History of the English and British line of succession


Since William the Conqueror claimed the English throne, succession has been determined by bequest, battle, primogeniture, and parliament.

William I

On his deathbed, William the Conqueror accorded the Duchy of Normandy to his eldest son Robert Curthose, the Kingdom of England to his son William Rufus, and money for his youngest son Henry Beauclerc for him to buy land. Thus, with William I's death on 9 September 1087, the heir to the throne was William Rufus, third son of William I.

William II

William II had no children. He and his elder brother Robert previously agreed to be each other's heir. However, on his death, on 2 August 1100, Robert was away on crusade. Their younger brother, Henry Beauclerc, had the nobility elect him as king. Henry later warred with Robert and by treaty was recognised as king.

Henry I

The succession to Henry I was altered by the death of his son, William Adelin. Left without male heirs, Henry took the unprecedented step of making his barons swear to accept his daughter Empress Matilda, widow of Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor, as his heir. However, her cousin, Stephen of Blois gained the support of the barons and usurped the throne, claiming that Henry had changed his mind on his deathbed. This act provoked a seventeen-year long civil war between him and the forces loyal to Matilda.

Stephen

The succession to Stephen was altered by the death of his son Eustace, whom he wished to have crowned king during his own lifetime. Though Stephen still had a son, William, the boy was still young and unprepared to challenge Matilda's son, Henry of Anjou for the throne.
Under the terms of the Treaty of Wallingford that ended the Anarchy, Stephen agreed to make Henry his successor. Thus, on the day of Stephen's death, 25 October 1154, Henry became King Henry II.

Henry II

The succession to Henry II was altered by the death of his son, Henry the Young King, who was crowned king while his father still lived. Henry II had wished to divide his lands among his children upon his death, but was forced to sign the unfavorable treaty of Azay-le-Rideau on 4 July 1189 with the king of France and his rebellious sons, by which he recognised his eldest son Richard as sole heir.
On the day of Henry II's death, 6 July 1189, the throne passed to his eldest living son: Richard I.

Richard I

Richard had no legitimate children. On the day of his death, 6 April 1199, if the line of succession to the English throne had followed primogeniture, he would have been succeeded by his nephew Arthur I, Duke of Brittany, son of Richard I's brother Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany. However, since Arthur had sided with Philip II of France, Richard's enemy, Richard named his younger brother John as his heir, and he became king.

John

John died, on 19 October 1216, in the midst of conflict against his barons; most of them had already recognised Prince Louis of France as king. However, with John's death, his barons saw his young son as a safer option. John's eldest son became Henry III, and the French were driven away from the country.

Henry III

On Henry III's death, on 16 November 1272, the throne passed to his eldest son, Edward I.

Edward I

On Edward I's death, on 7 July 1307, the throne passed to his eldest surviving son, Edward II.

Edward II

On the day of Edward II's abdication, 25 January 1327, the throne passed to his eldest son, Edward III.

Edward III

The succession to Edward III was governed according to his entail to the crown in 1376. On his death, on 21 June 1377, the line of succession to the English throne was:
  1. Richard of Bordeaux, Prince of Wales, younger son of Edward the Black Prince, Edward III's deceased eldest son
  2. John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, fourth son of Edward III
  3. Henry Bolingbroke, fourth son of the Duke of Lancaster
  4. Edmund of Langley, Earl of Cambridge, fifth son of Edward III
  5. Edward of Norwich, only son of the Earl of Cambridge
  6. Thomas of Woodstock, Earl of Essex, seventh son of Edward III
The throne passed to the first person in line, who became Richard II.

Richard II

After the death of Richard's uncle, John of Gaunt, in 1399, the two main contenders to be Richard II's heir were:
Richard disinherited Henry, who was in exile, but Richard was deposed and Bolingbroke became king as Henry IV.

Henry IV

Henry had justified his usurpation by emphasising his descent in the male line. On the day of Henry IV's death, 20 March 1413, the line of succession to the English throne following agnatic primogeniture was:
  1. Henry of Monmouth, Prince of Wales, eldest son of Henry IV
  2. Thomas of Lancaster, Duke of Clarence, second son of Henry IV
  3. John of Lancaster, third son of Henry IV
  4. Humphrey of Lancaster, fourth son of Henry IV
  5. Edward of Norwich, Duke of York, elder son of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, Edward III's deceased fifth son
  6. Richard of Conisburgh, Earl of Cambridge, younger son of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York
  7. Richard of York, only surviving son of the Earl of Cambridge
Upon his death, the throne passed to the first person in line, who became Henry V.

