List of heirs to the English throne facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This article lists the people who were next in line to become the King or Queen of England. This is for the time before 1707, when England and Scotland joined to form Great Britain.

Being an heir meant you would take the throne if the current monarch (king or queen) passed away. People whose names are in bold actually became king or queen later on.

It's important to know that for a long time after the Norman Conquest in 1066, it wasn't always clear who would be the next ruler. Sometimes, someone else took the throne by force or because there were no direct heirs. These big changes are shown as breaks in the lists below.

1066 to 1135: The Normans
1135 to 1154: The Blois
1154 to 1399: Plantagenets
1399 to 1461: The Lancasters
1461 to 1470: The Yorks
1470 to 1471: The Lancasters
1471 to 1485: The Yorks
1485 to 1603: The Tudors
1603 to 1707: The Stuarts
See also

1066 to 1135: The Normans

The Norman period began after William the Conqueror took over England in 1066. During this time, the rules for who would inherit the throne were still being figured out.

Heir	Status	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Monarch
No recognised heir 1066–1087							William I
William Rufus	Heir apparent	Second son	7 September 1087	Proclaimed heir	26 September 1087	Became king	William I
No recognised heir 1087–1100							William II
No recognised heir 1100–1116							Henry I
William Adelin, Duke of Normandy	Heir apparent	Son	19 March 1116	Proclaimed heir	25 November 1120	Died
No recognised heir 1120–1126
Empress Matilda, Countess of Anjou	Heiress presumptive	Daughter	25 December 1126	Proclaimed heiress	22 December 1135	Throne taken by cousin Stephen of Blois

1135 to 1154: The Blois

This short period saw a struggle for the throne. King Stephen took the crown, even though Empress Matilda was the daughter of the previous king.

Heir	Status	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Monarch
No recognised heir 1135–1152							Stephen
Eustace IV, Count of Boulogne	Heir apparent	Eldest son	6 April 1152	Proclaimed heir	17 August 1153	Died
No recognised heir Aug–Nov 1153
Henry Curtmantle, Duke of Normandy	Heir apparent	1st cousin +1	6 November 1153	Treaty of Wallingford	19 December 1154	Became king

1154 to 1399: Plantagenets

The Plantagenet family ruled England for a long time. During their reign, the rules for who would inherit the throne became a bit clearer, but there were still times of uncertainty.

Heir	Status	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Monarch
No recognised heir 1154–1155							Henry II
William IX, Count of Poitiers	Heir apparent	Eldest son	3 April 1155	Proclaimed heir	April 1156	Died
Henry the Young King	Heir apparent	Son	April 1156	Brother died	11 June 1183	Died
No recognised heir 1183–1189
Richard, Duke of Aquitaine	Heir apparent	Son	4 July 1189	Proclaimed heir	3 September 1189	Became king
No recognised heir 1189–1190							Richard I
Arthur I, Duke of Brittany	Heir presumptive	Nephew	11 November 1190	Proclaimed heir	27 May 1199	Throne taken by John	Richard I
No recognised heir 1199–1207							John
Henry of Winchester	Heir apparent	Eldest son	1 October 1207	Born	28 October 1216	Became king	John
Richard, Earl of Cornwall	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	28 October 1216	Brother became king	17 June 1239	Son born to king	Henry III
Edward "Longshanks", Lord of Chester	Heir apparent	Eldest son	17 June 1239	Born	20 November 1272	Became king	Henry III
Henry	Heir apparent	Eldest son	20 November 1272	Father became king	16 October 1274	Died	Edward I
Alphonso, Earl of Chester	Heir apparent	Son	16 October 1274	Brother died	19 August 1284	Died
Edward of Caernarfon, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Son	19 August 1284	Brother died	7 July 1307	Became king
Thomas of Brotherton, Earl of Norfolk	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	7 July 1307	Brother became king	13 November 1312	Son born to king	Edward II
Edward of Windsor, Earl of Chester	Heir apparent	Eldest son	13 November 1312	Born	25 January 1327	Became king	Edward II
John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	25 January 1327	Brother became king	15 June 1330	Son born to king	Edward III
Edward "the Black Prince", Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Eldest son	15 June 1330	Born	8 June 1376	Died
Richard of Bordeaux, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Grandson	8 June 1376	Father died	21 June 1377	Became king
King Richard II (1377–1399) never officially named an heir. This led to arguments about who should be next in line. Some people followed the will of Edward III, which said the throne should go to male heirs. Others looked at the family tree where women could also inherit. The table below shows the main people from both groups.
John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster	Possible heirs by Edward III's will	Uncle	21 June 1377	Nephew became king	3 February 1399	Died	Richard II
Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster	Possible heirs by Edward III's will	1st cousin	3 February 1399	Father died	30 September 1399	Became king
Philippa, Countess of Ulster	Possible heirs by family line (including women)	1st cousin	21 June 1377	Cousin became king	5 January 1382	Died
Roger Mortimer, Earl of March		1st cousin +1	5 January 1382	Mother died	20 July 1398	Died
Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March		1st cousin +2	20 July 1398	Father died	30 September 1399	New king took the throne

1399 to 1461: The Lancasters

The House of Lancaster took the throne after Richard II. This period included the Wars of the Roses, a long fight between different royal families.

