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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.).
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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] |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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