Henry V

On the day of Henry V's death, 31 August 1422, the line of succession following agnatic primogeniture was:
  1. Henry, Duke of Cornwall, only son of Henry V
  2. John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford, third son of Henry IV
  3. Humphrey of Lancaster, Duke of Gloucester, fourth son of Henry IV
  4. Richard of York, Duke of York, younger son of Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge, deceased younger son of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, Edward III's deceased fifth son
Upon his death, the throne passed to the first person in line, who became Henry VI.

Henry VI (first instance)

On the day of Henry VI's first deposition, 4 March 1461, the line of succession following agnatic primogeniture was;
  1. Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales, only son of Henry VI
  2. Edward Plantagenet, Duke of York, second son of Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York, deceased younger son of Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge, deceased younger son of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, Edward III's deceased fifth son
  3. George Plantagenet, sixth son of Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York
  4. Richard Plantagenet, eighth son of Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York
However, during the Wars of the Roses, Henry VI was forcibly deposed by his third cousin, Edward, Duke of York, who became Edward IV.

Edward IV (first instance)

After George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, was proclaimed a traitor on 31 March 1470, Edward IV never formally named a new heir as his queen Elizabeth Woodville was pregnant at the time, and he was hoping that the child would be a boy. On 3 October 1470 however, Edward IV was deposed and the throne was restored to Henry VI, the previous monarch, during the period known as the Readeption of Henry VI.

Henry VI (second instance)

On the day of Henry VI's second deposition, 11 April 1471, the line of succession following agnatic primogeniture was:
  1. Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales, only son of Henry VI
  2. * Edward Plantagenet, second son of Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York, deceased younger son of Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge, deceased younger son of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, Edward III's deceased fifth son. Edward was debarred from the succession due to his attainder.
  3. * Edward Plantagenet, only son of Edward Plantagenet. Edward was also debarred from the succession due to his father's attainder.
  4. George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, sixth son of Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York, he had rejoined his brother's forces against Henry.
  5. * Richard Plantagenet, eighth son of Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York. Richard was debarred from the succession due to his attainder.
Henry was defeated in the Battle of Barnet and deposed. He died in the Tower of London on 21 May 1471, seventeen days after the final Yorkist victory in the Battle of Tewkesbury.

Edward IV (second instance)

On the day of Edward IV's death, 9 April 1483, he had two living sons:
  1. Edward Plantagenet, Prince of Wales
  2. Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York
Upon his death, the throne passed to the elder son, who became Edward V.

Edward V

On the day of Edward V's deposition, 25 June 1483, his younger brother, Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, was the heir presumptive to throne. The King and his brother however were declared illegitimate and the throne was claimed by their uncle, Richard Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester.

Richard III

Following the death of Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales on 9 April 1484, Richard III never formally named a new heir. On 22 August 1485, Richard III was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field, and was succeeded by the victor of the battle, Henry Tudor, 2nd Earl of Richmond, a descendant in a legitimated line of John of Gaunt. He became Henry VII. He also buffered his claim by marrying Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV, his heir by male-preference primogeniture upon the deaths of her brothers.

Henry VII

On the day of Henry VII's death, 21 April 1509, the throne passed to his only living son, Henry VIII.

Henry VIII

On the day of Henry VIII's death, 28 January 1547, the line of succession was governed by the Third Succession Act:
Upon Henry's death, the throne passed to Henry's son, who became Edward VI.

Edward VI

On the day of Edward VI's death, 6 July 1553, the line of succession to the English throne was as follows according to the will of Henry VIII, which excluded the descendants of his elder sister, Margaret, Queen of Scotland :
  1. Lady Mary, elder daughter of Henry VIII
  2. Lady Elizabeth, younger daughter of Henry VIII
  3. Lady Jane Dudley, eldest daughter of Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk, elder daughter of Mary Tudor, Queen of France, Henry VII's deceased third daughter
  4. Katherine, Lady Herbert of Cardiff, second daughter of the Duchess of Suffolk
  5. Lady Mary Grey, third daughter of the Duchess of Suffolk
  6. Lady Margaret Clifford, only daughter of Eleanor Clifford, Countess of Cumberland, deceased younger daughter of Mary Tudor, Queen of France
Edward VI left a Device for the Succession, in an attempt to remove the peculiarity of his sisters' illegitimacy and rights of succession. The validity of the device was challenged after his death.
In Edward's Device,
  1. Lady Jane Dudley, eldest daughter of the Duchess of Suffolk
  2. Katherine, Lady Herbert of Cardiff, second daughter of the Duchess of Suffolk
  3. Lady Mary Grey, third daughter of the Duchess of Suffolk
  4. Lady Margaret Clifford, only daughter of Eleanor Clifford, Countess of Cumberland, deceased younger daughter of Mary
Upon his death, the first person in line per Edward's Device was proclaimed Queen Jane. Within days, Lady Mary claimed the throne as Mary I.

