Salic Law
On the death of Queen Anne, the throne was passed to George I of the House of Hanover. While the British succession allowed for female succession, the Hanoverian succession followed the Salic law, allowing only male heirs. Upon the death of William IV, the personal union of Great Britain and Hanover ended: William's niece, Princess Victoria, inherited the British throne, while William's younger brother, Ernest Augustus I, inherited the Hanoverian throne.
- William IV, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover
- Ernest Augustus I, King of Hanover, younger brother of William IV
- George V, King of Hanover, only child of Ernest Augustus I
- Ernest Augustus II of Hanover, eldest son of George V
- Prince George William of Hanover, eldest son of Ernest Augustus II
- Prince Christian of Hanover, second eldest son of Ernest Augustus II
- Ernest Augustus III of Hanover, youngest son of Ernest Augustus II
- Ernest Augustus IV of Hanover, eldest son of Ernest Augustus III
- Ernest Augustus V, Head of the House of Hanover, eldest son of Ernest Augustus IV
The heir apparent of Ernest Augustus V is Prince Ernest Augustus.
Another presumed line begins with the reign of George VI. If Salic law was applied to the law of succession, neither Princess Elizabeth nor her younger sister Princess Margaret could have inherited the throne, as they were female.
Read more about this topic: Alternative Successions Of The English Crown
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—Hannah Arendt (1906–1975)