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
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No recognised heir 1066–1087 | William I | ||||||
William Rufus | Heir apparent | son | 7/8 September 1087 | proclaimed heir | 9 September 1087 | became king | |
No recognised heir 1087–1091 | William II | ||||||
Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy | Heir presumptive | elder brother | 18 July 1091 | Treaty of Caen | 2/5 August 1100 | throne usurped by younger brother Henry | |
No recognised heir 1100–1101 | Henry I | ||||||
Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy | Heir presumptive | elder brother | 2 August 1101 | Treaty of Alton | 5 August 1103 | son born to king | |
William Adelin, Duke of Normandy | Heir apparent | son | 5 August 1103 | born | 25 November 1120 | died | |
No recognised heir 1120–1126 | |||||||
Empress Matilda, Countess of Anjou | Heiress presumptive | daughter | 25 December 1126 | proclaimed heiress | 1/22 December 1135 | throne usurped by cousin Stephen of Blois |
1135 to 1154
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eustace IV, Count of Boulogne | Heir apparent | eldest son | 22 December 1135 | father became king | 17 August 1153 | died | Stephen |
William I, Count of Boulogne | Heir apparent | son | 17 August 1153 | brother died | 6 November 1153 | Treaty of Wallingford | |
Henry Curtmantle, Duke of Normandy | Heir apparent | 1st cousin +1 | 6 November 1153 | Treaty of Wallingford | 25 October 1154 | became king |
1154 to 1399
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Monarch | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
William IX, Count of Poitiers | Heir apparent | eldest son | 25 October 1154 | father became king | April 1156 | died | Henry II | |
Henry the Young King | Heir apparent | son | April 1156 | brother died | 11 June 1183 | died | ||
Richard, Duke of Aquitaine | Heir apparent | son | 11 June 1183 | brother died | 6 July 1189 | became king | ||
Arthur I, Duke of Brittany | Heir presumptive | nephew | 6 July 1189 | uncle became king | 6 April 1199 | throne usurped by youngest uncle John | Richard I | |
No recognised heir 1199–1207 | John | |||||||
Henry of Winchester | Heir apparent | eldest son | 1 October 1207 | born | 19 October 1216 | became king | ||
Richard, Earl of Cornwall | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 19 October 1216 | brother became king | 17 June 1239 | son born to king | Henry III | |
Edward "Longshanks", Lord of Chester | Heir apparent | eldest son | 17 June 1239 | born | 20 November 1272 | became king | ||
Henry | Heir apparent | eldest son | 20 November 1272 | father became king | 16 October 1274 | died | Edward I | |
Alphonso, Earl of Chester | Heir apparent | son | 16 October 1274 | brother died | 19 August 1284 | died | ||
Edward of Caernarfon, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | son | 19 August 1284 | brother died | 7 July 1307 | became king | ||
Thomas of Brotherton, Earl of Norfolk | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 7 July 1307 | brother became king | 13 November 1312 | son born to king | Edward II | |
Edward of Windsor, Earl of Chester | Heir apparent | eldest son | 13 November 1312 | born | 25 January 1327 | became king | ||
John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 25 January 1327 | brother became king | 15 June 1330 | son born to king | Edward III | |
Edward "the Black Prince", Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | eldest son | 15 June 1330 | born | 8 June 1376 | died | ||
Richard of Bordeaux, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | grandson | 8 June 1376 | father died | 21 June 1377 | became 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 Lancaster | Potential heirs by the will of Edward III | uncle | 21 June 1377 | nephew became king | 3 February 1399 | died | Richard II | |
Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster | 1st cousin | 3 February 1399 | father died | 30 September 1399 | became king | |||
Philippa, Countess of Ulster | Potential heirs by cognatic primogeniture | 1st cousin | 21 June 1377 | cousin became king | 5 January 1382 | died | ||
Roger Mortimer, Earl of March | 1st cousin +1 | 5 January 1382 | mother died | 20 July 1398 | died | |||
Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March | 1st cousin +2 | 20 July 1398 | father died | 30 September 1399 | succession of new king |
1399 to 1461
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in succession | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Henry of Monmouth, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | eldest son | 30 September 1399 | father became king | 20 March 1413 | became king | Thomas, Duke of Clarence 1399-1413, younger brother | Henry IV |
Thomas, Duke of Clarence | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 20 March 1413 | brother became king | 22 March 1421 | died | John, Duke of Bedford 1413-1421, younger brother | Henry V |
John, Duke of Bedford | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 22 March 1421 | brother died | 6 December 1421 | son born to king | Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester Mar-Dec 1421, younger brother | |
Henry, Duke of Cornwall | Heir apparent | son | 6 December 1421 | born | 31 August 1422 | became king | John, Duke of Bedford 1421-1422, uncle | |
