List of heirs to the English throne

This is a list of the individuals who were, at any given time, considered the next in line to inherit the throne of England, should the incumbent monarch die. Those who actually succeeded (at any future time) are shown in bold. Stillborn children and infants surviving less than a month are not included.

It may be noted that the succession was highly uncertain, and was not governed by a fixed convention, for much of the century after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

Significant breaks in the succession, where the designated heir did not in fact succeed (due to usurpation, conquest, revolution, or lack of heirs) are shown as breaks in the table below.

The symbols +1, +2, etc. are to be read "once (twice, etc.) removed in descendancy", i.e., the child or grandchild (etc.) of a cousin of the degree specified. The symbols -1, -2, etc. indicate the converse relationship, i.e., the cousin of a parent or grandparent (etc.).

1066 to 1135

HeirStatusRelationship to MonarchBecame heirReasonCeased to be heirReasonMonarch
No recognised heir 1066–1087William I
William RufusHeir apparentson7/8 September 1087proclaimed heir9 September 1087became king
No recognised heir 1087–1091William II
Robert Curthose, Duke of NormandyHeir presumptiveelder brother18 July 1091Treaty of Caen2/5 August 1100throne usurped by younger brother Henry
No recognised heir 1100–1101Henry I
Robert Curthose, Duke of NormandyHeir presumptiveelder brother2 August 1101Treaty of Alton5 August 1103son born to king
William Adelin, Duke of NormandyHeir apparentson5 August 1103born25 November 1120died
No recognised heir 1120–1126
Empress Matilda, Countess of AnjouHeiress presumptivedaughter25 December 1126proclaimed heiress1/22 December 1135throne usurped by cousin Stephen of Blois

1135 to 1154

HeirStatusRelationship to MonarchBecame heirReasonCeased to be heirReasonMonarch
Eustace IV, Count of BoulogneHeir apparenteldest son22 December 1135father became king17 August 1153diedStephen
William I, Count of BoulogneHeir apparentson17 August 1153brother died6 November 1153Treaty of Wallingford
Henry Curtmantle, Duke of NormandyHeir apparent1st cousin +16 November 1153Treaty of Wallingford25 October 1154became king

1154 to 1399

HeirStatusRelationship to MonarchBecame heirReasonCeased to be heirReasonMonarch
William IX, Count of PoitiersHeir apparenteldest son25 October 1154father became kingApril 1156diedHenry II
Henry the Young KingHeir apparentsonApril 1156brother died11 June 1183died
Richard, Duke of AquitaineHeir apparentson11 June 1183brother died6 July 1189became king
Arthur I, Duke of BrittanyHeir presumptivenephew6 July 1189uncle became king6 April 1199throne usurped by youngest uncle JohnRichard I
No recognised heir 1199–1207John
Henry of WinchesterHeir apparenteldest son1 October 1207born19 October 1216became king
Richard, Earl of CornwallHeir presumptiveyounger brother19 October 1216brother became king17 June 1239son born to kingHenry III
Edward "Longshanks", Lord of ChesterHeir apparenteldest son17 June 1239born20 November 1272became king
HenryHeir apparenteldest son20 November 1272father became king16 October 1274diedEdward I
Alphonso, Earl of ChesterHeir apparentson16 October 1274brother died19 August 1284died
Edward of Caernarfon, Prince of WalesHeir apparentson19 August 1284brother died7 July 1307became king
Thomas of Brotherton, Earl of NorfolkHeir presumptiveyounger brother7 July 1307brother became king13 November 1312son born to kingEdward II
Edward of Windsor, Earl of ChesterHeir apparenteldest son13 November 1312born25 January 1327became king
John of Eltham, Earl of CornwallHeir presumptiveyounger brother25 January 1327brother became king15 June 1330son born to kingEdward III
Edward "the Black Prince", Prince of WalesHeir apparenteldest son15 June 1330born8 June 1376died
Richard of Bordeaux, Prince of WalesHeir apparentgrandson8 June 1376father died21 June 1377became king
Since Richard II (1377–1399) never designated an heir, the succession was disputed among the heirs established under the will of Edward III and heirs by cognatic primogeniture. The will entailed the throne on the heirs male. The following are the leaders of both lines:
John of Gaunt, Duke of LancasterPotential heirs by the will of Edward IIIuncle21 June 1377nephew became king3 February 1399diedRichard II
Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster1st cousin3 February 1399father died30 September 1399became king
Philippa, Countess of UlsterPotential heirs by cognatic primogeniture1st cousin21 June 1377cousin became king5 January 1382died
Roger Mortimer, Earl of March1st cousin +15 January 1382mother died20 July 1398died
Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March1st cousin +220 July 1398father died30 September 1399succession of new king

