History of the British line of succession

A history of the British line of succession, showing its state immediately prior to the death of each monarch. Normally, only the first ten people are listed here.

William I

On the day of William I's death, 9 September 1087, the line of succession to the English throne was as follows (following primogeniture);

1. Robert Curthose (b. 1054), son of William I
2. William Rufus (b. 1056), son of William I
3. Henry Beauclerc (b. 1068), son of William I
4. Adela of Normandy (b. 1062), daughter of William I
5. Stephen of Aumale (b. 1070), son of William I's sister Adelaide
6. Judith of Lens (b. 1055), daughter of William I's sister Adelaide
7. Maud, Countess of Huntingdon (b. 1074), daughter of Judith of Lens
8. William I, Count of Burgundy (b. 1020), son of Adelaide who was eldest daughter of William I's grandfather Richard II of Normandy
9. Reginald II, Count of Burgundy (b. 1061), son of William, Count of Burgundy
10. Stephen I, Count of Burgundy (b. 1065), son of William, Count of Burgundy

However, due to the partition of William's lands upon his death, the crown of England fell to his second son, William Rufus, who became William II.

William II

On the day of William II's death, 2 August 1100, the line of succession to the English throne was as follows (following primogeniture);

1. Robert Curthose (b. 1054), brother of William II
2. Henry Beauclerc (b. 1068), brother of William II
3. Adela of Normandy (b. 1062), sister of William II
4. William of Blois (b. 1089), son of Adela of Normandy
5. Theobald of Blois (b. 1090), son of Adela of Normandy
6. Stephen of Blois (b. 1096), son of Adela of Normandy
7. Stephen of Aumale (b. 1070), son of William I's sister Adelaide
8. Judith of Lens (b. 1055), daughter of William I's sister Adelaide
9. Maud, Countess of Huntingdon (b. 1074), daughter of Judith of Lens
10. Waltheof (b. 1095), son of Maud of Huntingdon

However, Henry Beauclerc usurped the crown (the first person since the conquest to do so), seizing it while his brother Robert was away on crusade. He became Henry I.

Henry I

On the day of Henry I's death, 1 December 1135, the line of succession to the English throne was as follows (following primogeniture);

1. Empress Matilda (b. 1102), daughter of Henry I
2. Henry Plantagenet (b. 1133), son of Empress Matilda
3. Geoffrey Plantagenet (b. 1134), son of Empress Matilda
4. Adela of Normandy (b. 1062), sister of Henry I
5. William, Count of Chartres (b. 1089), son of Adela of Normandy
6. issue of William, Count of Chartres (unrecorded)
7. Theobald II, Count of Champagne (b. 1090), son of Adela of Normandy
8. Henry of Champagne (b. 1125), son of Theobald
9. Theobald of Champagne (b. 1127), son of Theobald
10. Stephen of Champagne (b. 1133), son of Theobald

However, the throne was usurped by Stephen of Blois (the third son of Adela of Normandy), despite the fact that he was only thirteenth in line - the second person since the conquest to do so. He became King Stephen.

Stephen

On the day of Stephen's death, 25 October 1154, the line of succession to the English throne was as follows (following primogeniture);

1. William, Count of Boulogne (b. 1137), son of Stephen
2. Marie of Blois (b. 1136), daughter of Stephen
3. Henry I, Count of Champagne (b. 1125), son of Stephen's brother Theobald
4. Theobald V, Count of Blois (b. 1127), son of Stephen's brother Theobald
5. Stephen I of Sancerre (b. 1133), son of Stephen's brother Theobald
6. Guillaume aux Blanches Mains (b. 1135), son of Stephen's brother Theobald
7. Adèle of Champagne (b. 1140), daughter of Stephen's brother Theobald
8. Isabelle of Champagne, daughter of Stephen's brother Theobald
9. Marie of Champagne, daughter of Stephen's brother Theobald
10. Margaret of Champagne, daughter of Stephen's brother Theobald

However, Stephen agreed to make his cousin Matilda's son Henry Plantagenet king after him, despite Henry only being about 30th in line to the throne. He became Henry II.