Heir	Status	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Monarch
Henry of Monmouth, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Eldest son	30 September 1399	Father became king	20 March 1413	Became king	Henry IV
Thomas, Duke of Clarence	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	20 March 1413	Brother became king	22 March 1421	Died	Henry V
John, Duke of Bedford	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	22 March 1421	Brother died	6 December 1421	Son born to king
Henry, Duke of Cornwall	Heir apparent	Son	6 December 1421	Born	31 August 1422	Became king
John, Duke of Bedford	Heir presumptive	Uncle	31 August 1422	Nephew became king	14 September 1435	Died	Henry VI
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester	Heir presumptive	Uncle	14 September 1435	Brother died	23 February 1447	Died
Richard, Duke of York	Heir presumptive	2nd cousin −1	23 February 1447	2nd cousin died	13 October 1453	Son born to king
Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Son	13 October 1453	Born	25 October 1460	Act of Accord
Richard, Duke of York	Heir apparent	2nd cousin −1	25 October 1460	Act of Accord	30 December 1460	Died
Edward, Duke of York	Heir apparent	3rd cousin	30 December 1460	Father died	4 March 1461	Became king

1461 to 1470: The Yorks

The House of York took the throne from the Lancasters. This was part of the ongoing Wars of the Roses.

Heir	Status	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Monarch
George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence (Disputed from 1466 onward)	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	4 March 1461	Brother became king	31 March 1470	Declared a traitor	Edward IV
No recognised heir Mar-Oct 1470							Edward IV

1470 to 1471: The Lancasters

The Lancasters briefly regained the throne during the Wars of the Roses.

Heir	Status	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Monarch
Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Eldest son	3 October 1470	Father restored as king	11 April 1471	Father removed from throne	Henry VI

1471 to 1485: The Yorks

The Yorks returned to power after a short time. This period ended with the rise of the Tudor dynasty.

Heir	Status	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Monarch
Edward, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Eldest son	11 April 1471	Father restored as king	9 April 1483	Became king	Edward IV
Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	9 April 1483	Brother became king	25 June 1483	Declared not legitimate	Edward V
Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Eldest son	26 June 1483	Father became king	9 April 1484	Died	Richard III
No recognised heir 1484–1485							Richard III

1485 to 1603: The Tudors

The Tudor dynasty brought a new era to England. They faced challenges with succession, especially King Henry VIII, who changed the rules several times.

Heir	Status	Relationship to Monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Monarch
No recognised heir 1485–1486							Henry VII
Arthur, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Eldest son	20 September 1486	Born	2 April 1502	Died
Henry, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Son	2 April 1502	Brother died	22 April 1509	Became king
Margaret, Queen of Scotland	Heiress presumptive	Sister	22 April 1509	Brother became king	1 January 1511	Son born to king	Henry VIII
Henry, Duke of Cornwall	Heir apparent	Eldest son	1 January 1511	Born	23 February 1511	Died
Margaret, Queen of Scotland	Heiress presumptive	Sister	23 February 1511	Nephew died	18 February 1516	Daughter born to king
Mary Tudor	Heiress presumptive	Eldest daughter	18 February 1516	Born	23 March 1534	First Succession Act
Elizabeth Tudor	Heiress presumptive	Daughter	23 March 1534	First Succession Act	8 June 1536	Second Succession Act
No recognised heir 1536–1537
Edward, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Son	12 October 1537	Born	28 January 1547	Became king
Mary Tudor	Heiress presumptive	Elder half-sister	28 January 1547	Half-brother became king	21 June 1553	Excluded by royal order	Edward VI
Lady Jane Grey	Heiress presumptive	1st cousin +1	21 June 1553	Named in royal order	6 July 1553	Proclaimed queen	Edward VI
After Edward VI died, there was a disagreement over who should be queen. His sister Mary was the heir by normal rules. But Lady Jane Grey was named heir by Edward. Because Jane Grey's time as queen was very short and debated, her heirs are also debated.
Lady Katherine Grey	Heiress presumptive (disputed)	Younger sister	6 July 1553	Sister proclaimed queen	19 July 1553	Sister removed from throne	Jane
Elizabeth Tudor	Heiress presumptive	Younger half-sister	6 July 1553	Half-sister became queen	17 November 1558	Became queen	Mary I
Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603) never named an heir. This caused more arguments about who should inherit the throne. Some people looked at the family line from Henry VII, while others followed Henry VIII's will. Henry VIII's will had some issues, as it was not signed by him directly. The table shows the main people from these different claims.
Mary, Queen of Scots	Possible heirs by family line (including women)	1st cousin +1	17 November 1558	Cousin became queen	8 February 1587	Executed	Elizabeth I
James VI of Scotland	Possible heirs by family line (including women)	1st cousin +2	8 February 1587	Mother executed	24 March 1603	Became king
Lady Katherine Grey	Possible heirs by Henry VIII's will	1st cousin +1	17 November 1558	Cousin became queen	26 January 1568	Died
Lady Mary Grey		1st cousin +1	26 January 1568	Sister died	20 April 1578	Died
Margaret, Countess of Derby		1st cousin +1	20 April 1578	1st cousin died	28 September 1596	Died
Lady Anne Stanley		1st cousin +3	28 September 1596	Paternal grandmother died	24 March 1603	New king took the throne

