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 Heir Status Relationship to monarch Became heir Ceased to be heirDuration as heir Next in successionRelation to heir Monarch Date Reason Date Reason Sophia, Dowager Electress of Hanover Heiress presumptive First cousin, once removed 1 May 1707 Formation of Kingdom of Great Britain 8 June 1714 Died George Louis, Elector of HanoverSon Anne George Louis, Elector of Hanover Heir presumptive Second cousin 8 June 1714 Mother died 1 August 1714 Became king George Augustus, Duke of CambridgeSon George, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Son 1 August 1714 Father became king 11 June 1727 Became king Prince Frederick, Duke of EdinburghSon George I Frederick, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Son 11 June 1727 Father became king 31 March 1751 Died Prince William, Duke of Cumberland1727–1737Brother George II Princess Augusta1737–1738Daughter Prince George1738–1751Son George, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Grandson 31 March 1751 Father died 25 October 1760 Became king Prince Edward, Duke of York and AlbanyBrother Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany Heir presumptive Brother 25 October 1760 Brother became king 12 August 1762 Son born to king Prince William HenryBrother George III George, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Son 12 August 1762 Born 29 January 1820 Became king Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany1762–1763Uncle Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany1763–1796Brother Princess Charlotte of Wales1796–1817Daughter Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany1817–1820Brother Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany Heir presumptive Brother 29 January 1820 Brother became king 5 January 1827 Died Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St AndrewsBrother George IV Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews Heir presumptive Brother 5 January 1827 Brother died 26 June 1830 Became king Princess Alexandrina Victoria of KentNiece Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent Heiress presumptive Niece 26 June 1830 Uncle became king 20 June 1837 Became queen Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of CumberlandUncle William IV Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover Heir presumptive Uncle 20 June 1837 Niece became queen 21 November 1840 Daughter born to queen George, Crown Prince of HanoverSon Victoria Victoria, Princess Royal Heiress presumptive Daughter 21 November 1840 Born 9 November 1841 Son born to queen Ernest Augustus, King of HanoverGranduncle Albert Edward, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Son 9 November 1841 Born 22 January 1901 Became king Victoria, Princess Royal1841–1844Sister Prince Alfred1844–1864Brother Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale1864–1892Son Prince George, Duke of York1892–1901Son George, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Son 22 January 1901 Father became king 6 May 1910 Became king Prince Edward of WalesSon Edward VII Edward, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Son 6 May 1910 Father became king 20 January 1936 Became king Prince Albert, Duke of YorkBrother George V Prince Albert, Duke of York Heir presumptive Brother 20 January 1936 Brother became king 11 December 1936 Became king Princess Elizabeth of YorkDaughter Edward VIII Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh Heiress presumptive Daughter 11 December 1936 Father became king 6 February 1952 Became queen Princess Margaret1936–1948Sister George VI Prince Charles of Edinburgh1948–1952Son Charles, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Son 6 February 1952 Mother became queen 8 September 2022 Became king Princess Anne1952–1960Sister Elizabeth II Prince Andrew1960–1982Brother Prince William, Duke of Cambridge1982–2022Son William, Prince of Wales Heir apparent Son 8 September 2022 Father became king Incumbent Prince George of WalesSon Charles III
Notes
See also Succession to the British throne List of heirs to the English throne List of heirs to the Scottish throne Family tree of the British royal family
References