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List of heirs to the English throne

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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

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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

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Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Monarch
No recognised heir 1135–1152 Stephen
Eustace IV, Count of Boulogne Heir apparent Eldest son 6 April 1152 Proclaimed heir 17 August 1153 Died
No recognised heir Aug–Nov 1153
Henry Curtmantle, Duke of Normandy Heir apparent 1st cousin +1 6 November 1153 Treaty of Wallingford 19 December 1154 Became king

1154 to 1399: Plantagenets

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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 "the Lionheart", 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

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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

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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

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Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Monarch
Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 3 October 1470 Father restored as king 11 April 1471 Father deposed Henry VI

1471 to 1485: The Yorks

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Heir Status Relationship to Monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Monarch
Edward, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 11 April 1471 Father restored as king 9 April 1483 Became king Edward IV
Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York Heir presumptive Younger brother 9 April 1483 Brother became king 25 June 1483 Declared illegitimate Edward V
Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 26 June 1483 Father became king 9 April 1484 Died Richard III
No recognised heir 1484–1485

1485 to 1603: The Tudors

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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

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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

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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

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Sources

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

References

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  1. ^ "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."
  2. ^ 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.)
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ Ross, Charles (1974). Edward IV. University of California Press. pp. 3–7. ISBN 978-0520027817.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b Beem, Charles (5 December 2019). Queenship in Early Modern Europe. Red Globe Press. ISBN 9781137005076.
  8. ^ a b Chapman, Hester W. (1974). The Sisters of Henry VIII. Chivers. p. 59. ISBN 9780859970068.
  9. ^ Section 18 of Second Succession Act
  10. ^ a b Will of King Edward VI
  11. ^ a b c d Daughter of Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk, daughter of Mary Tudor, Queen of France, daughter of Henry VII of England
  12. ^ "the said imperial crowne ... shall remaine come and be to the Lady Jane, eldest daughter of the said Lady Frances"
  13. ^ Joseph Robson Tanner (1951). Tudor Constitutional Documents, 1485–1603. Cambridge University Press. pp. 398–9.
  14. ^ Daughter of James V of Scotland, son of Margaret Tudor, elder daughter of Henry VII of England
  15. ^ Son of Mary, Queen of Scots, daughter of James V of Scotland, son of Margaret Tudor, daughter of Henry VII of England
  16. ^ 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"
  17. ^ 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"
  18. ^ Daughter of Eleanor Clifford, Countess of Cumberland, daughter of Mary Tudor, Queen of France, daughter of Henry VII of England
  19. ^ 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
  20. ^ 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"
  21. ^ 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"
  22. ^ 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"