Line of succession to the British Throne
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The line of succession to the British Throne (and, by extension, the thrones of the fifteen other Commonwealth Realms) is determined by male primogeniture and religion, whereby the eldest legitimate son of the incumbent inherits the throne, unless he is Catholic or has married a Catholic. Notably, the laws preventing "Papists" from taking to the Throne has been neither used nor otherwise tested. The line of succession then follows the descendants of the person in line before going on to consider their siblings. Sons are always considered before daughters, but daughters are included in the succession. See Succession to the British Throne for further details.
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Line of succession
Anyone who is a Roman Catholic or who marries one is excluded from the throne under the Act of Settlement 1701. For the earlier part of the list (through Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia) they have been noted below as "skipped", but after that all descendants of Electress Sophia have been listed.
Current Monarch: Elizabeth II
- HRH The Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II's eldest son ("The Prince Charles")
- HRH Prince William of Wales, the Prince of Wales's elder son
- HRH Prince Henry (Harry) of Wales, the Prince of Wales's younger son
- HRH The Duke of York, Queen Elizabeth II's second son ("The Prince Andrew")
- HRH Princess Beatrice of York, the Duke of York's elder daughter
- HRH Princess Eugenie of York, the Duke of York's younger daughter
- HRH The Earl of Wessex, Queen Elizabeth II's youngest son ("The Prince Edward")
- The Lady Louise Windsor The Earl of Wessex's daughter
- HRH The Princess Royal, Queen Elizabeth II's daughter ("The Princess Anne")
- Peter Phillips, The Princess Royal's son
- Zara Phillips, The Princess Royal's daughter
- David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley, grandson of King George VI through his mother Princess Margaret
- The Hon. Charles Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley's son
- The Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley's daughter
- Lady Sarah Chatto, granddaughter of King George VI through her mother Princess Margaret
- Samuel Chatto, son of Lady Sarah Chatto
- Arthur Chatto, son of Lady Sarah Chatto
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester, grandson of King George V through his son Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
- Earl of Ulster, son of the Duke of Gloucester
- Lady Davina Lewis, elder daughter of the Duke of Gloucester
- Lady Rose Windsor, younger daughter of the Duke of Gloucester
- HRH The Duke of Kent, grandson of King George V through his son Prince George, Duke of Kent
- Lady Marina-Charlotte Windsor, granddaughter of the Duke of Kent (skipped her father George, Earl of St. Andrews and her brother Edward, Baron Downpatrick)
- Lady Amelia Windsor, daughter of Lord St. Andrews
- Lady Helen Taylor, daughter of the Duke of Kent (skipped her brother, Lord Nicholas Windsor)
- Columbus Taylor, son of Lady Helen Taylor
- Cassius Taylor, son of Lady Helen Taylor
- Eloise Taylor, daughter of Lady Helen Taylor
- Estella Taylor, daughter of Lady Helen Taylor
- Lord Frederick Windsor, great-grandson of King George V through Prince George (skipped his father HRH Prince Michael of Kent)
- Lady Gabriella Windsor, daughter of Prince Michael of Kent
- HRH Princess Alexandra, granddaughter of King George V through Prince George, Duke of Kent
- James Ogilvy, son of Princess Alexandra
- Alexander Ogilvy, son of James Ogilvy
- Flora Ogilvy, daughter of James Ogilvy
- Marina Ogilvy, daughter of Princess Alexandra
- Christian Mowatt, son of Marina Mowatt
- Zenouska Mowatt, daughter of Marina Mowatt
- The Earl of Harewood, grandson of King George V through his daughter Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood
- Viscount Lascelles, son of the Earl of Harewood
- The Hon. Alexander Lascelles, son of Viscount Lascelles
- The Hon. Edward Lascelles, son of Viscount Lascelles
- The Hon. James Lascelles, son of the Earl of Harewood
- Rowan Lascelles, son of James Lascelles
- Tewa Lascelles, son of James Lascelles
- Sophie Lascelles, daughter of James Lascelles
- The Hon. Jeremy Lascelles, son of the Earl of Harewood
- Thomas Lascelles, son of Jeremy Lascelles
- Ellen Lascelles, daughter of Jeremy Lascelles
- Amy Lascelles, daughter of Jeremy Lascelles
- Henry Lascelles, great-grandson of King George V through Princess Mary and her second son, the Hon. Gerald Lascelles
- Maximilian Lascelles, son of Henry Lascelles
- The Duke of Fife, great-grandson of King Edward VII through his daughter Louise, Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife
- Earl of Southesk, son of the Duke of Fife
- Lord Carnegie, son of Lord Southesk
- The Hon. George William Carnegie, son of Lord Southesk
- The Hon. Hugh Alexander Carnegie, son of Lord Southesk
- Lady Alexandra Etherington, daughter of the Duke of Fife
- Amelia Mary Carnegie Etherington, daughter of Lady Alexandra Etherington
- HM King Harald V of Norway, great-grandson of King Edward VII through his daughter, Queen Maud of Norway
