List of heirs to the British throne

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This is a list of the individuals who were, at any given time, considered the next in line to succeed the British monarch to inherit the throne of the Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1800), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1922), or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1922–present), should the incumbent monarch die or abdicate. Those who actually succeeded (at any future time) are shown in bold.

The list commences in 1707 following the Acts of Union, which joined the Kingdoms of England and Scotland (previously separate states, with separate legislatures but with the same monarch) into a single Kingdom of Great Britain. Anne became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702 and Queen of Great Britain from 1707. The 1701 Act of Settlement established Electress Sophia of Hanover as successor to the English throne, and this was extended to Scotland through the Treaty of Union (Article II) and the Acts of Union.

Since the establishment of the British throne, there have been five heirs who did not become monarch but would have done so had they lived long enough: Sophia, Dowager Electress of Hanover (first cousin once removed of Anne), Frederick, Prince of Wales (son of George II), Princess Charlotte of Wales (daughter of the future George IV), Prince Frederick, Duke of York (brother of George IV), and Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence (son of the future Edward VII). There have been two heirs who were heirs presumptive for a short period until the monarch had a child: Prince Edward, Duke of York (brother of George III) and King Ernest Augustus of Hanover (uncle of Victoria). There has been one female heir presumptive who was displaced as heir by her younger brother: Victoria, Princess Royal (daughter of Victoria).

Monarch Heir Status Relationship to monarch Became heir; reason Ceased to be heir; reason Next in succession, relation to heir
Anne Electress Sophia of Hanover[1] Heir presumptive First cousin, once removed 1 May 1707;
formation of Kingdom of Great Britain
8 June 1714;
died
George Louis, Elector of Hanover
1707–1714, son
George Louis, Elector of Hanover Heir presumptive Second cousin 8 June 1714;
mother died
1 August 1714;
succeeded
George Augustus of Hanover 1714, son
George I The Prince George, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 1 August 1714;
father succeeded
11 June 1727;
succeeded
Prince Frederick, Duke of Edinburgh
1714–1727, son
George II The Prince Frederick, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 11 June 1727;
father succeeded
31 March 1751;
died
The Prince William, Duke of Cumberland
1727–1737, younger brother
Princess Augusta
1737–1738, daughter
Prince George
1738–1751, son
Prince George, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Grandson 31 March 1751;
father died
25 October 1760;
succeeded
Prince Edward, Duke of York
1751–1760, younger brother
George III Prince Edward, Duke of York Heir presumptive Younger brother 25 October 1760;
brother succeeded
12 August 1762;
son born to king
Prince William Henry
1760–1762, younger brother
The Prince George, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 12 August 1762;
born
29 January 1820;
succeeded
Prince Edward, Duke of York
1762–1763, uncle
The Prince Frederick, Duke of York
1763–1796, younger brother
Princess Charlotte of Wales
1796–1817, daughter
The Prince Frederick, Duke of York
1817–1820, younger brother
George IV The Prince Frederick, Duke of York Heir presumptive Younger brother 29 January 1820;
brother succeeded
5 January 1827;
died
The Prince William, Duke of Clarence
1820–1827, younger brother
The Prince William, Duke of Clarence Heir presumptive Younger brother 5 January 1827;
older brother died
26 June 1830;
succeeded
Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent
1827–1830, niece
William IV Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent Heir presumptive Niece 26 June 1830;
uncle succeeded
20 June 1837;
succeeded
The Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland
1830–1837, uncle
Victoria Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover Heir presumptive Uncle 20 June 1837;
niece succeeded
21 November 1840;
daughter born to queen
George, Crown Prince of Hanover
1837–1840, son
The Princess Victoria Heir presumptive Eldest daughter 21 November 1840;
born
9 November 1841;
brother born
Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover
1840–1841, great-uncle
The Prince Albert Edward, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 9 November 1841;
born
22 January 1901;
succeeded
The Princess Victoria, Princess Royal
1841–1844, elder sister
The Prince Alfred
1844–1864, younger brother
Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence
1864–1892, son
Prince George, Duke of York
1892–1901, son
Edward VII The Prince George, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Second son[a] 22 January 1901;
father succeeded
6 May 1910;
succeeded
Prince Edward of Wales
1901–1910, son
George V The Prince Edward, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Eldest son 6 May 1910;
father succeeded
20 January 1936;
succeeded
The Prince Albert, Duke of York
1910–1936, younger brother
Edward VIII The Prince Albert, Duke of York Heir presumptive Younger brother 20 January 1936;
brother succeeded
11 December 1936;
brother abdicated; succeeded
Princess Elizabeth of York
1936, daughter
George VI The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh Heir presumptive Elder daughter 11 December 1936;
father succeeded
6 February 1952;
succeeded
The Princess Margaret
1936–1948, younger sister
Prince Charles of Edinburgh
1948–1952, son
Elizabeth II The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales[b] Heir apparent Eldest son 6 February 1952;
mother succeeded
Incumbent The Princess Anne
1952–1960, younger sister
The Prince Andrew
1960–1982, younger brother
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
1982–present, son
  1. ^ Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, eldest son of Edward VII, died before his father ascended the throne.
  2. ^ The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, eldest son of Elizabeth II, is the longest-serving heir apparent or presumptive in the history of the British Monarchy (and the world) at 70 years, 6 days.

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ "Act of Settlement (1700)".
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