Electress Sophia of Hanover (1630–1714)

The line of succession to the British throne lists people eligible to succeed to the throne of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms in order of eligibility.

The right of succession is regulated by the Act of Settlement 1701, the Royal Marriages Act 1772 and common law.[1]

  • The succession is restricted to those descended in a legitimate line from the Electress Sophia of Hanover. A person born to parents who are not married to each other at the time of birth is not included in the line of succession and passes no rights to their descendants. The subsequent marriage of the parents does not alter this.[n 1][2]
  • The succession is ordered by male-preference (cognatic) primogeniture. A person is always immediately followed in the succession by his or her own legitimate descendants (his or her line) except for any legitimate descendants who already appear higher in the line of succession. A person's sons and their lines all come before a person's daughters and their lines. Older sons and their lines come before younger sons and their lines. Older daughters and their lines come before younger daughters and their lines.[3]
  • At the time of accession, the heir to the throne must be a Protestant and enter into communion with the Church of England.[3]
  • Anyone who is Roman Catholic, becomes Roman Catholic, or marries a Roman Catholic is excluded from the line of succession.[3]

The line of succession is also used to select the Counsellors of State (and a regent if the need arises) under the provisions of the Regency Act 1937.[4]

For past versions of the line of succession, see History of the British line of succession.

Heir table edit

Note that the number of heirs for William the Conqueror is uncertain, and female lines before the Tudor era were of uncertain right.

Number of direct heirs of each British monarch
Order Monarch Number of Heirs
35 Victoria 73
31 George II 21
9 Edward I 20
11 Edward III 19
30 George I 18
40 Elizabeth II 17
8 Henry III 15
5 Henry II 14
32 George III 14
36 Edward VII 13
37 George V 10
24 James I 9
1 William the Conqueror 8
13 Henry IV 7
16 Edward IV 7
25 Charles I 6
7 John 5
10 Edward II 4
19 Henry VII 4
39 George VI 4
3 Henry I 3
20 Henry VIII 3
27 James II 3
4 Stephen 2
14 Henry V 1
15 Henry VI 1
2 William II 0
6 Richard I 0
12 Richard II 0
17 Edward V 0
18 Richard III 0
21 Edward VI 0
22 Mary I 0
23 Elizabeth I 0
26 Charles II 0
28 William III & Mary II 0
29 Anne 0
33 George IV 0
34 William IV 0
38 Edward VIII 0

George II edit

Victoria edit

Edward VII edit

Notes and sources:

XC Excluded as Roman Catholics.
MC These people were excluded through marriage to a Roman Catholic.

References edit

  1. ^ Bogdanor, Vernon (1995). The Monarchy and the Constitution. Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0198293348 p. 42
  2. ^ William Addams Reitwiesner, "Persons eligible to succeed to the British Throne as of 1 Jan 2001"
  3. ^ a b c The Official Web Site of the British Monarchy, "Succession"
  4. ^ The Official Web Site of the British Monarchy, "Counsellors of State"

Format of the list edit

Children are shown after their parents and slightly indented. The names of individuals who are excluded because they are Roman Catholic are in italics followed by the superscript letters XC. Individuals excluded through marriage to a Roman Catholic are printed in italics followed by the superscript letters XM.


Line of succession edit

    George V → George VI (1895–1952) edit

    Current monarch: HM Queen Elizabeth II (born 1926)

