List of heirs to the Scottish throne

Last updated November 22, 2024

This is a list of the individuals who were, at any given time, considered the next in line to inherit the throne of Scotland, 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.

1124 to 1290

Heir	Status	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Monarch
Henry, Earl of Huntingdon	Heir apparent	Son	23 April 1124	Father became king	12 June 1152	Died	David I
Malcolm	Heir apparent	Grandson	12 June 1152	Father died	24 May 1153	Became king	David I
William, Earl of Northumbria	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	24 May 1153	Brother became king	9 December 1165	Became king	Malcolm IV
David, Earl of Huntingdon	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	9 December 1165	Brother became king	1193	Daughter born to king	William I
Margaret	Heiress presumptive	Eldest daughter	1193	Born	24 August 1198	Brother born
Alexander	Heir apparent	Son	24 August 1198	Born	4 December 1214	Became king
Margaret, Countess of Kent	Heiress presumptive	Elder sister	4 December 1214	Brother became king	4 September 1241	Son born to king	Alexander II
Alexander	Heir apparent	Son	4 September 1241	Born	8 July 1249	Became king	Alexander II
Margaret, Countess of Kent	Heiress presumptive	Aunt	8 July 1249	Nephew became king	25 November 1259	Died	Alexander III
Isabella, Countess of Norfolk	Heiress presumptive	Aunt	25 November 1259	Sister died	28 February 1261	Daughter born to king
Margaret	Heiress presumptive	Daughter	28 February 1261	Born	21 January 1264	Brother born
Alexander	Heir apparent	Eldest son	21 January 1264	Born	28 January 1284	Died
Margaret	Heiress presumptive	Granddaughter	28 January 1284	Uncle died	19 March 1286	Became lady and queen
No recognised heir 1286–1290							Margaret

1292 to 1296

Heir	Status	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Monarch
Edward	Heir apparent	Eldest son	17 November 1292	Father became king	10 July 1296	Father abdicated	John

1306 to 1371

Heir	Status	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir Reason	Ceased to be heir Reason	Monarch
No recognised heir 1306–1315					Robert I
Edward Bruce, Earl of Carrick	Heir presumptive	Brother	27 April 1315 Proclaimed heir	14 October 1318 Died
No recognised heir Oct–Dec 1318
Robert Stewart	Heir presumptive	Grandson	3 December 1318 Proclaimed heir	5 March 1324 Twin sons born to king
David Bruce, Earl of Carrick	Heir apparent	Son	5 March 1324 Born	7 June 1329 Became king
Robert Stewart, 7th High Steward of Scotland	Heir presumptive	Half-nephew	7 June 1329 Half-uncle became king	22 February 1371 Became king	David II