- HRH Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway, son of King Harald
- HRH Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, daughter of Crown Prince Haakon Magnus
- Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, daughter of King Harald
- Maud Angelica Behn, daughter of Princess Märtha Louise
- Leah Isadora Behn, daughter of Princess Märtha Louise
- Princess Ragnhild, Mrs. Lorentzen, sister of King Harald
- Olav Lorentzen, grandson of Princess Raghnild (skipped his father Haakon Lorentzen)
- Christian Lorentzen, son of Haakon Lorentzen
- Sophia Lorentzen, daughter of Haakon Lorentzen
- Victoria Ribeiro, granddaughter of Princess Ragnhild (skipped her mother Ingeborg Lorentzen)
- Ragnhild Lorentzen, daughter of Princess Ragnhild
- Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, sister of King Harald
- Alexander Ferner, son of Princess Astrid
- Stella Ferner, daughter of Alexander Ferner
- Carl-Christian Ferner, son of Princess Astrid
- Cathrine Ferner Johansen, daughter of Princess Astrid
- Sebastian Ferner Johansen, son of Cathrine Johansen
- Madeleine Ferner Johansen, daughter of Cathrine Johansen
- Benedikte Ferner, daughter of Princess Astrid
- Elisabeth Ferner Beckman, daughter of Princess Astrid
- Benjamin Ferner Beckman, son of Elizabeth Ferner
- HRH Princess Margarita of Romania, great-great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria through her son Prince Alfred (skipped her father King Michael of Romania)
- HRH Princess Helen of Romania, Mrs. McAteer, daughter of King Michael
- Nicholas Medforth-Mills, son of Princess Helen
- Karina Medforth-Mills, daughter of Princess Helen
- HRH Princess Irina of Romania, Mrs. Kreuger, daughter of King Michael
- Michael Kreuger, son of Princess Irina
- Angelica Kreuger, daughter of Princess Irina
- Sophie de Laufenborg, daughter of King Michael
- Elisabeta-Maria de Laufenborg, daughter of Princess Sophie
- HRH Prince Peter of Yugoslavia, great-great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred (skipped his father Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia)
- HRH Prince Philip of Yugoslavia, son of Crown Prince Alexander
- HRH Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, son of Crown Prince Alexander
- HRH Prince Nikolas of Yugoslavia, great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred
- HRH Princess Marija of Yugoslavia, daughter of Prince Nikolas
- HRH Prince George of Yugoslavia, brother of Prince Nikolas
- HRH Prince Michael of Yugoslavia, brother of Prince Nikolas
- HRH Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia, sister of Prince Nikolas
- Victoria de Silva, daughter of Princess Katarina
- HRH Prince Karl Wladimir of Yugoslavia, great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred
- HRH Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, brother of Prince Karl Wladimir
- HRH Princess Maria Tatiana of Yugoslavia, Mrs. Thune-Larsen, sister of Prince Karl Wladimir
- Sonja Thune-Larsen, daughter of Princess Tatiana
- Olga Thune-Larsen, daughter of Princess Tatiana
- Ileana Snyder, great-great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, through Alfred, Queen Marie of Romania, and Princess Ileana of Romania, skipping a number of her Catholic relations.
- Nicholas Snyder, son of Ileana Snyder
- Alexandra Snyder, daughter of Ileana Snyder
- Constanza Snyder, daughter of Ileana Snyder
- HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred
- HIH Grand Duke George Mikhailovitch of Russia, son of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna
- HSH Princess Cécilia of Leiningen, great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred (skipped her father Prince Karl Emich of Leiningen)
- HSH Princess Theresa of Leiningen, daughter of Prince Karl Emich
- HSH Prince Andreas of Leiningen, brother of Prince Karl Emich
- HSH Prince Ferdinand of Leiningen, son of Prince Andreas
- HSH Prince Hermann of Leiningen, son of Prince Andreas
- HSH Princess Olga of Leiningen, daughter of Prince Andreas
- HSH Princess Melita of Leiningen, sister of Prince Karl Emich
- HSH Princess Stephanie of Leiningen, sister of Prince Karl Emich
- HSH Prince Boris of Leiningen, great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred
- HSH Prince Nicholas of Leiningen, son of Prince Boris
- HSH Prince Hermann of Leiningen, brother of Prince Boris
- HSH Princess Tatiana of Leiningen, daughter of Prince Hermann
- HSH Princess Nadia of Leiningen, daughter of Prince Hermann
- HSH Princess Alexandra of Leiningen, daughter of Prince Hermann
- HSH Princess Kira of Leiningen, great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred
- HSH Princess Mechtild of Leiningen, great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred
- Ulf Bauscher, son of Princess Mechtild
- Berthold Bauscher, son of Princess Mechtild
- Erik Bauscher, son of Berthold Bauscher
- Lorenz Bauscher, son of Berthold Bauscher (b. 2002)
- Franka Bauscher, daughter of Berthold Bauscher
- Johann Bauscher, son of Princess Mechtild
- HRH Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia, great-great-grandson of Victoria through Prince Alfred and his daughter Victoria Melita.