     
    HRH The Prince of Wales, the Heir Apparent
  1.  HRH Charles, Prince of Wales (b 1948)
  2.  HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (b 1982)
  3.  HRH Prince George of Cambridge (b 2013)
  4.  HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge (b 2015)
  5.  HRH Prince Harry of Wales(b 1984)
  6.  HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York (b 1960)
  7.  HRH Princess Beatrice of York (b 1988)
  8.  HRH Princess Eugenie of York (b 1990)
  9.  HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (b 1964)
  10.  James, Viscount Severn (b 2007)
  11.  Lady Louise Windsor (b 2003)
  12.  HRH Anne, Princess Royal (b 1950)
  13.  Peter Phillips (b 1977)
  14.  Savannah Phillips (b 2010)
  15.  Isla Phillips (b 2012)
  16.  Zara Phillips, Mrs. Tindall (b 1981)
  17.  Mia Tindall (b 2014)
    HRH Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (1930–2002)
  18.  David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley (b 1961)
  19.  The Hon. Charles Armstrong-Jones (b 1999)
  20.  The Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones (b 2002)
  21.  The Lady Sarah Chatto (b 1964)
  22.  Samuel Chatto (b 1996)
  23.  Arthur Chatto (b 1999)
    George V → Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1900–1974) edit
  24. HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (b 1944)
  25.  Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster (b 1974)
  26.  Xan Windsor, Lord Culloden (b 2007)
  27.  The Lady Cosima Windsor (b 2010)
  28.  The Lady Davina Lewis (b 1977)
  29.  Tāne Lewis (b 2012)
  30.  Senna Lewis (b 2010)
  31.  The Lady Rose Gilman (b 1980)
  32.  Rufus Gilman (b 2012)
  33.  Lyla Gilman (b 2010)
    George V → Prince George, Duke of Kent (1902–1942) edit
  34. HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (b 1935)
  35.  George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews (b 1962)
     Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick (b 1988) XC
     The Lady Marina-Charlotte Windsor (b 1992) XC
  36.  The Lady Amelia Windsor (b 1995)
     Lord Nicholas Windsor (b 1970) XC
  37.  Albert Windsor (b 2007)
  38.  Leopold Windsor (b 2009)
  39.  Louis Windsor (b 2014)
  40.  The Lady Helen Taylor (b 1964)
  41.  Columbus Taylor (b 1994)
  42.  Cassius Taylor (b 1996)
  43.  Eloise Taylor (b 2003)
  44.  Estella Taylor (b 2004)
  45. HRH Prince Michael of Kent (b 1942)
  46.  The Lord Frederick Windsor (b 1979)
  47.  Maud Windsor (b 2013)
  48.  The Lady Gabriella Windsor (b 1981)
  49. HRH Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy (b 1936)
  50.  James Ogilvy (b 1964)
  51.  Alexander Ogilvy (b 1996)
  52.  Flora Ogilvy (b 1994)
  53.  Marina Ogilvy (b 1966)
  54.  Christian Mowatt (b 1993)
  55.  Zenouska Mowatt (b 1990)
    George V → Mary, Princess Royal (1897–1965) edit


    George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood (1923-2011)


  56.  The Earl of Harewood (David Lascelles, b 1950)
  57.  The Hon. Alexander Lascelles (b 1980)
  58.  The Hon. James Lascelles (b 1953)
  59.  Rowan Lascelles (b 1977)
  60.  Tewa Lascelles (b 1985)
  61.  Sophie Lascelles (b 1973)
  62.  The Hon. Jeremy Lascelles (b 1955)
  63.  Thomas Lascelles (b 1982)
  64.  Ellen Lascelles (b 1984)
  65.  Amy Lascelles (b 1986)
  66.  Tallulah Lascelles (b 2005)
    The Hon. Gerald Lascelles (1924–1998)
  67.  Henry Lascelles (b 1953)
  68.  Maximilian Lascelles (b 1991)
    The preceding are all descended from King George V


    Louise, Princess Royal (1867–1931) → Princess Maud (1893–1945) edit


    HG James Carnegie, 3rd Duke of Fife (1929-2015)


