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The Order of Succession

The Order of Succession shows the sequence that members of the Royal Family and related families stand in line to the Throne.

Since the Norman Conquest in 1066 the Throne of England has followed the rule of male primogeniture, that is to say the "first born" male inherits irrespective of their being more suitable older but less senior heirs. Also, England has never applied the so-called Salic Law, which restricts inheritance to sons only, and on several occasions the English throne has passed through the female line. The Scottish throne has been inherited in the same way since the early Middle Ages.

It was not until the 17th century that it came to be accepted that the succession to the Throne could be regulated by Parliament. The execution of King Charles I by the Parliamentarians in 1649 was an extreme example of the supremacy of Parliament over the King, although Parliament did make partial amends by restoring King Charles II to the Throne in 1666. When King James II fled the country in 1688, Parliament held that he had "abdicated the government" and that the Throne was vacant. Parliament then offered the Throne not to James's Roman Catholic son, but to his Protestant daughter Mary and her equally Protestant husband, William of Orange, as joint rulers. The process started by the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688 culminated in the Act of Settlement 1701.

This Act laid down that only the Protestant descendants of Sophia, Electress of Hanover, granddaughter of King James I & VI, were eligible to succeed to the Throne after the death of Queen Anne. A Roman Catholic is specifically excluded from succession to the Throne nor may the Sovereign marry a Roman Catholic. In addition the Sovereign must be in communion with the Church of England and as part of the Coronation ceremony must swear to preserve the established Churches of England and Scotland and to uphold the Protestant succession.

In the early 21st century the anti-Roman Catholic clauses of this Act are seen as anachronistic and intolerant, but it is unlikely in the foreseeable future that Parliament will seriously consider repealing the Act. There has been some uninformed comment that should the Act be repealed, then the Throne would pass immediately to Duke Francis of Bavaria, the heir of line of the Royal House of Stuart. This is incorrect. For many centuries it has been established not only that the Sovereign rules through Parliament, but that the succession to the Throne can be and is regulated by Parliament, and that a Sovereign can be deprived of his or her title through misgovernment. It is highly unlikely that Parliament would agree to a change in the Ruling House.

A small problem that has escaped many commentators is where would the Queen's Coronation oath "to uphold the Protestant succession" be left were the anti-Roman Catholic clauses in the Act of Settlement repealed?

The laws governing the Order of Succession changed in April 2013 with the Succession to the Crown Act 2013. This Act altered the succession laws to the British Throne in accordance with the 2011 Perth Agreement. It was brought into force on 26 March 2015, at the same time as the other Commonwealth realms implemented the Perth Agreement in their own laws. This Act goes a small way to removing some of the anti-Roman Catholic clauses in the Act of Settlement.

The provisions of the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 are:

• Males born after 28 October 2011 no longer precede their elder sisters in the Order of Succession. The first people in the Order of Succession to be affected by the changes on the date they came into force were the children of Lady Davina Lewis: her son Tane (born 2012) and her daughter Senna (born 2010) were reversed in the Order of Succession.
• Marrying a Roman Catholic no longer disqualifies a person from successing to the Crown.  The explanation published when the bill had been introduced mentioned that those who had lost their places in the Order of Succession by marrying a Roman Catholic would regain their places, but that those "with a realistic prospect of succeeding to the Throne" would not be affected. The first person in the new Order of Succession to be affected by this change when it came into effect was Lord George Windsor, styled Earl of St Andrews, who had married a Roman Catholic in 1988, and was restored to the Order of Succession, after his father HRH The Duke of Kent. This change also affects his uncle, HRH Prince Michael of Kent.
• The Royal Marriages Act 1772 is repealed. Instead, only the first six persons in line to the Throne require the Sovereign's approval to marry. Marriage without the Sovereign's consent would disqualify the person and the person's descendants from the marriage from succeeding to the Throne. However, the marriage would still be legally valid.
• Provisions in the Acts of Union 1707, between England and Scotland, and in the Acts of Union 1800, between Great Britain and Ireland, that involve the Crown are "subject to the provision of" the Act. Several sections in the Bill of Rights 1689 and the Act of Settlement 1701 involving marriages with "papists", i.e. Roman Catholics, were repealed. Any references to provisions relating to "the succession to, or possession of, the Crown" also include, by reference, the provisions of this Act. However, the sections that ban Roman Catholics (including former or lapsed Roman Catholics) from succeeding to the Throne were not repealed.
• As the monarch's eldest son will no longer automatically be heir apparent, the Treason Act 1351 was also amended, so that encompassing the death of the monarch's eldest son and heir is now extended to murdering the heir whatever their gender.  Another amendment to the Treason Act is that whereas it had been treason to "violate" the monarch's eldest son's wife, it is now only treason if the eldest son is also the heir to the Throne.
• The Regency Act 1937 was amended to require the Regent to be a person who had not been disqualified from the succession by marrying without the Sovereign's permission under the 2013 Act.