1399 to 1461

HeirStatusRelationship to MonarchBecame heirReasonCeased to be heirReasonNext in successionMonarch
Henry of Monmouth, Prince of WalesHeir apparenteldest son30 September 1399father became king20 March 1413became kingThomas, Duke of Clarence 1399-1413, younger brotherHenry IV
Thomas, Duke of ClarenceHeir presumptiveyounger brother20 March 1413brother became king22 March 1421diedJohn, Duke of Bedford 1413-1421, younger brotherHenry V
John, Duke of BedfordHeir presumptiveyounger brother22 March 1421brother died6 December 1421son born to kingHumphrey, Duke of Gloucester Mar-Dec 1421, younger brother
Henry, Duke of CornwallHeir apparentson6 December 1421born31 August 1422became kingJohn, Duke of Bedford 1421-1422, uncle
John, Duke of BedfordHeir presumptiveuncle31 August 1422nephew became king14 September 1435diedHumphrey, Duke of Gloucester 1422-1435, younger brotherHenry VI
Humphrey, Duke of GloucesterHeir presumptiveuncle14 September 1435brother died23 February 1447diednone
No recognised heir 1447–1453
Edward of Westminster, Prince of WalesHeir apparentson13 October 1453born25 October 1460Act of Accordnone
Richard, Duke of YorkHeir apparent3rd cousin -125 October 1460Act of Accord30 December 1460diedEdward, Earl of March 1460, son
Edward, Duke of YorkHeir apparent3rd cousin30 December 1460father died4 March 1461became kingGeorge 1460-1461, brother

1461 to 1470

HeirStatusRelationship to MonarchBecame heirReasonCeased to be heirReasonNext in successionMonarch
George, Duke of ClarenceHeir presumptiveyounger brother4 March 1461brother became king31 March 1470proclaimed traitorRichard, Duke of Gloucester 1461-1470, younger brotherEdward IV
No recognised heir Mar–Oct 1470

1470 to 1471

HeirStatusRelationship to MonarchBecame heirReasonCeased to be heirReasonNext in successionMonarch
Edward of Westminster, Prince of WalesHeir apparenteldest son3 October 1470father restored as king11 April 1471father deposedGeorge, Duke of Clarence 1470-1471, 3rd cousin -1Henry VI

1471 to 1485

HeirStatusRelationship to MonarchBecame heirReasonCeased to be heirReasonNext in successionMonarch
Edward, Prince of WalesHeir apparenteldest son11 April 1471father restored as king9 April 1483became kingGeorge, Duke of Clarence 1471-1473, uncleEdward IV
Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York 1473-1483, younger brother
Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of YorkHeir presumptiveyounger brother9 April 1483brother became king25 June 1483declared illegitimateRichard, Duke of Gloucester 1483, uncleEdward V
Edward of Middleham, Prince of WalesHeir apparenteldest son26 June 1483father became king9 April 1484diedJohn de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln 1483-1484, 1st cousinRichard III
John de la Pole, Earl of LincolnHeir presumptivenephew9 April 1484cousin died22 August 1485king killedEdmund de la Pole 1484-1485, younger brother