Mary I

On the day of Mary I's death, 17 November 1558, the line of succession to the English throne was as follows according to the will of Henry VIII:
  1. Lady Elizabeth, younger daughter of Henry VIII
  2. Katherine, Lady Herbert of Cardiff, second daughter of Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk, elder daughter of Mary Tudor, Queen of France, Henry VII's deceased third daughter
  3. Lady Mary Grey, third daughter of Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk
  4. Lady Margaret Clifford, only daughter of Eleanor Clifford, Countess of Cumberland, deceased younger daughter of Mary Tudor, Queen of France
Upon her death, the throne passed to the first person in the succession, who became Elizabeth I.

Elizabeth I

During her reign, Elizabeth I never named a successor. On the day of Elizabeth's death, 24 March 1603, Elizabeth's potential heirs were from the lines of her father's two sisters:
  1. Lady Anne Stanley, eldest daughter of Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby, deceased second son of Margaret Stanley, Countess of Derby
  2. Lady Frances Egerton, second daughter of Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby
  3. Lady Elizabeth Hastings, third daughter of Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby
  4. William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby, third son of Margaret Stanley, Countess of Derby
Upon Elizabeth's death, despite Henry VIII's will, the throne passed to King James VI of Scotland, who became James I of England.

James I

On the day of James I's death, 27 March 1625, the line of succession to the English throne was:
  1. Charles, Prince of Wales, second son of James I
  2. Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia, eldest daughter of James I
  3. Prince Frederick Henry of the Palatinate, eldest son of Elizabeth
  4. Prince Charles Louis of the Palatinate, second son of Elizabeth
  5. Prince Rupert of the Palatinate, third son of Elizabeth
  6. Prince Maurice of the Palatinate, fourth son of Elizabeth
  7. Princess Elisabeth of the Palatinate, elder daughter of Elizabeth
  8. Princess Louise of the Palatinate, younger daughter of Elizabeth
  9. William Seymour, Earl of Hertford second son of Edward Seymour, Lord Beauchamp, deceased elder son of Lady Katherine Grey, deceased second daughter of Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk, deceased elder daughter of Mary Tudor, Queen of France, deceased third daughter of Henry VII
  10. William Seymour, eldest son of the Earl of Hertford
Upon his death, the throne passed to the first person in line, who became Charles I.

Charles I

When Charles I was beheaded on 30 January 1649 the line of succession to the English and Scottish thrones was:
  1. Charles, Prince of Wales, second son of Charles I
  2. Prince James, Duke of York, third son of Charles I
  3. Prince Henry, fourth son of Charles I
  4. Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange eldest daughter of Charles I
  5. Princess Elizabeth, second daughter of Charles I
  6. Princess Henrietta Anne, fifth daughter of Charles I
  7. Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia, eldest daughter of James I
  8. Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine, second son of Elizabeth
  9. Prince Rupert of the Rhine, third son of Elizabeth
  10. Prince Maurice von Simmern, fourth son of Elizabeth
However, the monarchy in England was abolished and Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector. After Cromwell's death, the monarchy was restored in 1660 under Charles I's eldest son, Charles II.

Charles II

On the day of Charles II death, 6 February 1685, the line of succession to the English and Scottish thrones was:
  1. Prince James, Duke of York and Albany, second son of Charles I
  2. Mary, Princess of Orange, eldest daughter of the Duke of York and Albany
  3. Princess Anne of Denmark and Norway, second daughter of the Duke of York and Albany
  4. William III, Prince of Orange, only son of Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange, Charles I's deceased eldest daughter
  5. Maria Luisa, Queen of Spain, elder daughter of Henrietta Stuart, Duchess of Orléans, Charles I's deceased fifth daughter
  6. Anne Marie, Duchess of Savoy, younger daughter of Henrietta
  7. Charles II, Elector Palatine, elder son of Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine, deceased second son of Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia, James I's deceased eldest daughter
  8. Elisabeth Charlotte, Duchess of Orléans, only daughter of Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine
  9. Philippe, Duke of Chartres, younger son of the Duchess of Orléans
  10. Princess Elisabeth Charlotte of Orleans, only daughter of the Duchess of Orléans
On his death, the throne passed to the first in line, who became James II.

