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: The Normans
Heir
Status
Relationship to Monarch
Became heir
Reason
Ceased to be heir
Reason
Monarch
No recognised heir 1066–1087[1]
William I
William Rufus
Heir apparent
Second son
7 September 1087
Proclaimed heir[2]
26 September 1087
Became king
No recognised heir 1087–1100
William II
No recognised heir 1100–1116
Henry I
William Adelin, Duke of Normandy
Heir apparent
Son
19 March 1116
Proclaimed heir[3]
25 November 1120
Died
No recognised heir 1120–1126
Empress Matilda, Countess of Anjou
Heiress presumptive
Daughter
25 December 1126
Proclaimed heiress
22 December 1135
Throne usurped by cousin Stephen of Blois
1135 to 1154: The Blois
1154 to 1399: Plantagenets
Heir
Status
Relationship to Monarch
Became heir
Reason
Ceased to be heir
Reason
Monarch
No recognised heir 1154–1155
Henry II
William IX, Count of Poitiers
Heir apparent
Eldest son
3 April 1155
Proclaimed heir
April 1156
Died
Henry the Young King
Heir apparent
Son
April 1156
Brother died
11 June 1183
Died
No recognised heir 1183–1189
Richard, Duke of Aquitaine
Heir apparent
Son
4 July 1189
Proclaimed heir
3 September 1189
Became king
No recognised heir 1189–1190
Richard I
Arthur I, Duke of Brittany
Heir presumptive
Nephew
11 November 1190
Proclaimed heir
27 May 1199
Throne usurped by John
No recognised heir 1199–1207
John
Henry of Winchester
Heir apparent
Eldest son
1 October 1207
Born
28 October 1216
Became king
Richard, Earl of Cornwall
Heir presumptive
Younger brother
28 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: The Lancasters
Heir
Status
Relationship to Monarch
Became heir
Reason
Ceased to be heir
Reason
Monarch
Henry of Monmouth, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
Eldest son
30 September 1399
Father became king
20 March 1413
Became king
Henry IV
Thomas, Duke of Clarence
Heir presumptive
Younger brother
20 March 1413
Brother became king
22 March 1421
Died
Henry V
John, Duke of Bedford
Heir presumptive
Younger brother
22 March 1421
Brother died
6 December 1421
Son born to king
Henry, Duke of Cornwall
Heir apparent
Son
6 December 1421
Born
31 August 1422
Became king
John, Duke of Bedford
Heir presumptive
Uncle
31 August 1422
Nephew became king
14 September 1435
Died
Henry VI
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester
Heir presumptive
Uncle
14 September 1435
Brother died
23 February 1447
Died
Richard, Duke of York [4]
Heir presumptive
2nd cousin −1
23 February 1447
2nd cousin died
13 October 1453
Son born to king
Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
Son
13 October 1453
Born
25 October 1460
Act of Accord
Richard, Duke of York
Heir apparent
2nd cousin −1
25 October 1460
Act of Accord
30 December 1460
Died
Edward, Duke of York
Heir apparent
3rd cousin
30 December 1460
Father died
4 March 1461
Became king
1461 to 1470: The Yorks
Heir
Status
Relationship to Monarch
Became heir
Reason
Ceased to be heir
Reason
Monarch
George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence (Disputed from 1466 onward)[5]
Heir presumptive
Younger brother
4 March 1461
Brother became king
31 March 1470
Proclaimed traitor
Edward IV
No recognised heir Mar-Oct 1470[6]
1470 to 1471: The Lancasters
1471 to 1485: The Yorks
1485 to 1603: The Tudors
Heir
Status
Relationship to Monarch
Became heir
Reason
Ceased to be heir
Reason
Monarch
No recognised heir 1485–1486
Henry VII
Arthur, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
Eldest son
20 September 1486
Born
2 April 1502
Died
Henry, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
Son
2 April 1502
Brother died
22 April 1509
Became king
Margaret, Queen of Scotland [7] [8]
Heiress presumptive
Sister
22 April 1509
Brother became king
1 January 1511
Son born to king
Henry VIII
Henry, Duke of Cornwall
Heir apparent
Eldest son
1 January 1511
Born
23 February 1511
Died
Margaret, Queen of Scotland [7] [8]
Heiress presumptive
Sister
23 February 1511
Nephew died
18 February 1516
Daughter born to king
Mary Tudor
Heiress presumptive
Eldest daughter
18 February 1516
Born
23 March 1534
First Succession Act
Elizabeth Tudor
Heiress presumptive
Daughter
23 March 1534
First Succession Act
8 June 1536
Second Succession Act
No recognised heir 1536–1537[9]
Edward, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
Son
12 October 1537
Born
28 January 1547
Became king
Mary Tudor
Heiress presumptive
Elder half-sister
28 January 1547
Half-brother became king
21 June 1553
Excluded by letters patent[10]
Edward VI
Lady Jane Grey
Heiress presumptive
1st cousin +1[11]
21 June 1553
Named in letters patent[10] [12]
6 July 1553
Proclaimed queen
Upon the death of Edward VI, the succession was disputed between his sister Mary , the heir by primogeniture and the Third Succession Act , 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.