Henry II

On the day of Henry II's death, 6 July 1189, the line of succession to the English throne was as follows (following primogeniture);

1. Richard the Lionheart (b. 1157), son of Henry II
2. Arthur of Brittany (b. 1187), son of Henry II's son Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany
3. Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany (b. 1184), daughter of Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany
4. John Lackland (b. 1166), son of Henry II
5. Matilda of England (b. 1156), daughter of Henry II
6. Henry of Brunswick (b. 1173), son of Matilda
7. Lothar of Brunswick (b. 1174), son of Matilda
8. Otto of Brunswick (b. 1175), son of Matilda
9. William of Winchester (b. 1184), son of Matilda
10. Matilda of Brunswick (b. 1171), daughter of Matilda

Upon his death, the throne passed smoothly to the first person in line (the first such happening), who became Richard I.

Richard I

On the day of Richard I's death, 6 April 1199, the line of succession to the English throne was as follows (following primogeniture);

1. Arthur I, Duke of Brittany (b. 1187), son of Richard I's brother Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany
2. Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany (b. 1184), daughter of Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany
3. John Lackland (b. 1166), brother of Richard I
4. Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (b. 1173), son of Richard I's sister Matilda, Duchess of Saxony
5. Prince Henry of the Rhine (b. 1197), son of Henry V
6. Otto of Brunswick (b. 1175), son of Matilda
7. William of Winchester, Lord of Lunenburg (b. 1184), son of Matilda
8. Matilda of Brunswick (b. 1171), daughter of Matilda
9. Richenza of Brunswick (b. 1172), daughter of Matilda
10. Leonora of England (b. 1162), sister of Richard I

However, the throne was usurped by Richard's brother John Lackland, who became the third person since the conquest to do so, and King John.

John

On the day of John's death, 19 October 1216, the line of succession to the English throne was as follows (following primogeniture);

1. Henry of Winchester (b. 1207), son of John
2. Richard of Cornwall (b. 1209), son of John
3. Joan of England (b. 1210), daughter of John
4. Isabella of England (b. 1214), daughter of John
5. Eleanor of England (b. 1215), daughter of John
6. Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany (b. 1184), daughter of John's brother Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany
7. Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (b. 1173), son of John's sister Matilda, Duchess of Saxony
8. Irmengard of the Rhine (b. 1199), daughter of Henry V
9. Agnes of the Rhine (b. 1201), daughter of Henry V
10. Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor (b. 1175), son of Matilda

Upon his death, the throne passed smoothly to the first person in line, who became Henry III.

Henry III

On the day of Henry III's death, 16 November 1272, the line of succession to the English throne was as follows (following primogeniture);

1. Edward Longshanks (b. 1239), son of Henry III
2. Henry of England (b. 1268), son of Edward
3. Eleanor of England (b. 1269), daughter of Edward
4. Joan of Acre (b. 1272), daughter of Edward
5. Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster (b. 1245), son of Henry III
6. Margaret of England (b. 1240), daughter of Henry III
7. Alexander of Scotland (b. 1264), son of Margaret
8. David of Scotland (b. 1272), son of Margaret
9. Margaret of Scotland (b. 1261), daughter of Margaret
10. Beatrice of England (b. 1242), daughter of Henry III

Upon his death, the throne passed smoothly to the first person in line, who became Edward I.

Edward I

On the day of Edward I's death, 7 July 1307, the line of succession to the English throne was as follows (following primogeniture);

1. Edward, Prince of Wales (b. 1284), son of Edward I
2. Thomas of Brotherton (b. 1300), son of Edward I
3. Edmund of Woodstock (b. 1301), son of Edward I
4. Gilbert de Clare, 8th Earl of Hertford (b. 1291), son of Edward I's daughter Joan of Acre
5. Eleanor de Clare (b. 1292), daughter of Joan of Acre
6. Margaret de Clare (b. 1293), daughter of Joan of Acre
7. Elizabeth de Clare (b. 1295), daughter of Joan of Acre
8. Margaret Plantagenet (b. 1275), daughter of Edward I
9. John of Brabant (b. 1300), son of Margaret Plantagenet
10. Mary Plantagenet (b. 1279), daughter of Edward I

Upon his death, the throne passed smoothly to the first person in line, who became Edward II.