James II

On the day that James II fled the country, 23 December 1688, the line of succession to the English and Scottish thrones was:
  1. James, Prince of Wales, sixth son of James II
  2. Mary, Princess of Orange, eldest daughter of James II
  3. Princess Anne of Denmark and Norway, second daughter of James II
  4. William III, Prince of Orange, only son of Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange, Charles I's deceased eldest daughter
  5. Maria Luisa, Queen of Spain, elder daughter of Henrietta Stuart, Duchess of Orléans, Charles I's deceased fifth daughter
  6. Anne Marie, Duchess of Savoy, younger daughter of Henrietta
  7. Princess Marie-Adélaïde of Savoy, eldest daughter of the Duchess of Savoy
  8. Princess Marie Anne of Orléans, second daughter of the Duchess of Savoy
  9. Princess Maria Luisa of Savoy, third daughter of the Duchess of Savoy
  10. Elisabeth Charlotte, Duchess of Orléans, only daughter of Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine, deceased second son of Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia, James I's deceased eldest daughter
Parliament offered the throne jointly to James II's elder daughter, who became Mary II, and her husband and first cousin, William III.

William III & Mary II

The Bill of Rights 1689 established that, whichever of the joint monarchs, William III and Mary II, died first, the other would reign alone. As Mary II died first, on 28 December 1694, William III became sole remaining monarch. On the day of Mary's death, the line of succession to the English and Scottish thrones was:
  1. Princess Anne of Denmark, second daughter of James II
  2. Prince William of Denmark, Duke of Gloucester, only surviving child of Anne

William III

On the day of William III's death, 8 March 1702, the line of succession to the English throne was determined by the Act of Settlement 1701:
  1. Princess Anne of Denmark, sister of the king's late wife and daughter of James II
  2. Sophia, Electress of Hanover, fourth daughter of Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia, James I's deceased eldest daughter
  3. George Louis, Elector of Hanover, eldest son of Electress Sophia
  4. George Augustus, Electoral Prince of Hanover, only son of the Elector of Hanover
  5. Princess Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, only daughter of the Elector of Hanover
  6. *Prince Maximilian William of Hanover, third son of Electress Sophia, was excluded from the succession by the Bill of Rights 1689 for being a Roman Catholic.
  7. Prince Christian Henry of Hanover, fifth son of Electress Sophia
  8. Prince Ernest Augustus of Hanover, sixth son of Electress Sophia
  9. Sophia Charlotte, Queen in Prussia, only daughter of Electress Sophia
  10. Frederick William, Crown Prince of Prussia, younger son of Queen Sophia Charlotte
The line of succession to the Scottish throne was governed by the Claim of Right Act 1689:
  1. Princess Anne of Denmark, sister of the king's late wife
Upon his death, the throne passed to the first person in line, who became Queen Anne.
The succession continued with the monarchs of Great Britain.

Anne

On the day of Anne's death, 1 August 1714, the line of succession to the British throne was determined by the Act of Settlement 1701:
  1. George Louis, Elector of Hanover, eldest son of Sophia, Electress of Hanover, who died less than two months earlier, fourth daughter of Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia, James I's deceased eldest daughter
  2. George Augustus, Electoral Prince of Hanover, only son of the Elector of Hanover
  3. Prince Frederick of Hanover, only son of the Electoral Prince of Hanover
  4. Princess Anne of Hanover, eldest daughter of the Electoral Prince of Hanover
  5. Princess Amelia of Hanover, second daughter of the Electoral Prince of Hanover
  6. Princess Caroline of Hanover, third daughter of the Electoral Prince of Hanover
  7. Sophia Dorothea, Queen in Prussia, only daughter of the Elector of Hanover
  8. Frederick, Crown Prince of Prussia, third son of Queen Sophia Dorothea
  9. Princess Wilhelmine of Prussia, elder daughter of Queen Sophia Dorothea
  10. *Prince Maximilian William of Hanover, third son of Electress Sophia, was excluded from the succession by the Bill of Rights 1689 for being a Roman Catholic.
  11. Prince Ernest Augustus of Hanover, sixth son of Electress Sophia
Upon her death, the throne passed to the first person in line, who became George I.