  69.  The Duke of Fife (David Carnegie, b 1961)
  70.  The Earl of Southesk (Charles Carnegie, b 1989)
  71.  The Hon. George William Carnegie (b 1991)
  72.  The Hon. Hugh Alexander Carnegie (b 1993)
  73.  Lady Alexandra Etherington(b 1959)
  74.  Amelia Etherington (b 2001)
    Maud of Wales, Queen of Norway (1869–1938) → King Olav V of Norway (1903–1991) edit
  75. HM The King of Norway (Harald, b 1937)
  76.  HRH The Crown Prince of Norway (Haakon, b 1973)
  77.  HH Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway (b 2005)
  78.  HRH Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway (b 2004)
  79.  HH Princess Märtha Louise of Norway (b 1971)
  80.  Maud Angelica Behn (b 2003)
  81.  Leah Isadora Behn (b 2005)
  82.  Emma Tallulah Behn (b 2008)
  83. HH Princess Ragnhild of Norway, Mrs. Lorentzen (b 1930)
  84.  Haakon Lorentzen (b 1954)
  85.  Olav Lorentzen (b 1985)
  86.  Christian Lorentzen (b 1988)
  87.  Sophia Lorentzen (b 1994)
  88.  Ingeborg Ribeiro (b 1957)
  89.  Victoria Ribeiro (b 1988)
  90.  Ragnhild Long (b 1968)
     Alexandra Long (b 2007)
  91. HH Princess Astrid of Norway, Mrs. Ferner (b 1932)
  92.  Alexander Ferner (b 1965)
     Edward Ferner (b 1996) XI
  93.  Stella Ferner (b 1998)
  94.  Carl-Christian Ferner (b 1972)
  95.  Cathrine Johansen (b 1962)
  96.  Sebastian Johansen (b 1990)
  97.  Madeleine Johansen (b 1993)
  98.  Benedikte Stange (b 1963)
  99.  Elisabeth Beckman (b 1969)
  100.  Benjamin Beckman (b 1999)
    The preceding are all descended from King Edward VII


References edit

See also edit

History edit

The first ten people in the line of succession to the British throne at the time of death or abdication of each monarch are shown.

Anne edit

The Act of Union 1707, which united the thrones of Scotland and England, extended the Act of Settlement to Scotland. On the day of Anne's death, 1 August 1714, the full line of succession to the British throne was as follows, as provided by the Act of Settlement 1701 (see Jacobite line of succession to the English and Scottish thrones in 1714 for the succession list as it would have been before the Act of Settlement):

  1. George Louis, Elector of Hanover (b. 1660), second cousin of the queen
  2. George Augustus, Electoral Prince of Hanover, Duke of Cambridge (b. 1683), son of the Elector of Hanover
  3. Prince Frederick Louis of Hanover (b. 1707), son of the Electoral Prince
  4. Princess Anne of Hanover (b. 1709), eldest daughter of the Electoral Prince
  5. Princess Amelia of Hanover (b. 1711), second daughter of the Electoral Prince
  6. Princess Caroline of Hanover (b. 1713), third daughter of the Electoral Prince
  7. Queen Sophia Dorothea in Prussia (b. 1687), daughter of the Elector of Hanover
  8. Prince Frederick, Crown Prince in Prussia (b. 1712), third son (eldest surviving) son of Queen Sophia Dorothea
  9. Princess Wilhelmine of Prussia (b. 1709), elder daughter (only surviving) of Queen Sophia Dorothea
  10. Prince Maximilian William of Brunswick-Lüneburg (b. 1666), brother of the Elector of Hanover

The throne passed to the first person in line, who became King George I.

George I edit

On the day of George I's death, 11 June 1727, the line of succession to the British throne was as follows:

  1. Prince George, Prince of Wales (b. 1683), son of the king
  2. Prince Frederick, Duke of Edinburgh (b. 1707), eldest son of the Prince of Wales
  3. Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (b. 1721), third son (second surviving) of the Prince of Wales
  4. Princess Anne (b. 1709), eldest daughter of the Prince of Wales
  5. Princess Amelia (b. 1711), second daughter of the Prince of Wales
  6. Princess Caroline (b. 1713), third daughter of the Prince of Wales
  7. Princess Mary (b. 1723), fourth daughter of the Prince of Wales
  8. Princess Louise (b. 1724), fifth daughter of the Prince of Wales
  9. Queen Sophia Dorothea in Prussia (b. 1687), daughter of the king
  10. Prince Frederick, Crown Prince in Prussia (b. 1712), third son (eldest surviving) of Queen Sophia Dorothea

The throne passed to the first person in line, who became George II.