1485 to 1603

HeirStatusRelationship to MonarchBecame heirReasonCeased to be heirReasonNext in successionMonarch
No recognised heir 1485–1486Henry VII
Arthur, Prince of WalesHeir apparenteldest son20 September 1486born2 April 1502diednone 1486-1491
Henry, Duke of York 1491-1502, younger brother
Henry, Prince of WalesHeir apparentson2 April 1502brother died22 April 1509became kingnone
No recognised heir 1509–1511Henry VIII
Henry, Duke of CornwallHeir apparenteldest son1 January 1511born23 February 1511diednone
No recognised heir 1511–1515
Henry, Duke of CornwallHeir apparenteldest son8 January 1515born8 January 1515diednone
No recognised heir 1515–1516
Mary TudorHeiress presumptiveeldest daughter18 February 1516born23 March 1534First Succession Actnone
Elizabeth Tudor, 1533-1534, younger half-sister
Elizabeth TudorHeiress presumptivedaughter23 March 1534First Succession Act8 June 1536Second Succession Actnone
No recognised heir 1536–1537
Edward, Prince of WalesHeir apparentson12 October 1537born28 January 1547became kingMary Tudor, older half-sister, 1544-1547
Mary TudorHeiress presumptiveelder half-sister28 January 1547half-brother became king21 June 1553excluded by letters patentLady Elizabeth 1547-1553, younger half-sisterEdward VI
Lady Jane GreyHeiress presumptive1st cousin +121 June 1553named in letters patent6 July 1553proclaimed queenCatherine, Lady Herbert of Cardiff 1553, younger sister
Upon the death of Edward VI, the succession was disputed between his sister Mary, the heir by primogeniture and the will of Henry VIII, and Lady Jane Grey, whom Edward had named his heir. Since Jane Grey's short reign is a matter of dispute, so are her heirs.
Catherine, Lady Herbert of CardiffHeiress presumptive
(disputed)
younger sister6 July 1553sister proclaimed queen19 July 1553sister deposedMary Grey 1553, younger sisterJane
Elizabeth TudorHeiress presumptiveyounger half-sister6 July 1553Half-sister became queen17 November 1558became queennoneMary I
Since Elizabeth I (1558–1603) never designated an heir, the succession was disputed among heirs of Henry VII by cognatic primogeniture and the heirs established under the Third Succession Act and the will of Henry VIII. The last two documents placed the English descendants of his younger sister Mary ahead of the Scottish descendants of his elder sister Margaret. The following are the leaders of both lines:
Mary, Queen of ScotsPotential heirs by cognatic primogeniture1st cousin +117 November 1558cousin became queen8 February 1587executedJames VI of Scotland 1566-1587, sonElizabeth I
James VI of Scotland1st cousin +28 February 1587mother executed24 March 1603became kingHenry Frederick, Prince of Wales 1594-1603, son
Lady Frances StokesPotential heirs by the will of Henry VIII1st cousin17 November 1558cousin became queen20 November 1559diedLady Catherine Grey, daughter
Lady Catherine Grey1st cousin +120 November 1559mother died26 January 1568diedLady Mary Grey, sister
Lady Mary Grey1st cousin +126 January 1568sister died20 April 1578diedMargaret, Countess of Derby, 1st cousin
Margaret, Countess of Derby1st cousin +120 April 15781st cousin died28 September 1596diedFerdinando Stanley, Earl of Derby 1578-1594, son
Lady Anne Stanley 1594-1596, granddaughter
Lady Anne Stanley1st cousin +328 September 1596paternal grandmother died24 March 1603succession of new kingLady Frances Stanley, sister

