List Of Heirs To The British Throne
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), and 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.
| 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 | Heiress 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 | George, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | Eldest son | 1 August 1714; father succeeded |
11 June 1727; succeeded |
Prince Frederick Louis 1714–1727, son |
| George II | Frederick, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | Eldest son | 11 June 1727; father succeeded |
31 March 1751; died |
Prince William, Duke of Cumberland 1727–1737, younger brother |
| Princess Augusta 1737–1738, daughter |
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| Prince George 1738–1751, son |
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| George, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | Grandson | 31 March 1751; father died |
25 October 1760; succeeded |
Edward, Duke of York 1751–1760, younger brother |
|
| George III | Edward, Duke of York | Heir presumptive | Younger brother | 25 October 1760; grandfather died, brother succeeded |
12 August 1762; son born to king |
Prince William Henry 1760–1762, younger brother |
| George, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | Eldest son | 12 August 1762; born |
29 January 1820; succeeded |
Edward, Duke of York 1762–1763, uncle |
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| Frederick, Duke of York 1763–1796, younger brother |
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| Princess Charlotte of Wales 1796–1817, daughter |
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| Frederick, Duke of York 1817–1820, younger brother |
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| George IV | Frederick, Duke of York | Heir presumptive | Younger brother | 29 January 1820; father died, brother succeeded |
5 January 1827; died |
William, Duke of Clarence 1820–1827, younger brother |
| 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 | Heiress presumptive | Niece | 26 June 1830; uncle succeeded |
20 June 1837; succeeded |
Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland 1830–1837, uncle |
| Victoria | Ernest Augustus I 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 |
| Victoria, Princess Royal | Heiress presumptive | Eldest daughter | 21 November 1840; born |
9 November 1841; brother born |
Ernest Augustus I of Hanover 1840–1841, great-uncle |
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| Albert Edward, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | Eldest son | 9 November 1841; born |
22 January 1901; succeeded |
Victoria, Princess Royal 1841–1844, elder sister |
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| Prince Alfred 1844–1864, younger brother |
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| Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence 1864–1892, son |
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| George, Duke of York 1892–1901, son |
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| Edward VII | George, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | Second son1 | 22 January 1901; father succeeded |
6 May 1910; succeeded |
Prince Edward of Wales 1901–1910, son |
| George V | Edward, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | Eldest son | 6 May 1910; father succeeded |
20 January 1936; succeeded |
Albert, Duke of York 1910–1936, younger brother |
| Edward VIII | 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 | Heiress presumptive | Eldest daughter | 11 December 1936; father succeeded |
6 February 1952; succeeded |
Princess Margaret 1936–1948, younger sister |
| Prince Charles of Edinburgh 1948–1952, son |
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| Elizabeth II | Charles, Prince of Wales | Heir apparent | Eldest son | 6 February 1952; mother succeeded |
Incumbent | Princess Anne 1952–1960, younger sister |
| Prince Andrew 1960–1982, younger brother |
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| Prince William, Duke of Cambridge 1982–present, son |
Read more about List Of Heirs To The British Throne: See Also
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—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940)
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—Bible: New Testament, Matthew 8:12.
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
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—Bible: New Testament, Luke 1:30-33.