George I

On the day of George I's death, 11 June 1727, the line of succession to the British throne was:
  1. George, Prince of Wales, only son of George I
  2. Prince Frederick, Duke of Edinburgh, eldest son of the Prince of Wales
  3. Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, third son of the Prince of Wales
  4. Princess Anne, eldest daughter of the Prince of Wales
  5. Princess Amelia, second daughter of the Prince of Wales
  6. Princess Caroline, third daughter of the Prince of Wales
  7. Princess Mary, fourth daughter of the Prince of Wales
  8. Princess Louise, fifth daughter of the Prince of Wales
  9. Sophia Dorothea, Queen in Prussia, only daughter of George I
  10. Frederick, Crown Prince of Prussia, third son of Queen Sophia Dorothea
Upon his death, the throne passed to the first person in line, who became George II.

George II

On the day of George II's death, 25 October 1760, the line of succession to the British throne was:
  1. George, Prince of Wales, eldest son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, George II's deceased eldest son
  2. Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany, second son of Frederick, Prince of Wales
  3. Prince William Henry, third son of Frederick, Prince of Wales
  4. Prince Henry, fourth son of Frederick, Prince of Wales
  5. Prince Frederick, fifth son of Frederick, Prince of Wales
  6. Princess Augusta, eldest daughter of Frederick, Prince of Wales
  7. Princess Louisa, third daughter of Frederick, Prince of Wales
  8. Princess Caroline Matilda, fourth daughter of Frederick, Prince of Wales
  9. Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, third son of George II
  10. William V, Prince of Orange, only son of Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange, George II's deceased eldest daughter
Upon his death, the throne passed to the first person in line, who became George III.

George III

On the day of George III's death, 29 January 1820, the line of succession to the British throne was:
  1. George, Prince Regent, Prince of Wales, eldest son of George III
  2. Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, second son of George III
  3. Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews, third son of George III
  4. Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent, only child of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, George III's fourth son who died six days earlier
  5. Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, fifth son of George III
  6. Prince George of Cumberland, only child of the Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale
  7. Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, sixth son of George III
  8. Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, seventh son of George III
  9. Prince George of Cambridge, only child of the Duke of Cambridge
  10. Charlotte, Princess Royal and Queen Dowager of Württemberg, eldest daughter of George III
Upon his death, the throne passed to the first person in line, who became George IV.

George IV

On the day of George IV's death, 26 June 1830, the line of succession to the British throne was:
  1. Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews, third son of George III
  2. Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent, only child of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, George III's deceased fourth son
  3. Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, fifth son of George III
  4. Prince George of Cumberland, only child of the Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale
  5. Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, sixth son of George III
  6. Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, seventh son of George III
  7. Prince George of Cambridge, only son of the Duke of Cambridge
  8. Princess Augusta of Cambridge, only daughter of the Duke of Cambridge
  9. Princess Augusta Sophia, second daughter of George III
  10. Princess Elizabeth, Dowager Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg, third daughter of George III
Upon his death, the throne passed to the first person in line, who became William IV.

William IV

On the day of William IV's death, 20 June 1837, the line of succession to the British throne was:
  1. Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent, only child of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, George III's deceased fourth son
  2. Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, fifth son of George III
  3. Prince George of Cumberland, only child of the Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale
  4. Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, sixth son of George III
  5. Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, seventh son of George III
  6. Prince George of Cambridge, only son of the Duke of Cambridge
  7. Princess Augusta of Cambridge, elder daughter of the Duke of Cambridge
  8. Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, younger daughter of the Duke of Cambridge
  9. Princess Augusta Sophia, second daughter of George III
  10. Princess Elizabeth, Dowager Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg, third daughter of George III
Upon his death, the throne passed to the first person in line, who became Queen Victoria.

Victoria

On the day of Victoria's death, 22 January 1901, the line of succession to the British throne was:
  1. Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, eldest son of Victoria
  2. Prince George, Duke of York, only surviving son of the Prince of Wales
  3. Prince Edward of York, eldest son of the Duke of York
  4. Prince Albert of York, second son of the Duke of York
  5. Prince Henry of York, third son of the Duke of York
  6. Princess Mary of York, only daughter of the Duke of York
  7. Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife, eldest daughter of the Prince of Wales
  8. Lady Alexandra Duff, elder daughter of Princess Louise
  9. Lady Maud Duff, younger daughter of Princess Louise
  10. Princess Victoria of Wales, second daughter of the Prince of Wales
Upon her death, the throne passed to the first person in line, who became Edward VII.