1603 to 1707: The Stuarts

The Stuart family took over after the Tudors. This period saw major changes, including the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution, which greatly affected who would inherit the throne.

Heir	Status	Relationship to monarch	Became heir	Reason	Ceased to be heir	Reason	Next in succession Relation to heir	Monarch
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Eldest son	24 March 1603	Father became king	6 November 1612	Died	Charles, Duke of York Younger brother	James I
Charles, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Son	6 November 1612	Brother died	27 March 1625	Became king	Elizabeth, Electress Palatine Elder sister	James I
Elizabeth, Electress Palatine	Heiress presumptive	Elder sister	27 March 1625	Brother became king	29 May 1630	Son born to king	Frederick Henry 1625 – 1629 Son	Charles I
Elizabeth, Electress Palatine	Heiress presumptive	Elder sister	27 March 1625	Brother became king	29 May 1630	Son born to king	Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine Jan - May 1629 Son
Charles, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Son	29 May 1630	Born	30 January 1649	Became king	Elizabeth, Electress Palatine 1630 – 1631 Aunt
							Mary, Princess Royal 1631 – 1633 Sister
							James, Duke of York 1633 – 1649 Brother
James, Duke of York	Heir presumptive	Younger brother	30 January 1649	Brother proclaimed King	6 February 1685	Became king	Henry, Duke of Gloucester 1649 – 1660 Younger brother	Charles II
							Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange Sep – Oct 1660 Elder sister
							Charles, Duke of Cambridge 1660 – 1661 Son
							Prince William of Orange 1661 – 1662 Nephew
							Princess Mary 1662 – 1663 Daughter
							James Stuart, Duke of Cambridge 1663 – 1667 Son
							Princess Mary Jun – Sep 1667 Daughter
							Edgar Stuart, Duke of Cambridge 1667 – 1669 Son
							Princess Mary 1669 – 1677 Daughter
							Charles, Duke of Cambridge Nov – Dec 1677 Son
							Mary, Princess of Orange 1677 – 1685 Daughter
Mary, Princess of Orange	Heiress presumptive	Elder daughter	6 February 1685	Father became king	10 June 1688	Younger brother born	Princess Anne of Denmark Younger sister	James II
James, Prince of Wales	Heir apparent	Son	10 June 1688	Born	13 February 1689	Father removed from throne	Mary, Princess of Orange Elder sister	James II
William III	Mutual heirs	Husband	13 February 1689	Declaration of Right, 1689	28 December 1694	Became sole monarch	Princess Anne of Denmark Sister(-in-law)	Mary II
Mary II	Mutual heirs	Wife	13 February 1689	Declaration of Right, 1689	28 December 1694	Died	Princess Anne of Denmark Sister(-in-law)	William III
Princess Anne of Denmark	Heiress presumptive	Sister-in-law and 1st cousin	28 December 1694	Sister's death	8 March 1702	Became queen	William, Duke of Gloucester 1694 – 1700 Son
							None 1700 – 1701
							Sophia, Dowager Electress of Hanover 1701 – 1702 1st cousin −1
Sophia, Dowager Electress of Hanover	Heiress presumptive	1st cousin −1	8 March 1702	Death of William III	1 May 1707	Became heiress-presumptive to Great Britain	George Louis, Elector of Hanover Son	Anne