Edward II

On the day of Edward II's abdication, 24 January 1327, the line of succession to the English throne was as follows (following primogeniture);

1. Edward of Windsor (b. 1312), son of Edward II
2. John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall (b. 1316), son of Edward II
3. Eleanor of Woodstock (b. 1318), daughter of Edward II
4. Joan, Queen of Scots (b. 1321), daughter of Edward II
5. Thomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of Norfolk (b. 1300), brother of Edward II
6. Edward of Norfolk (b. circa 1320), son of Thomas
7. Margaret, Duchess of Norfolk (b. circa 1320), daughter of Thomas
8. Alice of Norfolk (b. 1324), daughter of Thomas
9. Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent (b. 1301), brother of Edward II
10. Edmund Plantagenet, 2nd Earl of Kent (b. 1326), son of Edmund

Upon his abdication, the throne passed smoothly to the first person in line, who became Edward III.

Edward III

On the day of Edward III's death, 21 June 1377, the line of succession to the English throne was as follows (following primogeniture);

1. Richard of Bordeaux (b. 1367), son of Edward III's son Edward, the Black Prince
2. Philippa Plantagenet (b. 1355), daughter of Edward III's son Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence
3. John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (b. 1340), son of Edward III
4. Henry Bolingbroke (b. 1366), son of John
5. Philippa of Lancaster (b. 1360), daughter of John
6. Elizabeth of Lancaster (b. 1364), daughter of John
7. Katherine of Lancaster (b. 1372), daughter of John
8. Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York (b. 1341), son of Edward III
9. Edward of Norwich (b. 1373), son of Edmund
10. Richard of Conisburgh (b. 1375), son of Edmund

Upon his death, the throne passed smoothly to the first person in line, who became Richard II.

Richard II

On the day of Richard II's abdication, 29 September 1399, the line of succession to the English throne was as follows (following primogeniture);

1. Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March (b. 1391), son of Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March and great-great-grandson of Edward III through Philippa Plantagenet
2. Roger Mortimer (b. 1395), son of Roger
3. Anne de Mortimer (b. 1388), daughter of Roger
4. Eleanor de Mortimer (b. 1395), daughter of Roger
5. Edmund Mortimer (b. 1376), brother of Roger and great-grandson of Edward III
6. Elizabeth Mortimer (b. 1371), sister of Roger and great-granddaughter of Edward III
7. Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland (b. 1392/1393), son of Elizabeth
8. Elizabeth Percy (b. circa 1393), daughter of Elizabeth
9. Philippa Mortimer (b. 1301), sister of Roger and great-granddaughter of Edward III
10. Henry Bolingbroke (b. 1366), son of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and grandson of Edward III

However, upon Richard's abdication the throne was taken by Henry Bolingbroke as Henry IV, despite only being 10th in line to the throne.

Henry IV

On the day of Henry IV's death, 20 March 1413, the line of succession to the English throne was as follows (following primogeniture);

1. Henry of Monmouth, Prince of Wales (b. 1387), son of Henry IV
2. Thomas, Duke of Clarence (b. 1388), son of Henry IV
3. John, Duke of Bedford (b. 1389), son of Henry IV
4. Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (b. 1390), son of Henry IV
5. Rupprecht von der Pfalz, House of Wittelsbach (b. 1409), son of Blanche of England and grandson of Henry IV
6. Philippa of England (b. 1394), daughter of Henry IV
7. Philippa of Lancaster (b. 1360), sister of Henry IV
8. Edward of Portugal (b. 1391), son of Philippa of Lancaster
9. Peter, Duke of Coimbra (b. 1392), son of Philippa of Lancaster
10. Henry the Navigator (b. 1394), son of Philippa of Lancaster