1371 to 1707

Heir	Status	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir Reason	Ceased to be heir Reason	Next in succession Relation to heir	Monarch
No recognised heir Feb–Mar 1371						Robert II
John Stewart, Earl of Carrick	Heir apparent	Son	27 March 1371 Proclaimed heir	19 April 1390 Became king	None 1371–1373
					Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife 1373–1378, Brother
					David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay 1378–1390, Son
David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	19 April 1390 Father became king	26 March 1402 Died in captivity	Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife 1390–1394, Uncle	Robert III
David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	19 April 1390 Father became king	26 March 1402 Died in captivity	James Stewart 1394–1402, Brother
James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	26 March 1402 Brother died	4 April 1406 Became king	Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany Uncle
Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	Uncle	4 April 1406 Nephew became king	3 September 1420 Died	Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany Son	James I
Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	1st cousin	3 September 1420 Father died	25 May 1425 Executed	Robert Stewart 1420–1421, Son
					Walter Stewart 1421–1425, Son
					Alexander Stewart 1425, Son
Walter Stewart, Earl of Atholl	Heir presumptive	Half-uncle	25 May 1425 Half-nephew executed	16 October 1430 Twin sons born to king	Alan Stewart, Earl of Caithness Son
Alexander Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	16 October 1430 Born	1430 Died	James Stewart Brother
James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	1430 Brother died	21 February 1437 Father assassinated, became king	Walter Stewart, Earl of Atholl Granduncle
Walter Stewart, Earl of Atholl	Heir presumptive	Half-granduncle	21 February 1437 Half-grandnephew became king	26 March 1437 Executed, grandson executed on same day	Robert Stewart, Master of Atholl Grandson	James II
No recognised heir 1437–1451
James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	10 July 1451 Born	3 August 1460 Became king	None 1451–1454
James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	10 July 1451 Born	3 August 1460 Became king	Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany 1454–1460, Brother
Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	Brother	3 August 1460 Brother became king	17 March 1473 Son born to king	John Stewart, Earl of Mar Brother	James III
James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	17 March 1473 Born	11 June 1488 Father killed in battle, became king	Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany 1473–1476, Uncle
James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	17 March 1473 Born	11 June 1488 Father killed in battle, became king	James Stewart, Duke of Ross 1476–1488, Brother
James Stewart, Duke of Ross	Heir presumptive	Brother	11 June 1488 Brother became king	January 1504 Died	John Stewart, Earl of Mar 1488–1503, Brother	James IV
James Stewart, Duke of Ross	Heir presumptive	Brother	11 June 1488 Brother became king	January 1504 Died	John Stewart, Duke of Albany 1503–1504, 1st cousin
John Stewart, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	1st cousin	January 1504 1st cousin died	21 February 1507 Son born to king	James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran 1st cousin
James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	21 February 1507 Born	27 February 1508 Died	John Stewart, Duke of Albany 1st cousin −1
John Stewart, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	1st cousin	27 February 1508 1st cousin +1 died	20 October 1509 Son born to king	James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran 1st cousin
Arthur Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	20 October 1509 Born	14 July 1510 Died	John Stewart, Duke of Albany 1st cousin −1
John Stewart, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	1st cousin	14 July 1510 1st cousin +1 died	10 April 1512 Son born to king	James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran 1st cousin
James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	10 April 1512 Born	9 September 1513 Father killed in battle, became king	John Stewart, Duke of Albany 1st cousin −1
John Stewart, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	1st cousin −1	9 September 1513 1st cousin +1 became king	30 April 1514 Posthumous son born to James IV	James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran 1st cousin	James V
Alexander Stewart, Duke of Ross	Heir presumptive	Brother	30 April 1514 Born posthumously	18 December 1515 Died	John Stewart, Duke of Albany 1st cousin −1
John Stewart, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	1st cousin −1	18 December 1515 1st cousin +1 died	2 June 1536 Died	James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran 1515–1529, 1st cousin
John Stewart, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	1st cousin −1	18 December 1515 1st cousin +1 died	2 June 1536 Died	James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran 1529–1536, 1st cousin +1
James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran	Heir presumptive	2nd cousin	2 June 1536 1st cousin –1 died	22 May 1540 Son born to king	Helen Campbell, Countess of Argyll 1536–1537, Sister
James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran	Heir presumptive	2nd cousin	2 June 1536 1st cousin –1 died	22 May 1540 Son born to king	James Hamilton 1537–1540, Son
James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	22 May 1540 Born	21 April 1541 Died	James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran 1540–1541, 2nd cousin −1
					Arthur Stewart, Duke of Albany 1541, Brother
					James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran 1541, 2nd cousin −1
James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran	Heir presumptive	2nd cousin	21 April 1541 2nd cousin +1 died	8 December 1542 Daughter born to king	James Hamilton Son
Mary Stewart	Heiress presumptive	Daughter	8 December 1542 Born	14 December 1542 Became queen	James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran 2nd cousin −1
James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran	Heir presumptive	2nd cousin −1	14 December 1542 2nd cousin +1 became queen	19 June 1566 Son born to queen	James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran Son	Mary I
