Elector of HanoverHeir presumptiveSecond cousin8 June 1714;
mother died
1 August 1714;
succeeded
George Augustus of Hanover 1714, son
George IThe Prince George, Prince of WalesHeir apparentEldest son1 August 1714;
father succeeded
11 June 1727;
succeeded
Prince Frederick, Duke of Edinburgh
1714–1727, son
George IIThe Prince Frederick, Prince of WalesHeir apparentEldest son11 June 1727;
father succeeded
31 March 1751;
died
The Prince William, Duke of Cumberland
1727–1737, younger brother
Princess Augusta
1737–1738, daughter
Prince George
1738–1751, son
Prince George, Prince of WalesHeir apparentGrandson31 March 1751;
father died
25 October 1760;
succeeded
Prince Edward, Duke of York
1751–1760, younger brother
George IIIPrince Edward, Duke of YorkHeir presumptiveYounger brother25 October 1760;
brother succeeded
12 August 1762;
son born to king
Prince William Henry
1760–1762, younger brother
The Prince George, Prince of WalesHeir apparentEldest son12 August 1762;
born
29 January 1820;
succeeded
Prince Edward, Duke of York
1762–1763, uncle
The Prince Frederick, Duke of York
1763–1796, younger brother
Princess Charlotte of Wales
1796–1817, daughter
The Prince Frederick, Duke of York
1817–1820, younger brother
George IVThe Prince Frederick, Duke of YorkHeir presumptiveYounger brother29 January 1820;
brother succeeded
5 January 1827;
died
The Prince William, Duke of Clarence
1820–1827, younger brother
The Prince William, Duke of ClarenceHeir presumptiveYounger brother5 January 1827;
older brother died
26 June 1830;
succeeded
Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent
1827–1830, niece
William IVPrincess Alexandrina Victoria of KentHeir presumptiveNiece26 June 1830;
uncle succeeded
20 June 1837;
succeeded
The Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland
1830–1837, uncle
VictoriaErnest Augustus, King of HanoverHeir presumptiveUncle20 June 1837;
niece succeeded
21 November 1840;
daughter born to queen
George, Crown Prince of Hanover
1837–1840, son
The Princess VictoriaHeir presumptiveEldest daughter21 November 1840;
born
9 November 1841;
brother born
Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover
1840–1841, great-uncle
The Prince Albert Edward, Prince of WalesHeir apparentEldest son9 November 1841;
born
22 January 1901;
succeeded
The Princess Victoria, Princess Royal
1841–1844, elder sister
The Prince Alfred
1844–1864, younger brother
Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence
1864–1892, son
Prince George, Duke of York
1892–1901, son
Edward VIIThe Prince George, Prince of WalesHeir apparentSecond son[lower-alpha 1]22 January 1901;
father succeeded
6 May 1910;
succeeded
Prince Edward of Wales
1901–1910, son
George VThe Prince Edward, Prince of WalesHeir apparentEldest son6 May 1910;
father succeeded
20 January 1936;
succeeded
The Prince Albert, Duke of York
1910–1936, younger brother
Edward VIIIThe Prince Albert, Duke of YorkHeir presumptiveYounger brother20 January 1936;
brother succeeded
11 December 1936;
brother abdicated; succeeded
Princess Elizabeth of York
1936, daughter
George VIThe Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of EdinburghHeir presumptiveElder daughter11 December 1936;
father succeeded
6 February 1952;
succeeded
The Princess Margaret
1936–1948, younger sister
Prince Charles of Edinburgh
1948–1952, son
Elizabeth IIThe Prince Charles, Prince of Wales[lower-alpha 2]Heir apparentEldest son6 February 1952;
mother succeeded
IncumbentThe Princess Anne
1952–1960, younger sister
The Prince Andrew
1960–1982, younger brother
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
1982–present, son
  1. Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, eldest son of Edward VII, died before his father ascended the throne.
  2. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, eldest son of Elizabeth II, is the longest-serving heir apparent or presumptive in the history of the British Monarchy (and the world) at 69 years, 1 day.

See also

Notes

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