Upon his death, the throne passed smoothly 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 to the English throne was as follows (following primogeniture);

1. Henry, Prince of Wales (b. 1421), son of Henry V
2. John, Duke of Bedford (b. 1389), brother of Henry V
3. Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (b. 1390), brother of Henry V
4. Rupprecht von der Pfalz, House of Wittelsbach (b. 1409), son of Henry V's sister Blanche of England
5. Philippa of England (b. 1394), sister of Henry V
6. Edward of Portugal (b. 1391), son of Henry V's aunt Philippa of Lancaster
7. Peter, Duke of Coimbra (b. 1392), son of Henry V's aunt Philippa of Lancaster
8. Henry the Navigator (b. 1394), son of Henry V's aunt Philippa of Lancaster
9. Infante João of Portugal (b. 1400), son of Henry V's aunt Philippa of Lancaster
10. Fernando, the Saint Prince (b. 1402), son of Henry V's aunt Philippa of Lancaster

Upon his death, the throne passed smoothly to the first person in line, who became Henry VI.

Henry VI

On the day of Henry VI's deposition, 4 March 1461, the line of succession to the English throne was as follows (following primogeniture);

1. Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales (b. 1453), son of Henry VI
2. Infante Fernando, Duke of Viseu (b. 1433), son of Edward of Portugal and grandson of Henry VI’s great-aunt Philippa of Lancaster
3. Infante João of Viseu (b. 1448), son of Fernando
4. Infante Diogo of Viseu (b. 1460), son of Fernando
5. Leonor of Viseu (b. 1458), daughter of Fernando
6. Infanta Isabel of Viseu (b. 1459), daughter of Fernando
7. Eleanor of Portugal, Holy Roman Empress (b. 1434), daughter of Edward of Portugal and granddaughter of Henry VI’s great-aunt Philippa of Lancaster
8. Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor (b. 1459), son of Eleanor
9. Infanta Catarina of Portugal (b. 1436), daughter of Edward of Portugal and granddaughter of Henry VI’s great-aunt Philippa of Lancaster
10. Joan of Portugal (b. 1439), daughter of Edward of Portugal and granddaughter of Henry VI’s great-aunt Philippa of Lancaster

However, during the Wars of the Roses, Henry VI was forcibly deposed by his third cousin twice removed, Edward, Earl of March, who became Edward IV.

Edward IV

Edward IV to George IV to be completed

William IV

On the day of William IV's death, 20 June 1837, the line of succession to the British throne was as follows;

1. HRH Princess Victoria of Kent (b. 1819), daughter of William IV's brother the Duke of Kent
2. HRH The Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale (b. 1771), brother of William IV
3. HRH Prince George of Cumberland (b. 1819), son of the Duke of Cumberland
4. HRH Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (b. 1773), brother of William IV
5. HRH The Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (b. 1774), brother of William IV
6. HRH Prince George of Cambridge (b. 1819), son of the Duke of Cambridge
7. HRH Princess Augusta of Cambridge (b. 1822), daughter of the Duke of Cambridge
8. HRH Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge (b. 1833), daughter of the Duke of Cambridge
9. HRH The Princess Augusta Sophia (b. 1768), sister of William IV
10. HRH The Princess Elizabeth, Landgravine of Hesse-Hornburg (b. 1770), sister of William IV

Upon his death, the throne passed smoothly 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 as follows;

1. HRH The Prince Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (b. 1841), son of Queen Victoria
2. HRH The Prince George, Duke of York (b. 1865), son of the Prince Wales
3. HRH Prince Edward of York (b. 1894), son of the Duke of York
4. HRH Prince Albert of York (b. 1895), son of the Duke of York
5. HRH Prince Henry of York (b. 1900), son of the Duke of York
6. HRH Princess Mary of York (b. 1897), daughter of the Duke of York
7. HRH Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife (b. 1867), daughter of the Prince of Wales
8. The Lady Alexandra Duff (b. 1891), daughter of Princess Louise
9. The Lady Maud Duff (b. 1893), daughter of Princess Louise
10. HRH Princess Victoria of Wales (b. 1868), daughter of the Prince of Wales