Lady Katherine Grey
Heiress presumptive (disputed)
Younger sister[11]
6 July 1553
Sister proclaimed queen
19 July 1553
Sister deposed
Jane
Elizabeth Tudor
Heiress presumptive
Younger half-sister
6 July 1553
Half-sister became queen
17 November 1558
Became queen
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 will of Henry VIII . The document placed the granddaughters of the king's younger sister Mary after his children, while also disinheriting the descendants of his elder sister Margaret . However, as the will had been signed by a dry stamp rather than by the king's own hand, its legal force was questionable.[13] The following are the leaders of both lines:
Mary, Queen of Scots
Potential heirs by cognatic primogeniture
1st cousin +1[14]
17 November 1558
Cousin became queen
8 February 1587
Executed
Elizabeth I
James VI of Scotland
1st cousin +2[15]
8 February 1587
Mother executed
24 March 1603
Became king
Lady Katherine Grey [16]
Potential heirs by the will of Henry VIII
1st cousin +1[11]
17 November 1558
Cousin became queen
26 January 1568
Died
Lady Mary Grey [16]
1st cousin +1[11]
26 January 1568
Sister died
20 April 1578
Died
Margaret, Countess of Derby [17]
1st cousin +1[18]
20 April 1578
1st cousin died
28 September 1596
Died
Lady Anne Stanley [17]
1st cousin +3[19]
28 September 1596
Paternal grandmother died
24 March 1603
succession of new king
1603 to 1707: The Stuarts
Heir
Status
Relationship to monarch
Became heir
Reason
Ceased to be heir
Reason
Next in succession Relation to heir
Monarch
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
Eldest son
24 March 1603
Father became king
6 November 1612
Died
Charles, Duke of York Younger brother
James I
Charles, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
Son
6 November 1612
Brother died
27 March 1625
Became king
Elizabeth, Electress Palatine 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 Jan - May 1629 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 – 1660 Younger brother
Charles II
Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange Sep – Oct 1660 Elder sister
Charles, Duke of Cambridge 1660 – 1661 Son
Prince William of Orange 1661 – 1662 Nephew
Princess Mary 1662 – 1663 Daughter
James Stuart, Duke of Cambridge 1663 – 1667 Son
Princess Mary Jun – Sep 1667 Daughter
Edgar Stuart, Duke of Cambridge 1667 – 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 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
William III
Mutual heirs[20]
Husband
13 February 1689
Declaration of Right, 1689
28 December 1694
Became sole monarch
Princess Anne of Denmark [21] Sister(-in-law)
Mary II
Mary II
Wife
Died
William III
Princess Anne of Denmark
Heiress presumptive[21]
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[22]
Sophia, Dowager Electress of Hanover
Heiress presumptive[22]
1st cousin −1
8 March 1702
Death of William III
1 May 1707
Became heiress-presumptive to Great Britain
George Louis, Elector of Hanover 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 VII and 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, Princess Royal 1701–1712, younger sister
James VIII and III "The Old Pretender"
Anne Marie, Queen of Scilly 1712–1714, 1st cousin
Anne Marie, Queen of Sardinia
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, Queen of Sardinia 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 , son
Henry I and 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 , younger brother
See also
Sources
Ian Mortimer, The Fears of Henry IV: the Life of England's Self-Made King (Vintage, 2008)
References
^ "Robert [called Robert Curthose], duke of Normandy". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi :10.1093/ref:odnb/23715 . (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) "William had made no explicit arrangements for the succession beyond the designation of Robert as his heir in Normandy."