George II edit

On the day of George II's death, 25 October 1760, the line of succession to the British throne was as follows:

  1. Prince George, Prince of Wales (b. 1738), eldest son of the king's deceased eldest son, Prince Frederick, Prince of Wales
  2. Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany (b. 1739), second son of Prince Frederick
  3. Prince William Henry (b. 1743), third son of Prince Frederick
  4. Prince Henry (b. 1745), fourth son of Prince Frederick
  5. Prince Frederick (b. 1750), fifth son of Prince Frederick
  6. Princess Augusta (b. 1737), first daughter of Prince Frederick
  7. Princess Louisa (b. 1749), third daughter (second surviving) of Prince Frederick
  8. Princess Caroline Matilda (b. 1751), fourth daughter of Prince Frederick
  9. Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (b. 1721), third son (second surviving) of the king
  10. William V, Prince of Orange (b. 1748), son of the king's deceased eldest daughter Princess Anne, Princess Royal

The throne passed to the first person in line, who became George III.

George III edit

On the day of George III's death, 29 January 1820, the line of succession to the British throne was as follows:

  1. Prince George, Prince Regent (b. 1762), eldest son of the king, and regent for nine years
  2. Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (b. 1763), second son of the king
  3. Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews (b. 1765), third son of the king
  4. Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent (b. 1819), daughter of the king's deceased fourth son, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
  5. Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale (b. 1771), fifth son of the king
  6. Prince George of Cumberland (b. 1819), son of the Duke of Cumberland
  7. Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (b. 1773), sixth son of the king
  8. Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (b. 1774), seventh son of the king
  9. Prince George of Cambridge (b. 1819), son of the Duke of Cambridge
  10. Queen Charlotte of Württemberg (Princess Royal) (b. 1766), eldest daughter of the king

The throne passed to the first person in line, who became George IV.

George IV edit

On the day of George IV's death, 26 June 1830, the line of succession to the British throne was as follows:

  1. Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews (b. 1765), brother of the king
  2. Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent (b. 1819), daughter of the king's deceased brother, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
  3. Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale (b. 1771), brother of the king
  4. Prince George of Cumberland (b. 1819), son of the Duke of Cumberland
  5. Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (b. 1773), brother of the king
  6. Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (b. 1774), brother of the king
  7. Prince George of Cambridge (b. 1819), son of the Duke of Cambridge
  8. Princess Augusta of Cambridge (b. 1822), daughter of the Duke of Cambridge
  9. Princess Augusta Sophia (b. 1768), sister of the king
  10. Princess Elizabeth, Landgravine of Hesse-Hornburg (b. 1770), sister of the king

The throne passed to the first person in line, who became William IV, by the end of whose seven-year reign, the only change in the succession line first ten places would be the birth of Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge.

William IV edit

On the day of William IV's death, 20 June 1837, the line of succession to the British throne was as follows:

  1. Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent (b. 1819), daughter of the king's deceased brother, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
  2. Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale (b. 1771), brother of the king (succeeded as King of Hanover, as the senior agnatic descendant)
  3. Prince George of Cumberland (b. 1819), son of the Duke of Cumberland
  4. Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (b. 1773), brother of the king
  5. Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (b. 1774), brother of the king
  6. Prince George of Cambridge (b. 1819), son of the Duke of Cambridge
  7. Princess Augusta of Cambridge (b. 1822), elder daughter of the Duke of Cambridge
  8. Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge (b. 1833), younger daughter of the Duke of Cambridge
  9. Princess Augusta Sophia (b. 1768), sister of the king
  10. Princess Elizabeth, Landgravine of Hesse-Hornburg (b. 1770), sister of the king

The throne passed to the first person in line, who became Queen Victoria.

Victoria edit

On the day of Victoria's death, 22 January 1901, the line of succession to the British throne was as follows:

  1. Prince Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (b. 1841), eldest son of the queen
  2. Prince George, Duke of York (b. 1865), second son (only surviving) of the Prince of Wales
  3. Prince Edward of York (b. 1894), eldest son of the Duke of York
  4. Prince Albert of York (b. 1895), second son of the Duke of York
  5. Prince Henry of York (b. 1900), third son of the Duke of York
  6. Princess Mary of York (b. 1897), daughter of the Duke of York
  7. Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife (b. 1867), eldest daughter of the Prince of Wales
  8. Lady Alexandra Duff (b. 1891), elder daughter of Princess Louise
  9. Lady Maud Duff (b. 1893), younger daughter of Princess Louise
  10. Princess Victoria of Wales (b. 1868), second daughter of the Prince of Wales

The throne passed to the first person in line, who became Edward VII.

