List of Succession to the British throne

The line of succession for the British monarchy is determined by primogeniture, whereby the eldest son of the incumbent inherits the throne, 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.

However, under law, the succession in the United Kingdom is not automatic. The Act of Union 1707, in a restatement of the Act of Settlement of 1701, specifies that the throne passes to the Heir of the Body (i.e., natural and not adopted children) of Electress Sophia of Hanover, provided that they are not Catholic and did not marry a Catholic. The latter two provisions have never been invoked to prevent someone from succeeding to the throne, and there is doubt regarding their validity under treaties that the United Kingdom has signed regarding religious discrimination. In practice, people with any chance of succeeding to the throne are almost always Protestant, and generally at least publicly Anglican.

In addition, it specifies that it is for Parliament to determine who should succeed to the throne, not the monarch.

Line of Succession

Anyone who is a Roman Catholic or who marries one is excluded from the throne. 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

1. HRH The Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II's eldest son ("The Prince Charles")
2. HRH Prince William of Wales, the Prince of Wales's elder son
3. HRH Prince Henry (Harry) of Wales, the Prince of Wales's younger son
4. HRH The Duke of York, Queen Elizabeth II's second son ("The Prince Andrew")
5. HRH Princess Beatrice of York, the Duke of York's elder daughter
6. HRH Princess Eugenie of York, the Duke of York's younger daughter
7. HRH The Earl of Wessex, Queen Elizabeth II's youngest son ("The Prince Edward")
8. HRH Princess Louise of Wessex The Earl of Wessex's daughter ("Lady Louise Windsor")¹
9. HRH The Princess Royal, Queen Elizabeth II's daughter ("The Princess Anne")
10. Peter Phillips, The Princess Royal's son
11. Zara Phillips, The Princess Royal's daughter
12. Viscount Linley, grandson of King George VI through his daughter Princess Margaret
13. The Hon. Charles Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley's son
14. The Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley's daughter
15. Lady Sarah Chatto, granddaughter of King George VI through Princess Margaret
16. Samuel Chatto, son of Lady Sarah Chatto
17. Arthur Chatto, son of Lady Sarah Chatto
18. HRH The Duke of Gloucester, grandson of King George V through his son Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
19. Earl of Ulster, son of the Duke of Gloucester
20. Lady Davina Windsor, elder daughter of the Duke of Gloucester
21. Lady Rose Windsor, younger daughter of the Duke of Gloucester
22. HRH The Duke of Kent, grandson of King George V through his son Prince George, Duke of Kent
23. Lady Marina-Charlotte Windsor, granddaughter of the Duke of Kent (skipped her father George, Earl of St. Andrews and her brother Edward, Baron Downpatrick)
24. Lady Amelia Windsor, daughter of Lord St. Andrews
25. Lady Helen Taylor, daughter of the Duke of Kent (skipped her brother, Lord Nicholas Windsor)
26. Columbus Taylor, son of Lady Helen Taylor
27. Cassius Taylor, son of Lady Helen Taylor
28. Eloise Taylor, daughter of Lady Helen Taylor
29. Lord Frederick Windsor, great-grandson of King George V through Prince George (skipped his father HRH Prince Michael of Kent)
30. Lady Gabriella Windsor, daughter of Prince Michael of Kent
31. HRH Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy, granddaughter of King George V through Prince George, Duke of Kent
32. James Ogilvy, son of Princess Alexandra
33. Alexander Ogilvy, son of James Ogilvy
34. Flora Ogilvy, daughter of James Ogilvy
35. Marina Mowatt, daughter of Princess Alexandra
36. Christian Mowatt, son of Marina Mowatt
37. Zenouska Mowatt, daughter of Marina Mowatt
38. The Earl of Harewood, grandson of King George V through his daughter Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood
39. Viscount Lascelles, son of the Earl of Harewood
40. The Hon. Alexander Lascelles, son of Viscount Lascelles
41. The Hon. Edward Lascelles, son of Viscount Lascelles
42. The Hon. James Lascelles, son of the Earl of Harewood
43. Rowan Lascelles, son of James Lascelles
44. Tewa Lascelles, son of James Lascelles
45. Sophie Lascelles, daughter of James Lascelles
46. The Hon. Jeremy Lascelles, son of the Earl of Harewood
47. Thomas Lascelles, son of Jeremy Lascelles
48. Ellen Lascelles, daughter of Jeremy Lascelles
49. Amy Lascelles, daughter of Jeremy Lascelles
50. Henry Lascelles, great-grandson of King George V through Princess Mary and her second son, the Hon. Gerald Lascelles
51. Maximilian Lascelles, son of Henry Lascelles
