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List of heirs to the British throne

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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), or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1922–present), should the incumbent monarch die or abdicate.

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.

List of heirs

[edit]
Heir Status Relationship to monarch Became heir Ceased to be heir Next in succession
Relation to heir
Monarch
Date Reason Date Reason

Electress Sophia of Hanover[1]
Heir presumptive First cousin, once removed 1 May 1707 Formation of Kingdom of Great Britain 8 June 1714 Died George Louis, Elector of Hanover
Son
Anne

George Louis, Elector of Hanover
Heir presumptive Second cousin 8 June 1714 Mother died 1 August 1714 Became king George Augustus of Hanover
Son

George, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent Eldest son 1 August 1714 Father became king 11 June 1727 Became king Prince Frederick, Duke of Edinburgh
Son
George I

Frederick, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent Eldest son 11 June 1727 Father became king 31 March 1751 Died Prince William, Duke of Cumberland
1727–1737
Younger brother
George II
Princess Augusta
1737–1738
Daughter
Prince George
1738–1751
Son

George, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent Grandson 31 March 1751 Father died 25 October 1760 Became king Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany
Younger brother

Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany
Heir presumptive Younger brother 25 October 1760 Brother became king without children 12 August 1762 Supplanted: son born to king Prince William Henry
Younger brother
George III

George, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent Eldest son 12 August 1762 Born 29 January 1820 Became king Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany
1762–1763
Uncle
Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
1763–1796
Younger brother
Princess Charlotte of Wales
1796–1817
Daughter
Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
1817–1820
Younger brother

Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
Heir presumptive Younger brother 29 January 1820 Brother became king without children 5 January 1827 Died Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews
Younger brother
George IV

Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews
Heir presumptive Younger brother 5 January 1827 Older brother died without children 26 June 1830 Became king Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent
Niece

Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent
Heir presumptive Niece 26 June 1830 Uncle became king 20 June 1837 Became queen Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland
Uncle
William IV

Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover
Heir presumptive Uncle 20 June 1837 Niece became queen 21 November 1840 Supplanted: Daughter born to queen George, Crown Prince of Hanover
Son
Victoria

Princess Victoria
Heir presumptive Eldest daughter 21 November 1840 Born 9 November 1841 Supplanted: Brother born Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover
Granduncle

Albert Edward, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent Eldest son 9 November 1841 Born 22 January 1901 Became king Princess Victoria, Princess Royal
1841–1844
Elder sister
Prince Alfred
1844–1864
Younger brother
Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale
1864–1892
Son
Prince George, Duke of York
1892–1901
Son

George, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent Second son 22 January 1901 Father became king 6 May 1910 Became king Prince Edward of Wales
Son
Edward VII

Edward, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent Eldest son 6 May 1910 Father became king 20 January 1936 Became king Prince Albert, Duke of York
Younger brother
George V

Prince Albert, Duke of York
Heir presumptive Younger brother 20 January 1936 Brother became king without children 11 December 1936 Became king Princess Elizabeth of York
Daughter
Edward VIII

Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh
Heir presumptive Elder daughter 11 December 1936 Father became king 6 February 1952 Became queen Princess Margaret
1936–1948
Younger sister
George VI
Prince Charles of Edinburgh
1948–1952
Son

Charles, Prince of Wales[a]
Heir apparent Eldest son 6 February 1952 Mother became queen 8 September 2022 Became king Princess Anne
1952–1960
Younger sister
Elizabeth II
Prince Andrew
1960–1982
Younger brother
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
1982–2022
Son

William, Prince of Wales
Heir apparent Elder son 8 September 2022 Father became king Incumbent Prince George of Wales
Son
Charles III

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Charles, eldest son of Elizabeth II, was the longest-serving heir apparent or presumptive in British history at 70 years, 214 days.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Act of Settlement (1700)".