The Line or Order of Succession is:

The Sovereign, HM King Charles III

Family of HM King Charles III

1. HRH The Prince of Wales (b. 1982), eldest son of King Charles III

2. HRH Prince George of Wales (b. 2013), elder son of the Prince of Wales

3. HRH Princess Charlotte of Wales (b. 2015), only daughter of the Prince of Wales

4. HRH Prince Louis of Wales (b. 2018), younger son of the Prince of Wales

5. HRH The Duke of Sussex (b. 1984), younger son of King Charles III

6. HRH Prince Archie of Sussex, known as Earl of Dumbarton (b. 2019), only son of the Duke of Sussex

7. HRH Princess Lilibet of Sussex, known as Lady Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor (b. 2021), only daughter of the Duke of Sussex

Family of HRH The Duke of York, second son of Queen Elizabeth II

8. HRH The Duke of York (b. 1960)

9. HRH Princess Beatrice of York, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli-Mozzi (b. 1988), elder daughter of the Duke of York

10. Miss Sienna Mapelli-Mozzi (b. 2021), only child of Princess Beatrice of York

11. HRH Princess Eugenie of York, Mrs Jack Brooksbank (b. 1990), younger daughter of the Duke of York

12. Master August Brooksbank (b. 2021), elder son of Princess Eugenie of York

13. Master Ernest Brooksbabnk (b. 2023), younger son of Princess Eugenie of York

Family of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, third son of Queen Elizabeth II

14. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (b. 1964)

15. HRH Prince James of Edinburgh, known as Earl of Wessex (b. 2007), only son of the Duke of Edinburgh

16. HRH Princess Louise of Edinburgh, known as Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor (b. 2003), only daughter of the Duke of Edinburgh

Family of HRH The Princess Royal, only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II

17. HRH The Princess Royal (b. 1950)

18. Mr Peter Phillips (b. 1977), only son of the Princess Royal

19. Miss Savannah Phillips (b. 2010), elder daughter of Mr Peter Phillips

20. Miss Isla Phillips (b. 2012), younger daughter of Mr Peter Phillips

21. Mrs Michael Tindall (b. 1981), only daughter of the Princess Royal

22. Miss Mia Tindall (b. 2014), elder daughter of Mrs Michael Tindall

23. Miss Lena Tindall (b. 2018), younger daughter of Mrs Michael Tindall

24. Master Lucas Tindall (b. 2021), only son of Mrs Michael Tindall

Family of the late Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, younger daughter of King George VI

25. The Rt Hon the Earl of Snowdon (b. 1961), only son of the late Princess Margaret

26. Viscount Linley (b. 1999), only son of the Earl of Snowdon

27. Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones (b. 2002), only daughter of the Earl of Snowdon

28. Lady Sarah Chatto (b. 1964), only daughter of the late Princess Margaret

29. Master Samuel Chatto (b. 1996), elder son of Lady Sarah Chatto

30. Master Arthur Chatto (b. 1999), younger son of Lady Sarah Chatto

Family of the late Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, third son of King George V