52. The Duke of Fife, great-grandson of King Edward VII through his daughter Louise, Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife
53. Earl of Southesk, son of the Duke of Fife
54. Lord Carnegie, son of Lord Southesk
55. The Hon. George William Carnegie, son of Lord Southesk
56. The Hon. Hugh Alexander Carnegie, son of Lord Southesk
57. Lady Alexandra Etherington, daughter of the Duke of Fife
58. Amelia Mary Carnegie Etherington, daughter of Lady Alexandra Etherington
59. HM King Harald V of Norway, great-grandson of King Edward VII through his daughter, Queen Maud of Norway
60. HRH Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway, son of King Harald
61. HRH Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, daughter of Crown Prince Haakon Magnus
62. Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, daughter of King Harald
63. Maud Angelica Behn, daughter of Princess Märtha Louise
64. Princess Ragnhild, Mrs. Lorentzen, sister of King Harald
65. Olav Lorentzen, grandson of Princess Raghnild (skipped his father Haakon Lorentzen)
66. Christian Lorentzen, son of Haakon Lorentzen
67. Sophia Lorentzen, daughter of Haakon Lorentzen
68. Victoria Ribeiro, granddaughter of Princess Ragnhild (skipped her mother Ingeborg Lorentzen)
69. Ragnhild Lorentzen, daughter of Princess Ragnhild
70. Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, sister of King Harald
71. Alexander Ferner, son of Princess Astrid
72. Stella Ferner, daughter of Alexander Ferner
73. Carl-Christian Ferner, son of Princess Astrid
74. Cathrine Ferner Johansen, daughter of Princess Astrid
75. Sebastian Ferner Johansen, son of Cathrine Johansen
76. Madeleine Ferner Johansen, daughter of Cathrine Johansen
77. Benedikte Ferner, daughter of Princess Astrid
78. Elisabeth Ferner Beckman, daughter of Princess Astrid
79. Benjamin Ferner Beckman, son of Elizabeth Ferner
80. HRH Princess Margarita of Romania, great-great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria through her son Prince Alfred (skipped her father King Michael of Romania)
81. HRH Princess Helen of Romania, Mrs. McAteer, daughter of King Michael
82. Nicholas Medforth-Mills, son of Princess Helen
83. Karina Medforth-Mills, daughter of Princess Helen
84. HRH Princess Irina of Romania, Mrs. Kreuger, daughter of King Michael
85. Michael Kreuger, son of Princess Irina
86. Angelica Kreuger, daughter of Princess Irina
87. Sophie de Laufenborg, daughter of King Michael
88. Elisabeta-Maria de Laufenborg, daughter of Princess Sophie
89. HRH Prince Peter of Yugoslavia, great-great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred (skipped his father Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia)
90. HRH Prince Philip of Yugoslavia, son of Crown Prince Alexander
91. HRH Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, son of Crown Prince Alexander
92. HRH Prince Nikolas of Yugoslavia, great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred
93. HRH Princess Marija of Yugoslavia, daughter of Prince Nikolas
94. HRH Prince George of Yugoslavia, brother of Prince Nikolas
95. HRH Prince Michael of Yugoslavia, brother of Prince Nikolas
96. HRH Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia, sister of Prince Nikolas
97. Victoria de Silva, daughter of Princess Katarina
98. HRH Prince Karl Wladimir of Yugoslavia, great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred
99. HRH Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, brother of Prince Karl Wladimir
100. HRH Princess Maria Tatiana of Yugoslavia, Mrs. Thune-Larsen, sister of Prince Karl Wladimir
101. Sonja Thune-Larsen, daughter of Princess Tatiana
102. Olga Thune-Larsen, daughter of Princess Tatiana
103. 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.
104. Nicholas Snyder, son of Ileana Snyder
105. Alexandra Snyder, daughter of Ileana Snyder
106. Constanza Snyder, daughter of Ileana Snyder
107. HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred
108. HIH Grand Duke George Mikhailovitch of Russia, son of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna
109. HSH Princess Cécilia of Leiningen, great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred (skipped her father Prince Karl Emich of Leiningen)
110. HSH Princess Theresa of Leiningen, daughter of Prince Karl Emich
111. HSH Prince Andreas of Leiningen, brother of Prince Karl Emich
112. HSH Prince Ferdinand of Leiningen, son of Prince Andreas
113. HSH Prince Hermann of Leiningen, son of Prince Andreas
114. HSH Princess Olga of Leiningen, daughter of Prince Andreas
115. HSH Princess Melita of Leiningen, sister of Prince Karl Emich
116. HSH Princess Stephanie of Leiningen, sister of Prince Karl Emich
117. HSH Prince Boris of Leiningen, great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred
118. HSH Prince Nicholas of Leiningen, son of Prince Boris