- Prince Philipp of Prussia, son of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm
- Prince Paul Wilhelm of Prussia, son of Prince Philipp
- Princess Maria Luise of Prussia, daughter of Prince Philipp
- Princess Elisabeth Christine of Prussia, daughter of Prince Philipp
- Princess Anna Sophie of Prussia, daughter of Prince Philipp
- Princess Johanna Amalie of Prussia, daughter of Prince Philipp
- Prince Friedrich Wilhelm (the younger) of Prussia, son of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm the elder
- Prince Joachim Albrecht of Prussia, son of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm the elder
- Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia, daughter of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm
- HRH Prince Michael of Prussia, brother of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm the elder
- Princess Micaela of Prussia, daughter of Prince Michael
- Maximilian Wessuly, son of Princess Micaela
- Princess Nataly of Prussia, daughter of Prince Michael
- HRH Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia, nephew of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm and Prince Michael
- HRH Princess Cornelie-Cecile of Prussia, sister of Prince Georg Friedrich
- HRH Prince Christian Sigismund of Prussia, brother of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm and Prince Michael
- HRH Prince Christian Ludwig of Prussia, son of Prince Christian Sigismund
- HRH Princess Irina of Prussia, daughter of Prince Christian Sigismund
- HRH Princess Marie Cécile of Prussia, Duchess Friedrich August of Oldenburg, sister of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm
- HH Duke Paul Wladimir of Oldenburg, son of Princess Marie Cécile
- HH Duke Kirill of Oldenburg, (b. 2002) son of Prince Paul Wladimir
- HH Duke Carlos of Oldenburg, (b. 2004) son of Prince Paul Waladimir
- HH Duchess Rixa of Oldenburg, daughter of Princess Marie Cécile
- HH Duchess Bibiane of Oldenburg, daughter of Princess Marie Cécile
- Kira-Marina Liepsner, niece of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm
- Patrick Lithander, nephew of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm
- Wilhelm Lithander, nephew of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm
- HSH The Hereditary Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
- HSH Max Leopold of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, son of The Hereditary Prince of Hohenlohe Langenburg
- HSH Princess Cecile of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Mrs. Cyril de Commarque, sister of The Hereditary Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
- HSH Princess Xenia of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, sister of the Hereditary Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
- HSH Prince Georg Andreas of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, paternal uncle of The Hereditary Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
- Princess Katharina of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (Mrs. Nikolaus von Waldeck-Pyrmont), daughter of Prince Georg Andreas
- Princess Letizia of Waldeck-Pyrmont daughter of Princess Katharina of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
- Princess Tatiana-Louise of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, daughter of Prince Georg Andreas
- Prince Ludwig of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, nephew of Georg Andreas of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
- Duke Christoph of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
- Prince Friedrich of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg son of Duke Christoph
- Prince Constantin of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg son of Duke Christoph
- Prince Leopold of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg son of Duke Christoph
- Princess Sophie of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg daughter of Duke Christoph
- Prince Alexander of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg brother of Duke Christoph
- Prince Julian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg son of Prince Alexander
- Princess Helena of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg daughter of Prince Alexander
- Princess Marita of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg sister of Duke Christoph m. Baron Wilfried of Plotho
- Baron Christoph of Plotho son of Princess Marita
- Baroness Irina of Plotho daughter of Princess Marita
- Princess Ingeborg of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg (b. 1956) sister of Duke Christoph, m. Nikolaus Broschek
- Alexis Broschek (b. 1995) Son of Princess Ingeborg
Due to the propensity of British monarchs to marry their cousins, it is often the case that the consorts of monarchs are also in the line of succession.
HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is also in the line of succession as a great-great grandson of Queen Victoria through his mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg. He is currently positioned at around 558th.
HM Queen Mary, consort of George V was also on the line of succession despite the fact she was a Queen consort. She was the great-granddaughter of George III through her mother. As such she could have succeeded the throne as Queen regnant. This would be unlikely given her low position during her lifetime.
Family branches of the line of succession
- Descendants of Queen Elizabeth II (numbers 1 - 11)
- Descendants of Princess Margaret, second daughter of King George VI (numbers 12 - 17)
- Descendants of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, third son of King George V (numbers 18 - 21)
- Descendants of Prince George, Duke of Kent, fourth son of King George V (numbers 22 - 38)
- Descendants of Mary, Princess Royal, only daughter of King George V (numbers 39 - 52)
- Descendants of Princess Louise, Princess Royal, first daughter of King Edward VII (numbers 53 - 59)
- Descendants of Queen Maud of Norway, third daughter of King Edward VII (numbers 60 - 81)
- Descendants of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, second son of Queen Victoria (numbers 82 - 182)
See also
- List of British monarchs
- Oliver Cromwell, who, after the English Civil War, declined the crown and ruled over the country as a republic but was in turn succeded by his own son Richard Cromwell
- Line of succession to the Monegasque Throne
- Line of succession to the Norwegian throne
- Line of succession to the Swedish throne
External links
- http://members.aol.com/eurostamm/succession_2001.html for a somewhat outdated list of all descendants of Electress Sophia as of January 1, 2001.
- Royal Family web page on succession (http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page389.asp)