1603 to 1707

HeirStatusRelationship to MonarchBecame heirReasonCeased to be heirReasonNext in successionMonarch
Henry Frederick, Prince of WalesHeir apparenteldest son24 March 1603father became king6 November 1612diedCharles, Duke of York 1603-1612, younger brotherJames I
Charles, Prince of WalesHeir apparentson6 November 1612brother died27 March 1625became kingElizabeth, Electress Palatine 1612-1625, elder sister
Elizabeth, Electress PalatineHeiress presumptiveelder sister27 March 1625brother became king29 May 1630son born to kingFrederick Henry 1625-1629, sonCharles I
Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine 1629-1630, son
Charles, Prince of WalesHeir apparentson29 May 1630born30 January 1649became kingElizabeth, Electress Palatine 1630-1631, aunt
Mary, Princess Royal 1631-1633, sister
James, Duke of York 1633-1649, brother
James, Duke of YorkHeir presumptiveyounger brother30 January 1649brother proclaimed King6 February 1685became kingHenry, Duke of Gloucester 1649- Sept 1660, younger brotherCharles II
Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange Sept-Oct 1660, elder sister
Charles, Duke of Cambridge Oct 1660-May 1661, son
Prince William of Orange May 1661-Apr 1662, nephew
Princess Mary Apr 1662-July 1663, daughter
James Stuart, Duke of Cambridge July 1663-June 1667, son
Princess Mary June-Sept 1667, daughter
Edgar Stuart, Duke of Cambridge Sept 1667-Nov 1669, son
Princess Mary 1669-1677, daughter
Charles, Duke of Cambridge Nov-Dec 1677, son
Mary, Princess of Orange 1677-1685, daughter
Mary, Princess of OrangeHeiress presumptiveelder daughter6 February 1685father became king10 June 1688younger brother bornPrincess Anne of Denmark 1685-1688, younger sisterJames II
James, Prince of WalesHeir apparentson10 June 1688born13 February 1689father deposedMary, Princess of Orange, elder sister 1688-1689
William IIIMutual heirshusband13 February 1689Declaration of Right, 168928 December 1694became sole monarchPrincess Anne of Denmark, sister(-in-law), 1689–1702Mary II
Mary IIwifediedWilliam III
Princess Anne of DenmarkHeiress apparentsister-in-law and 1st cousin28 December 1694sister's death8 March 1702became queenWilliam, Duke of Gloucester 1694-1700, son
none, 1700-1701
Sophia, Dowager Electress of Hanover, 1701–1702, 1st cousin -1
Sophia, Dowager Electress of HanoverHeiress presumptive1st cousin -18 March 1702death of William III1 May 1707became heiress-presumptive to Great BritainGeorge Louis, Elector of Hanover 1702-1707, sonAnne

Jacobite succession, 1689-1807

The following are the heirs of the Jacobite pretenders to the throne to the death of the last Stuart pretender. For other persons in this lineage, see Jacobite succession.

HeirStatusRelationship to PretenderBecame heirReasonCeased to be heirReasonNext in successionPretender
James, Prince of WalesHeir apparentson13 February 1689father deposed16 September 1701became pretenderMary, Princess of Orange 1689-1694, elder sisterJames II
Princess Anne of Denmark 1694-1701, elder sister
Princess Anne of DenmarkHeiress presumptiveelder sister16 September 1701father died, brother became pretender1 August 1714diedLouisa Maria 1701-1712, younger sisterJames III
"The Old Pretender"
Anne Marie d'Orléans 1712-1714, 1st cousin
Anne Marie d'OrléansHeiress presumptive1st cousin1 August 1714cousin died31 December 1720son born to pretenderVictor Amadeus, Prince of Piedmont 1714-1715, son
Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont 1715-1720, son
Charles, Prince of WalesHeir apparentson31 December 1720born1 January 1766became pretenderAnne Marie d'Orléans 1720-1725, 1st cousin -1
Henry, Duke of York 1725-1766, younger brother
Henry, Duke of YorkHeir presumptiveyounger brother1 January 1766brother became pretender31 January 1788became pretenderCharles Emmanuel III of Sardinia 1766-1773, 2nd cousinCharles III
"The Young Pretender"
Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia 1773-1788, 2nd cousin +1
Victor Amadeus III of SardiniaHeir presumptive2nd cousin +131 January 1788cousin became pretender14 October 1796diedCharles Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont 1788-1796, sonHenry IX
"Cardinal York"
Charles Emmanuel IV of SardiniaHeir presumptive2nd cousin +214 October 1796father died13 July 1807Death of last Stuart pretenderVictor Emmanuel I of Sardinia 1796-1807, younger brother

See also

References

  • Ian Mortimer, The Fears of Henry IV: the Life of England's Self-Made King (Vintage, 2008)
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