119. HSH Prince Hermann of Leiningen, brother of Prince Boris
120. HSH Princess Tatiana of Leiningen, daughter of Prince Hermann
121. HSH Princess Nadia of Leiningen, daughter of Prince Hermann
122. HSH Princess Alexandra of Leiningen, daughter of Prince Hermann
123. HSH Princess Kira of Leiningen, great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred
124. HSH Princess Mechtild of Leiningen, great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred
125. Ulf Bauscher, son of Princess Mechtild
126. Berthold Bauscher, son of Princess Mechtild
127. Erik Bauscher, son of Berthold Bauscher
128. Franka Bauscher, daughter of Berthold Bauscher
129. Johann Bauscher, son of Princess Mechtild
130. HRH Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia, great-great-grandson of Victoria through Prince Alfred and his daughter Victoria Melita.
131. Prince Philipp of Prussia, son of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm
132. Prince Paul Wilhelm of Prussia, son of Prince Philipp
133. Princess Maria Luise of Prussia, daughter of Prince Philipp
134. Princess Elisabeth Christine of Prussia, daughter of Prince Philipp
135. Princess Anna Sophie of Prussia, daughter of Prince Philipp
136. Princess Johanna Amalie of Prussia, daughter of Prince Philipp
137. Prince Friedrich Wilhelm (the younger) of Prussia, son of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm the elder
138. Prince Joachim Albrecht of Prussia, son of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm the elder
139. Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia, daughter of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm
140. HRH Prince Michael of Prussia, brother of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm the elder
141. Princess Micaela of Prussia, daughter of Prince Michael
142. Maximilian Wessuly, son of Princess Micaela
143. Princess Nataly of Prussia, daughter of Prince Michael
144. HRH Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia, nephew of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm and Prince Michael
145. HRH Princess Cornelie-Cecile of Prussia, sister of Prince Georg Friedrich
146. HRH Prince Christian Sigismund of Prussia, brother of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm and Prince Michael
147. HRH Prince Christian Ludwig of Prussia, son of Prince Christian Sigismund
148. HRH Princess Irina of Prussia, daughter of Prince Christian Sigismund
149. HRH Princess Marie Cécile of Prussia, Duchess Friedrich August of Oldenburg, sister of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm
150. HH Duke Paul Wladimir of Oldenburg, son of Princess Marie Cécile
151. HH Duke Kirill of Oldenburg, son of Prince Paul Wladimir
152. HH Duchess Rixa of Oldenburg, daughter of Princess Marie Cécile
153. HH Duchess Bibiane of Oldenburg, daughter of Princess Marie Cécile
154. HRH Princess Kira of Prussia, Mrs. Thomas Liepsner, sister of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm
155. Kira-Marina Liepsner, daughter of Princess Kira
156. Patrick Lithander, nephew of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm
157. Wilhelm Lithander, nephew of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm
158. HSH The Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, great-great grandson of Queen Victoria through Prince Alfred and his daughter Alexandra
159. HSH , son of the Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
160. HSH Princess Cecile of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Mrs. Cyril de Commarque, daughter of the Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
161. HSH Princess Xenia of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, daughter of the Prince of Hohenloge-Langenburg

Due to the propensity of British monarchs to marry their cousins and second 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 563rd.

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.

Footnote

¹ Under 1917 Letters Patent all children and grandchildren of a sovereign are automatically styled His/Her Royal Highness. It was announced that the daughter of HRH the Earl of Wessex would be known simply as Lady Louise Windsor. In the absence of a new letter patent she remains, however HRH Princess Louise of Wessex, even though known in practice as Lady Louise Windsor. It is unclear if Buckingham Palace will be issuing a new letter patent on the issue.

External links

• http://members.aol.com/eurostamm/succession_2001.html for an accurate list of all descendants of Electress Sophia as of January 1, 2001.
• Royal Family web page on succession

See also

• List of British monarchs
• Oliver Cromwell, who declined the crown and ruled over the country as a republic after the English Civil War

• List of Succession to the Norwegian throne
• List of Succession to the Swedish throne