Edward VII

On the day of Edward VII's death, 6 May 1910, the line of succession to the British throne was:
  1. George, Prince of Wales, only surviving son of Edward VII
  2. Prince Edward of Wales, eldest son of the Prince of Wales
  3. Prince Albert of Wales, second son of the Prince of Wales
  4. Prince Henry of Wales, third son of the Prince of Wales
  5. Prince George of Wales, fourth son of the Prince of Wales
  6. Prince John of Wales, fifth son of the Prince of Wales
  7. Princess Mary of Wales, only daughter of the Prince of Wales
  8. Louise, Princess Royal, eldest daughter of Edward VII
  9. Princess Alexandra, elder daughter of the Princess Royal
  10. Princess Maud, younger daughter of the Princess Royal
Upon his death, the throne passed to the first person in line, who became George V.

George V

On the day of George V's death, 20 January 1936, the line of succession to the British throne was:
  1. Edward, Prince of Wales, eldest son of George V
  2. Prince Albert, Duke of York, second son of George V
  3. Princess Elizabeth of York, elder daughter of the Duke of York
  4. Princess Margaret of York, younger daughter of the Duke of York
  5. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, third son of George V
  6. Prince George, Duke of Kent, fourth son of George V
  7. Prince Edward of Kent, only child of the Duke of Kent
  8. Mary, Princess Royal, only daughter of George V
  9. George Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles, elder son of the Princess Royal
  10. Gerald Lascelles, younger son of the Princess Royal
Upon his death, the throne passed to the first person in line, who became Edward VIII.

Edward VIII

On the day of Edward VIII's abdication, 11 December 1936, the line of succession to the British throne was:
  1. Prince Albert, Duke of York, second son of George V
  2. Princess Elizabeth of York, elder daughter of the Duke of York
  3. Princess Margaret of York, younger daughter of the Duke of York
  4. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, third son of George V
  5. Prince George, Duke of Kent, fourth son of George V
  6. Prince Edward of Kent, only child of the Duke of Kent
  7. Mary, Princess Royal, only daughter of George V
  8. George Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles, elder son of the Princess Royal
  9. Gerald Lascelles, younger son of the Princess Royal
  10. Alexandra, Princess Arthur of Connaught, Duchess of Fife, elder daughter of Louise, Princess Royal, Edward VII's deceased eldest daughter
Upon his abdication, the throne passed to the first person in line, who became George VI.

George VI

On the day of George VI's death, 6 February 1952, the line of succession to the British throne was:
  1. Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, elder daughter of George VI
  2. Prince Charles of Edinburgh, only son of Princess Elizabeth
  3. Princess Anne of Edinburgh, only daughter of Princess Elizabeth
  4. Princess Margaret, younger daughter of George VI
  5. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, third son of George V
  6. Prince William of Gloucester, elder son of the Duke of Gloucester
  7. Prince Richard of Gloucester, younger son of the Duke of Gloucester
  8. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, elder son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, George V's deceased fourth son
  9. Prince Michael of Kent, younger son of Prince George, Duke of Kent
  10. Princess Alexandra of Kent, only daughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent
Upon his death, the throne passed to the first person in line, who became Elizabeth II.

Elizabeth II

On the day of Elizabeth II's death, 8 September 2022, the line of succession to the British throne was determined by the Succession to the Crown Act 2013:
  1. Charles, Prince of Wales, eldest son of Elizabeth II
  2. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, elder son of the Prince of Wales
  3. Prince George of Cambridge, eldest child of the Duke of Cambridge
  4. Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, second child of the Duke of Cambridge
  5. Prince Louis of Cambridge, third child of the Duke of Cambridge
  6. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, younger son of the Prince of Wales
  7. Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, elder child of the Duke of Sussex
  8. Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, younger child of the Duke of Sussex
  9. Prince Andrew, Duke of York, second son of Elizabeth II
  10. Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, elder daughter of the Duke of York
Upon her death, the throne passed to the first person in line, who became Charles III.

Charles III

Currently, the line of succession to the British throne is:
  1. William, Prince of Wales, elder son of Charles III
  2. Prince George of Wales, eldest child of the Prince of Wales
  3. Princess Charlotte of Wales, second child of the Prince of Wales
  4. Prince Louis of Wales, third child of the Prince of Wales
  5. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, younger son of Charles III
  6. Prince Archie of Sussex, elder child of the Duke of Sussex
  7. Princess Lilibet of Sussex, younger child of the Duke of Sussex
  8. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, second son of Elizabeth II
  9. Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, elder daughter of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
  10. Sienna Mapelli Mozzi, elder child of Princess Beatrice