John, Duke of Bedford | Heir presumptive | uncle | 31 August 1422 | nephew became king | 14 September 1435 | died | Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester 1422-1435, younger brother | Henry VI |
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester | Heir presumptive | uncle | 14 September 1435 | brother died | 23 February 1447 | died | none | |
No recognised heir 1447–1453 | ||||||||
Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | son | 13 October 1453 | born | 25 October 1460 | Act of Accord | none | |
Richard, Duke of York | Heir apparent | 3rd cousin -1 | 25 October 1460 | Act of Accord | 30 December 1460 | died | Edward, Earl of March 1460, son | |
Edward, Duke of York | Heir apparent | 3rd cousin | 30 December 1460 | father died | 4 March 1461 | became king | George 1460-1461, brother |
1461 to 1470
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in succession | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
George, Duke of Clarence | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 4 March 1461 | brother became king | 31 March 1470 | proclaimed traitor | Richard, Duke of Gloucester 1461-1470, younger brother | Edward IV |
No recognised heir Mar–Oct 1470 |
1470 to 1471
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in succession | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | eldest son | 3 October 1470 | father restored as king | 11 April 1471 | father deposed | George, Duke of Clarence 1470-1471, 3rd cousin -1 | Henry VI |
1471 to 1485
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in succession | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Edward, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | eldest son | 11 April 1471 | father restored as king | 9 April 1483 | became king | George, Duke of Clarence 1471-1473, uncle | Edward IV |
Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York 1473-1483, younger brother | ||||||||
Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 9 April 1483 | brother became king | 25 June 1483 | declared illegitimate | Richard, Duke of Gloucester 1483, uncle | Edward V |
Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | eldest son | 26 June 1483 | father became king | 9 April 1484 | died | John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln 1483-1484, 1st cousin | Richard III |
John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln | Heir presumptive | nephew | 9 April 1484 | cousin died | 22 August 1485 | king killed | Edmund de la Pole 1484-1485, younger brother |
1485 to 1603
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in succession | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No recognised heir 1485–1486 | Henry VII | |||||||
Arthur, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | eldest son | 20 September 1486 | born | 2 April 1502 | died | none 1486-1491 | |
Henry, Duke of York 1491-1502, younger brother | ||||||||
Henry, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | son | 2 April 1502 | brother died | 22 April 1509 | became king | none | |
No recognised heir 1509–1511 | Henry VIII | |||||||
Henry, Duke of Cornwall | Heir apparent | eldest son | 1 January 1511 | born | 23 February 1511 | died | none | |
No recognised heir 1511–1515 | ||||||||
Henry, Duke of Cornwall | Heir apparent | eldest son | 8 January 1515 | born | 8 January 1515 | died | none | |
No recognised heir 1515–1516 | ||||||||
Mary Tudor | Heiress presumptive | eldest daughter | 18 February 1516 | born | 23 March 1534 | First Succession Act | none | |
Elizabeth Tudor, 1533-1534, younger half-sister | ||||||||
Elizabeth Tudor | Heiress presumptive | daughter | 23 March 1534 | First Succession Act | 8 June 1536 | Second Succession Act | none | |
No recognised heir 1536–1537 | ||||||||
Edward, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | son | 12 October 1537 | born | 28 January 1547 | became king | Mary Tudor, older half-sister, 1544-1547 | |
Mary Tudor | Heiress presumptive | elder half-sister | 28 January 1547 | half-brother became king | 21 June 1553 | excluded by letters patent | Lady Elizabeth 1547-1553, younger half-sister | Edward VI |
Lady Jane Grey | Heiress presumptive | 1st cousin +1 | 21 June 1553 | named in letters patent | 6 July 1553 | proclaimed queen | Catherine, 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 Cardiff | Heiress presumptive (disputed) | younger sister | 6 July 1553 | sister proclaimed queen | 19 July 1553 | sister deposed | Mary Grey 1553, younger sister | Jane |
Elizabeth Tudor | Heiress presumptive | younger half-sister | 6 July 1553 | Half-sister became queen | 17 November 1558 | became queen | none | Mary 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 Scots | Potential heirs by cognatic primogeniture | 1st cousin +1 | 17 November 1558 | cousin became queen | 8 February 1587 | executed | James VI of Scotland 1566-1587, son | Elizabeth I |
James VI of Scotland | 1st cousin +2 | 8 February 1587 | mother executed | 24 March 1603 | became king | Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales 1594-1603, son | ||
Lady Frances Stokes | Potential heirs by the will of Henry VIII | 1st cousin | 17 November 1558 | cousin became queen | 20 November 1559 | died | Lady Catherine Grey, daughter | |
Lady Catherine Grey | 1st cousin +1 | 20 November 1559 | mother died | 26 January 1568 | died | Lady Mary Grey, sister | ||