Edward VII edit

On the day of Edward VII's death, 6 May 1910, the line of succession to the British throne was as follows:

  1. Prince George, Prince of Wales (b. 1865), second son (only surviving) of the king
  2. Prince Edward of Wales (b. 1894), eldest son of the Prince of Wales
  3. Prince Albert of Wales (b. 1895), second son of the Prince of Wales
  4. Prince Henry of Wales (b. 1900), third son of the Prince of Wales
  5. Prince George of Wales (b. 1902), fourth son of the Prince of Wales
  6. Prince John of Wales (b. 1905), fifth son of the Prince of Wales
  7. Princess Mary of Wales (b. 1897), daughter of the Prince of Wales
  8. Princess Louise, Princess Royal (b. 1867), eldest daughter of the king
  9. Princess Alexandra of Fife (b. 1891), elder daughter of the Princess Royal
  10. Princess Maud of Fife (b. 1893), younger daughter of the Princess Royal

The throne passed to the first person in line, who became George V.

George V edit

On the day of George V's death, 20 January 1936, the line of succession to the British throne was as follows:

  1. Prince Edward, Prince of Wales (b. 1894), eldest son of the king
  2. Prince Albert, Duke of York (b. 1895), second son of the king
  3. Princess Elizabeth of York (b. 1926), elder daughter of the Duke of York
  4. Princess Margaret of York (b. 1930), younger daughter of the Duke of York
  5. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (b. 1900), third son of the king
  6. Prince George, Duke of Kent (b. 1902), fourth son of the king
  7. Prince Edward of Kent (b. 1935), son of the Duke of Kent
  8. Princess Mary, Princess Royal (b. 1897), daughter of the king
  9. George Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles (b. 1923), elder son of the Princess Royal
  10. Gerald Lascelles (b. 1924), younger son of the Princess Royal

The throne passed to the first person in line, who became Edward VIII, by the end of whose ten-month reign, there would be no changes in the succession line first ten places.

Edward VIII edit

On the day of Edward VIII's abdication, 11 December 1936, the line of succession to the British throne was as follows:

  1. Prince Albert, Duke of York (b. 1895), brother of the king
  2. Princess Elizabeth of York (b. 1926), elder daughter of the Duke of York
  3. Princess Margaret of York (b. 1930), younger daughter of the Duke of York
  4. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (b. 1900), brother of the king
  5. Prince George, Duke of Kent (b. 1902), brother of the king
  6. Prince Edward of Kent (b. 1935), son of the Duke of Kent
  7. Princess Mary, Princess Royal (b. 1897), sister of the king
  8. Viscount Lascelles (b. 1923), elder son of the Princess Royal
  9. Gerald Lascelles (b. 1924), younger son of the Princess Royal
  10. Princess Arthur of Connaught, Duchess of Fife (b. 1891), daughter of Edward VIII's aunt, Princess Louise, Princess Royal

The throne passed to the first person in line, who became George VI.

George VI edit

On the day of George VI's death, 6 February 1952, the line of succession to the British throne was as follows:

  1. Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (b. 1926), elder daughter of the king
  2. Prince Charles of Edinburgh (b. 1948), son of Princess Elizabeth
  3. Princess Anne of Edinburgh (b. 1950), daughter of Princess Elizabeth
  4. Princess Margaret (b. 1930), younger daughter of the king
  5. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (b. 1900), brother of the king
  6. Prince William of Gloucester (b. 1941), elder son of the Duke of Gloucester
  7. Prince Richard of Gloucester (b. 1944), younger son of the Duke of Gloucester
  8. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (b. 1935), elder son of the king's deceased brother, Prince George, Duke of Kent
  9. Prince Michael of Kent (b. 1942), younger son of Prince George
  10. Princess Alexandra of Kent (b. 1936), daughter of Prince George

The throne passed to the first person in line, who became Elizabeth II.
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