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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 [ ]
Heir
Status
Relationship to Monarch
Became heir
Reason
Ceased to be heir
Reason
Monarch
No recognised heir 1066–1087
William I
William Rufus
Heir apparent
second son
7 September 1087
proclaimed heir
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
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 [ ]
1154 to 1399 [ ]
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 youngest uncle 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 [ ]
Heir
Status
Relationship to Monarch
Became heir
Reason
Ceased to be heir
Reason
Next in succession
Monarch
Henry of Monmouth, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
eldest son
30 September 1399
father became king
20 March 1413
became king
Thomas, Duke of Clarence 1399–1413, younger brother
Henry IV
Thomas, Duke of Clarence
Heir presumptive
younger brother
20 March 1413
brother became king
22 March 1421
died
John, Duke of Bedford 1413–1421, younger brother
Henry V
John, Duke of Bedford
Heir presumptive
younger brother
22 March 1421
brother died
6 December 1421
son born to king
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester Mar–Dec 1421, younger brother
Henry, Duke of Cornwall
Heir apparent
son
6 December 1421
born
31 August 1422
became king
John, Duke of Bedford 1421–1422, uncle
John, Duke of Bedford
Heir presumptive
uncle
31 August 1422
nephew became king
14 September 1435
died
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester 1422–1435, younger brother
Henry VI
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester
Heir presumptive
uncle
14 September 1435
brother died
23 February 1447
died
none
No recognised heir 1447–1453
Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
son
13 October 1453
born
25 October 1460
Act of Accord
none
Richard, Duke of York
Heir apparent
3rd cousin −1
25 October 1460
Act of Accord
30 December 1460
died
Edward, Earl of March 1460, son
Edward, Duke of York
Heir apparent
3rd cousin
30 December 1460
father died
4 March 1461
became king
George 1460–1461, brother
1461 to 1470 [ ]
Heir
Status
Relationship to Monarch
Became heir
Reason
Ceased to be heir
Reason
Next in succession
Monarch
George, Duke of Clarence
Heir presumptive
younger brother
4 March 1461
brother became king
31 March 1470
proclaimed traitor
Richard, Duke of Gloucester 1461–1470, younger brother
Edward IV
No recognised heir Mar–Oct 1470
1470 to 1471 [ ]
Heir
Status
Relationship to Monarch
Became heir
Reason
Ceased to be heir
Reason
Next in succession
Monarch
Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
eldest son
3 October 1470
father restored as king
11 April 1471
father deposed
George, Duke of Clarence 1470–1471, 3rd cousin −1
Henry VI
1471 to 1485 [ ]
Heir
Status
Relationship to Monarch
Became heir
Reason
Ceased to be heir
Reason
Next in succession
Monarch
Edward, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
eldest son
11 April 1471
father restored as king
9 April 1483
became king
George, Duke of Clarence 1471–1473, uncle
Edward IV
Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York 1473–1483, younger brother
Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York
Heir presumptive
younger brother
9 April 1483
brother became king
25 June 1483
declared illegitimate
Richard, Duke of Gloucester 1483, uncle
Edward V
Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
eldest son
26 June 1483
father became king
9 April 1484
died
none
Richard III
No recognised heir 1484–1485
1485 to 1603 [ ]
Heir
Status
Relationship to Monarch
Became heir
Reason
Ceased to be heir
Reason
Next in succession
Monarch
No recognised heir 1485–1486
Henry VII
Arthur, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
eldest son
20 September 1486
born
2 April 1502
died
none 1486–1491
Henry, Duke of York 1491–1502, younger brother
Henry, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
son
2 April 1502
brother died
22 April 1509
became king
none
No recognised heir 1509–1511
Henry VIII
Henry, Duke of Cornwall
Heir apparent
eldest son
1 January 1511
born
23 February 1511
died
none
No recognised heir 1511–1516
Mary Tudor
Heiress presumptive
eldest daughter
18 February 1516
born
23 March 1534
First Succession Act
none 1516–1533
Elizabeth Tudor , 1533–1534, younger half-sister
Elizabeth Tudor
Heiress presumptive
daughter
23 March 1534
First Succession Act
8 June 1536
Second Succession Act
none
No recognised heir 1536–1537
Edward, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
son
12 October 1537
born
28 January 1547
became king
none 1537–1544
Mary Tudor , older half-sister, 1544–1547
Mary Tudor
Heiress presumptive
elder half-sister
28 January 1547
half-brother became king
21 June 1553
excluded by letters patent
Elizabeth Tudor 1547–1553, younger half-sister
Edward VI
Lady Jane Dudley
Heiress presumptive
1st cousin +1
21 June 1553
named in letters patent
6 July 1553
proclaimed queen
Katherine, Lady Herbert of Cardiff 1553, younger sister
Upon the death of Edward VI, the succession was disputed between his sister Mary , the heir by primogeniture and the will of Henry VIII , 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.