James Stuart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	19 June 1566 Born	24 July 1567 Mother abdicated, became king	James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran 2nd cousin −2	Mary I
James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran	Heir presumptive	2nd cousin −2	24 July 1567 2nd cousin +2 became king	22 January 1575 Died	James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran Son	James VI
James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran	Heir presumptive	3rd cousin −1	22 January 1575 Father died	19 February 1594 Son born to king	John Hamilton Brother
Henry Frederick Stuart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	19 February 1594 Born	6 November 1612 Died	James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran 1594–1596, 3rd cousin −2
					Elizabeth Stuart 1596–1600, Sister
					Charles Stuart, Duke of Albany 1600–1612, Brother
Charles Stuart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	6 November 1612 Brother died	27 March 1625 Became king	Elizabeth, Electress Palatine Sister
Elizabeth, Electress Palatine	Heiress presumptive	Sister	27 March 1625 Brother became king	13 May 1629 Son born to king	Hereditary Prince Frederick Henry of the Palatinate 1625–1629, Son	Charles I
Elizabeth, Electress Palatine	Heiress presumptive	Sister	27 March 1625 Brother became king	13 May 1629 Son born to king	Prince Charles Louis of the Palatinate 1629, Son
Charles James Stuart, Duke of Rothesay^[1]	Heir apparent	Son	13 May 1629 Born	13 May 1629 Died	Elizabeth, Electress Palatine Aunt
Elizabeth, Electress Palatine	Heiress presumptive	Sister	13 May 1629 Nephew died	29 May 1630 Son born to king	Prince Charles Louis of the Palatinate Son
Charles Stuart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	29 May 1630 Born	30 January 1649 Proclaimed king	Elizabeth, Electress Palatine 1630–1631, Aunt
					Mary Stuart 1631–1633, Sister
					James Stuart 1633–1649, Brother
James Stuart, Duke of Albany	Heir presumptive	Brother	30 January 1649 Brother proclaimed king	6 February 1685 Became king	Henry Stuart 1649–1660, Brother	Charles II
					Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange 1660, Sister
					Charles Stuart 1660–1661, Son
					William III, Prince of Orange 1661–1662, Nephew
					Mary Stuart 1662–1663, Daughter
					James Stuart 1663–1667, Son
					Mary Stuart 1667, Daughter
					Edgar Stuart 1667–1671, Son
					Mary, Princess of Orange 1671–1677, Daughter
					Charles Stuart 1677, Son
					Mary, Princess of Orange 1677–1685, Daughter
Mary, Princess of Orange	Heiress presumptive	Daughter	6 February 1685 Father became king	10 June 1688 Son born to king	Princess Anne of Denmark Sister	James VII
James Stuart, Duke of Rothesay	Heir apparent	Son	10 June 1688 Born	11 May 1689 Father deposed, excluded from succeeding	Mary, Princess of Orange Sister	James VII
William II	Mutual heirs^[2]	Husband	13 February 1689 Became joint monarchs	28 December 1694 Became sole monarch	Princess Anne of Denmark Sister(-in-law)	Mary II
Mary II	Mutual heirs^[2]	Wife	13 February 1689 Became joint monarchs	28 December 1694 Died	Princess Anne of Denmark Sister(-in-law)	William III
Princess Anne of Denmark	Heiress presumptive	Sister-in-law / 1st cousin	28 December 1694 Sister died	8 March 1702 Became queen	Prince William of Denmark 1694–1700, Son
Princess Anne of Denmark	Heiress presumptive	Sister-in-law / 1st cousin	28 December 1694 Sister died	8 March 1702 Became queen	None 1700–1702
No recognised heir 1702–1707^[3]						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 Relation to heir	Pretender
James Stuart, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Son	13 February 1689 Father deposed	16 September 1701 Became pretender	Mary, Princess of Orange 1689–1694, Sister	James VII
James Stuart, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Son	13 February 1689 Father deposed	16 September 1701 Became pretender	Princess Anne of Denmark 1694–1701, Sister	James VII
Princess Anne of Denmark	Heiress presumptive	Sister	16 September 1701 Brother became pretender	1 August 1714 Died	Louisa Maria Stuart, Princess Royal 1701–1712, Sister	James VIII "The Old Pretender"
Princess Anne of Denmark	Heiress presumptive	Sister	16 September 1701 Brother became pretender	1 August 1714 Died	Anne Marie, Queen of Scilly 1712–1714, 1st cousin
Anne Marie, Queen of Sardinia	Heiress presumptive	1st cousin	1 August 1714 1st cousin died	31 December 1720 Son born to pretender	Victor Amadeus, Prince of Piedmont 1714–1715, Son
Anne Marie, Queen of Sardinia	Heiress presumptive	1st cousin	1 August 1714 1st cousin died	31 December 1720 Son born to pretender	Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont 1715–1720, Son
Charles Stuart, 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
Charles Stuart, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Son	31 December 1720 Born	1 January 1766 Became pretender	Henry Stuart, Duke of York 1725–1766, Brother
Henry Stuart, Duke of York	Heir presumptive	Brother	1 January 1766 Brother became pretender	31 January 1788 Became pretender	King Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia 1766–1773, 2nd cousin	Charles III "The Young Pretender"
Henry Stuart, Duke of York	Heir presumptive	Brother	1 January 1766 Brother became pretender	31 January 1788 Became pretender	King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia 1773–1788, 2nd cousin +1	Charles III "The Young Pretender"
King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia	Heir presumptive	2nd cousin +1	31 January 1788 2nd cousin –1 became pretender	14 October 1796 Died	Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont Son	Henry I "Cardinal York"
King Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia	Heir presumptive	2nd cousin +2	14 October 1796 Father died	13 July 1807 Last Stuart pretender died	Prince Victor Emmanuel of Savoy Brother	Henry I "Cardinal York"

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References

http://www.burkes-peerage.net/articles/roking.aspx Archived 10 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
http://www.wargs.com/essays/succession/strathearn.html

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[FOOTNOTECokayneGibbsDoubleday1913[httpsarchiveorgstreamcompletepeerageo03cokapage446mode1up_446]-1] Cokayne, Gibbs & Doubleday 1913, p. 446.

[2] Claim of Right 1689

[3] Act of Security 1704

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