Lady Mary Grey | 1st cousin +1 | 26 January 1568 | sister died | 20 April 1578 | died | Margaret, Countess of Derby, 1st cousin | ||
Margaret, Countess of Derby | 1st cousin +1 | 20 April 1578 | 1st cousin died | 28 September 1596 | died | Ferdinando Stanley, Earl of Derby 1578-1594, son | ||
Lady Anne Stanley 1594-1596, granddaughter | ||||||||
Lady Anne Stanley | 1st cousin +3 | 28 September 1596 | paternal grandmother died | 24 March 1603 | succession of new king | Lady Frances Stanley, sister |
1603 to 1707
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in succession | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | eldest son | 24 March 1603 | father became king | 6 November 1612 | died | Charles, Duke of York 1603-1612, younger brother | James I |
Charles, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | son | 6 November 1612 | brother died | 27 March 1625 | became king | Elizabeth, Electress Palatine 1612-1625, elder sister | |
Elizabeth, Electress Palatine | Heiress presumptive | elder sister | 27 March 1625 | brother became king | 29 May 1630 | son born to king | Frederick Henry 1625-1629, son | Charles I |
Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine 1629-1630, son | ||||||||
Charles, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | son | 29 May 1630 | born | 30 January 1649 | became king | Elizabeth, Electress Palatine 1630-1631, aunt | |
Mary, Princess Royal 1631-1633, sister | ||||||||
James, Duke of York 1633-1649, brother | ||||||||
James, Duke of York | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 30 January 1649 | brother proclaimed King | 6 February 1685 | became king | Henry, Duke of Gloucester 1649- Sept 1660, younger brother | Charles 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 Orange | Heiress presumptive | elder daughter | 6 February 1685 | father became king | 10 June 1688 | younger brother born | Princess Anne of Denmark 1685-1688, younger sister | James II |
James, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | son | 10 June 1688 | born | 13 February 1689 | father deposed | Mary, Princess of Orange, elder sister 1688-1689 | |
William III | Mutual heirs | husband | 13 February 1689 | Declaration of Right, 1689 | 28 December 1694 | became sole monarch | Princess Anne of Denmark, sister(-in-law), 1689–1702 | Mary II |
Mary II | wife | died | William III | |||||
Princess Anne of Denmark | Heiress apparent | sister-in-law and 1st cousin | 28 December 1694 | sister's death | 8 March 1702 | became queen | William, Duke of Gloucester 1694-1700, son | |
none, 1700-1701 | ||||||||
Sophia, Dowager Electress of Hanover, 1701–1702, 1st cousin -1 | ||||||||
Sophia, Dowager Electress of Hanover | Heiress presumptive | 1st cousin -1 | 8 March 1702 | death of William III | 1 May 1707 | became heiress-presumptive to Great Britain | George Louis, Elector of Hanover 1702-1707, son | Anne |
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.
Heir | Status | Relationship to Pretender | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Next in succession | Pretender |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
James, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | son | 13 February 1689 | father deposed | 16 September 1701 | became pretender | Mary, Princess of Orange 1689-1694, elder sister | James II |
Princess Anne of Denmark 1694-1701, elder sister | ||||||||
Princess Anne of Denmark | Heiress presumptive | elder sister | 16 September 1701 | father died, brother became pretender | 1 August 1714 | died | Louisa Maria 1701-1712, younger sister | James III "The Old Pretender" |
Anne Marie d'Orléans 1712-1714, 1st cousin | ||||||||
Anne Marie d'Orléans | Heiress presumptive | 1st cousin | 1 August 1714 | cousin died | 31 December 1720 | son born to pretender | Victor Amadeus, Prince of Piedmont 1714-1715, son | |
Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont 1715-1720, son | ||||||||
Charles, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | son | 31 December 1720 | born | 1 January 1766 | became pretender | Anne Marie d'Orléans 1720-1725, 1st cousin -1 | |
Henry, Duke of York 1725-1766, younger brother | ||||||||
Henry, Duke of York | Heir presumptive | younger brother | 1 January 1766 | brother became pretender | 31 January 1788 | became pretender | Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia 1766-1773, 2nd cousin | Charles III "The Young Pretender" |
Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia 1773-1788, 2nd cousin +1 | ||||||||
Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia | Heir presumptive | 2nd cousin +1 | 31 January 1788 | cousin became pretender | 14 October 1796 | died | Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont 1788-1796, son | Henry IX "Cardinal York" |
Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia | Heir presumptive | 2nd cousin +2 | 14 October 1796 | father died | 13 July 1807 | Death of last Stuart pretender | Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia 1796-1807, younger brother |
See also
- List of heirs to the Scottish throne
- List of heirs to the British throne
- Line of succession to the British throne
- History of the English line of succession
References
- Ian Mortimer, The Fears of Henry IV: the Life of England's Self-Made King (Vintage, 2008)