Upon her death, the throne passed smoothly 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 as follows;

1. HRH The Prince George, Prince of Wales (b. 1865), son of Edward VII
2. HRH Prince Edward of Wales (b. 1894), son of Prince George
3. HRH Prince Albert of Wales (b. 1895), son of Prince George
4. HRH Prince Henry of Wales (b. 1900), son of Prince George
5. HRH Prince George of Wales (b. 1902), son of Prince George
6. HRH Prince John of Wales (b. 1905), son of Prince George
7. HRH Princess Mary of Wales (b. 1897), daughter of Prince George
8. HRH The Princess Louise, Princess Royal (b. 1867), daughter of Edward VII
9. HH Princess Alexandra of Fife (b. 1891), daughter of Princess Louise
10. HH Princess Maud of Fife (b. 1893), daughter of Princess Louise

Upon his death, the throne passed smoothly 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 as follows;

1. HRH The Prince Edward, Prince of Wales (b. 1894), son of George V
2. HRH The Prince Albert, Duke of York (b. 1895), son of George V
3. HRH Princess Elizabeth of York (b. 1926), daughter of the Duke of York
4. HRH Princess Margaret of York (b. 1930), daughter of the Duke of York
5. HRH The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (b. 1900), son of George V
6. HRH The Prince George, Duke of Kent (b. 1902), son of George V
7. HRH Prince Edward of Kent (b. 1935), son of the Duke of Kent
8. HRH The Princess Mary, Princess Royal (b. 1897), daughter of George V
9. George Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles (b. 1923), son of the Princess Royal
10. The Hon. Gerald Lascelles (b. 1924), son of the Princess Royal

Upon his death, the throne passed smoothly 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 as follows;

1. HRH The Prince Albert, Duke of York (b. 1895), brother of Edward VIII
2. HRH Princess Elizabeth of York (b. 1926), daughter of the Duke of York
3. HRH Princess Margaret of York (b. 1930), daughter of the Duke of York
4. HRH The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (b. 1900), brother of Edward VIII
5. HRH The Prince George, Duke of Kent (b. 1902), brother of Edward VIII
6. HRH Prince Edward of Kent (b. 1935), son of the Duke of Kent
7. HRH The Princess Mary, Princess Royal (b. 1897), sister of Edward VIII
8. George Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles (b. 1923), son of the Princess Royal
9. The Hon. Gerald Lascelles (b. 1924), son of the Princess Royal
10. HRH Princess Arthur of Connaught (Duchess of Fife) (b. 1891), daughter of Edward VIII's aunt, Louise, Princess Royal

Upon his abdication, the throne passed smoothly 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 as follows;

1. HRH The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (b. 1926), daughter of George VI
2. HRH Prince Charles of Edinburgh (b. 1948), son of Princess Elizabeth
3. HRH Princess Anne of Edinburgh (b. 1950), daughter of Princess Elizabeth
4. HRH The Princess Margaret (b. 1930), daughter of George VI

   skipped HRH The Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (b. 1894) (abdicated), brother of George VI

5. HRH The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (b. 1900), brother of George VI
6. HRH Prince William of Gloucester (b. 1944), son of the Duke of Gloucester
7. HRH Prince Richard of Gloucester (b. 1947), son of the Duke of Gloucester
8. HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (b. 1935), son of George VI's brother, the 1st Duke of Kent
9. HRH Prince Michael of Kent (b. 1942), brother of the Duke of Kent
10. HRH Princess Alexandra of Kent (b. 1936), sister of the Duke of Kent.

Upon his death, the throne passed smoothly to the first person in line, who became Elizabeth II.

See also

• Line of succession to the British Throne
• List of heirs to the English and British thrones