List of Heirs To The English Throne - 1485 To 1603

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 1486-1489
Margaret Tudor 1489-1491, younger sister
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 Margaret, Queen of Scots 1502-1509, sister
No recognised heir 1509-1511 Henry VIII
Henry, Duke of Cornwall Heir apparent eldest son 1 January 1511 born 11 February 1511 died Margaret, Queen of Scots 1511, aunt
No recognised heir 1511-1514
Henry, Duke of Cornwall Heir apparent eldest son December 1514 born December 1514/January 1515 died Margaret, Queen of Scots 1514/15, aunt
No recognised heir 1515-1516
Mary Tudor Heiress presumptive eldest daughter 18 February 1516 born March 1534 Deprived by Act of Parliament Margaret, Queen of Scots 1516-1533, aunt
Elizabeth Tudor, 1533–1534, younger sister
Elizabeth Tudor Heiress presumptive daughter March 1534 Act of Parliament 1536 Deprived by Act of Parliament Margaret, Queen of Scots 1534-1536, aunt
No recognised heir 1536-1537
Edward, Prince of Wales Heir apparent eldest son 12 October 1537 born 28 January 1547 became king Mary Tudor, older sister, 1543–1547
Mary Tudor Heiress presumptive elder sister 28 January 1547 brother became king 21 June 1553 excluded by letters patent Lady Elizabeth 1547-1553, younger sister Edward VI
Lady Jane Grey Heiress presumptive 1st cousin +1 21 June 1553 Named in letters patent 6 July 1553 proclaimed queen Catherine, 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.
Catherine, Lady Herbert of Cardiff Heiress presumptive
(disputed)		 younger sister 6 July 1553 sister proclaimed queen 19 July 1553 sister deposed Mary Grey 1553, younger sister Jane
Elizabeth Tudor Heiress presumptive younger sister 6 July 1553 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, son (1566-1587) Elizabeth I
James VI of Scotland 1st cousin +2 8 February 1587 Mother executed 24 March 1603 became King Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, son (1594-1603)
Lady Frances Stokes Potential heirs by the will of Henry VIII 1st cousin 17 November 1558 Cousin became queen 20 November 1559 Died Lady Catherine Grey, daughter
Lady Catherine Grey 1st cousin +1 20 November 1559 Mother died 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, 5th Earl of Derby, son (1578-1594)
Lady Anne Stanley, granddaughter (1594-1596)
Lady Anne Stanley 1st cousin +3 28 September 1596 Paternal grandmother died 24 March 1603 succession of new king Lady Frances Stanley, sister

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