^ Nichols, John (1780). A Collection of Royal and Noble Wills . London. p. 1. ; "William II [known as William Rufus]". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi :10.1093/ref:odnb/29449 . (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ Garnett, George (2007). Conquered England: Kingship, Succession, and Tenure 1066-1166 . Oxford University Press. p. 206. ISBN 9780198207931 . citing Eadmer , Historia Novorum , 237, William of Malmesbury , Chronicle of the kings of England, p. 454 and John of Worcester , Chronicon ex chronicis, iii, 138
^ Ross, Charles (1974). Edward IV . University of California Press. pp. 3–7. ISBN 978-0520027817 .
^ As Edward IV had based his right to throne on being the heir general of Edward III through male-preference primogeniture , it has been argued that George was displaced as heir by his niece, Edwards oldest daughter, Elizabeth , upon her birth in 1466. Despite this, Edward, still hoping for the eventual birth of a son, never formerly named her as heir.
^ Edward IV's wife was pregnant, so the succession could not be determined until the baby was born. See Posthumous birth#In monarchies and nobilities .
^ a b Beem, Charles (5 December 2019). Queenship in Early Modern Europe . Red Globe Press. ISBN 9781137005076 .
^ a b Chapman, Hester W. (1974). The Sisters of Henry VIII . Chivers. p. 59. ISBN 9780859970068 .
^ Section 18 of Second Succession Act
^ a b Will of King Edward VI
^ a b c d Daughter of Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk , daughter of Mary Tudor, Queen of France , daughter of Henry VII of England
^ "the said imperial crowne ... shall remaine come and be to the Lady Jane, eldest daughter of the said Lady Frances"
^ Joseph Robson Tanner (1951). Tudor Constitutional Documents, 1485–1603 . Cambridge University Press. pp. 398–9.
^ Daughter of James V of Scotland , son of Margaret Tudor , elder daughter of Henry VII of England
^ Son of Mary, Queen of Scots , daughter of James V of Scotland , son of Margaret Tudor , daughter of Henry VII of England
^ a b Will of Henry VIII of England - "And if it shall fortune our said daughter, Elizabeth, to die without issue of her body lawfully begotten, ... we will that the said imperial crown ... shall wholly remain and come to the heirs of the body of the Lady Frances, our niece, eldest daughter to our late sister, the French Queen, lawfully begotten"
^ a b Will of Henry VIII of England - "And for default of such issue of the body of the said Lady Frances, we will that the said
imperial crown ... shall wholly remain and come to the heirs of the body of the Lady Eleanor, our niece, second daughter to our said late sister, the French Queen, lawfully begotten"
^ Daughter of Eleanor Clifford, Countess of Cumberland , daughter of Mary Tudor, Queen of France , daughter of Henry VII of England
^ Daughter of Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby , son of Margaret Stanley, Countess of Derby , daughter of Eleanor Clifford, Countess of Cumberland , daughter of Mary Tudor, Queen of France , daughter of Henry VII of England
^ Bill of Rights 1689 - "the crown and regal government of the said kingdoms ... shall be and continue to their said Majesties and the survivor of them during their lives and the life of the survivor of them"
^ a b Bill of Rights 1689 - "after [the deceases of William and Mary] the said crown and premises shall be and remain to the heirs of the body of her Majesty [there were none], and for default of such issue to her Royal Highness the Princess Anne of Denmark"
^ a b Act of Settlement 1701 - "the most excellent Princess Sophia, Electress and Duchess Dowager of Hanover ... be and is hereby declared to be the next in succession ... after His Majesty, and the Princess Anne of Denmark, and in default of issue of the said Princess Anne, and of His Majesty respectively"