Katherine, Lady Herbert of Cardiff
Heiress presumptive (disputed)
younger sister
6 July 1553
sister proclaimed queen
19 July 1553
sister deposed
Lady Mary Grey 1553, younger sister
Jane
Elizabeth Tudor
Heiress presumptive
younger half-sister
6 July 1553
Half-sister became queen
17 November 1558
became queen
none
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 Third Succession Act and the will of Henry VIII . The last two documents placed the English descendants of his younger sister Mary ahead of the Scottish descendants of his elder sister Margaret . The following are the leaders of both lines:
Mary, Queen of Scots
Potential heirs by cognatic primogeniture
1st cousin +1
17 November 1558
cousin became queen
8 February 1587
executed
James VI of Scotland 1566–1587, son
Elizabeth I
James VI of Scotland
1st cousin +2
8 February 1587
mother executed
24 March 1603
became king
Lady Arbella Stuart 1587–1594, 2nd cousin
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales 1594–1603, son
Katherine, Countess of Hertford
Potential heirs by the will of Henry VIII
1st cousin +1
17 November 1558
cousin became queen
26 January 1568
died
Lady Mary Grey , sister
Lady Mary Grey
1st cousin +1
26 January 1568
sister died
20 April 1578
died
Margaret, Countess of Derby , 1st cousin
Margaret, Countess of Derby
1st cousin +1
20 April 1578
1st cousin died
28 September 1596
died
Ferdinando Stanley, Earl of Derby 1578–1594, son
Lady Anne Stanley 1594–1596, granddaughter
Lady Anne Stanley
1st cousin +3
28 September 1596
paternal grandmother died
24 March 1603
succession of new king
Lady Frances Stanley, sister
1603 to 1707 [ ]
Heir
Status
Relationship to Monarch
Became heir
Reason
Ceased to be heir
Reason
Next in succession
Monarch
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
eldest son
24 March 1603
father became king
6 November 1612
died
Charles, Duke of York 1603–1612, younger brother
James I
Charles, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent
son
6 November 1612
brother died
27 March 1625
became king
Elizabeth, Electress Palatine 1612–1625, 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 1629–1630, 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- Sept 1660, younger brother
Charles II
Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange Sept–Oct 1660, elder sister
Charles, Duke of Cambridge Oct 1660 – May 1661, son
Prince William of Orange May 1661 – Apr 1662, nephew
Princess Mary Apr 1662 – July 1663, daughter
James Stuart, Duke of Cambridge July 1663 – June 1667, son
Princess Mary June–Sept 1667, daughter
Edgar Stuart, Duke of Cambridge Sept 1667 – Nov 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 1685–1688, 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 1688–1689
William III
Mutual heirs
husband
13 February 1689
Declaration of Right, 1689
28 December 1694
became sole monarch
Princess Anne of Denmark , sister(-in-law), 1689–1694
Mary II
Mary II
wife
died
William III
Princess Anne of Denmark
Heiress apparent
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
Sophia, Dowager Electress of Hanover
Heiress presumptive
1st cousin −1
8 March 1702
death of William III
1 May 1707
became heiress-presumptive to Great Britain
George Louis, Elector of Hanover 1702–1707, 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 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 1701–1712, younger sister
James III "The Old Pretender"
Anne Marie d'Orléans 1712–1714, 1st cousin
Anne Marie d'Orléans
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 d'Orléans 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 1788–1796, son
Henry 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 1796–1807, younger brother
See also [ ]
References [ ]
Ian Mortimer, The Fears of Henry IV: the Life of England's Self-Made King (Vintage, 2008)