31. HRH The Duke of Gloucester (b. 1944)

32. Earl of Ulster (b. 1974), only son of the Duke of Gloucester

33. Lord Culloden (b. 2007), only son of Earl of Ulster

34. Lady Cosima Windsor (b. 2010), only daughter of Earl of Ulster

35. Lady Davina Lewis (b. 1977), elder daughter of the Duke of Gloucester

36*. Miss Senna Lewis (b. 2010), only daughter of Lady Davina Lewis

37*. Master Tane Lewis (b. 2012), only son of Lady Davina Lewis

38. Lady Rose Gilman (b. 1980), younger daughter of the Duke of Gloucester

39. Master Rufus Gilman (b. 2012), only son of Lady Rose Gilman

40. Miss Lyla Gilman (b. 2010), only daughter of Lady Rose Gilman

Family of the late Prince George, Duke of Kent, fourth son of King George V

41. HRH The Duke of Kent (b. 1935)

42*. Earl of St Andrews, elder son of the Duke of Kent

X. Lord Downpatrick (excluded himself from the Succession by becoming a Roman Catholic), only son of George, Earl of St Andrews

X. Lady Marina-Charlotte Windsor (excluded from the Succession by becoming a Roman Catholic), elder daughter of George, Earl of St Andrews

43. Lady Amelia Windsor (b. 1995), younger daughter of Earl of St Andrews

X. Lord Nicholas Windsor (excluded himself from the Succession by becoming a Roman Catholic), younger son of the Duke of Kent

X. Albert Windsor (excluded from the Succession by being baptised a Roman Catholic), eldest son of Lord Nicholas Windsor

X. Leopold Windsor (excluded from the Succession by being baptised a Roman Catholic), second son of Lord Nicholas Windsor

X. Louis Windsor (excluded from the Succession by being baptised a Roman Catholic), third son of Lord Nicholas Windsor

44. Lady Helen Taylor (b. 1964), only daughter of the Duke of Kent

45. Master Columbus Taylor (b. 1994), elder son of Lady Helen Taylor

46. Master Cassius Taylor (b. 1996), younger son of Lady Helen Taylor

47. Miss Eloise Taylor (b. 2003), elder daughter of Lady Helen Taylor

48. Miss Estella Taylor (b. 2004), younger daughter of Lady Helen Taylor

49*. HRH Prince Michael of Kent, brother of the Duke of Kent

50. Lord Frederick Windsor (b. 1979), only son of Prince Michael of Kent

51. Miss Maud Windsor (b. 2013), elder daughter of Lord Frederick Windsor

52. Miss Isabella Alexandra May Windsor (b. 2016), younger daughter of Lord Frederick Windsor

53. Lady Gabriella Windsor (b. 1981), only daughter of Prince Michael of Kent

54. HRH Princess Alexandra, the Hon Lady Ogilvy (b. 1936), sister of the Duke of Kent

55. Mr James Ogilvy (b. 1964), only son of Princess Alexandra

56. Master Alexander Ogilvy (b. 1996), only son of Mr James Ogilvy

57. Mrs Flora Vesterberg (b. 1994), only daughter of Mr James Ogilvy

58. Mrs Marina Mowatt (b. 1966), only daughter of Princess Alexandra

59. Master Christian Mowatt (b. 1993), only son of Mrs Marina Mowatt

60. Miss Zenouska Mowatt (b. 1990), only daughter of Mrs Marina Mowatt

Family of the late Princess Mary, Princess Royal, Countess of Harewood, only daughter of King George V

61. The Rt Hon the Earl of Harewood (b. 1950)

X. Hon Benjamin Lascelles, legitimated eldest son of the Earl of Harewood

62. Viscount Lascelles (b. 1980), elder legitimate son of the Earl of Harewood

63. Hon Ivy Lascelles (b. 2018), only dau. of Viscount Lascelles

64. Hon Kit Moon William Lascelles (b. 2023), only son of Viscount Lascelles

65. Hon Edward Lascelles (b. 1982), younger legitimate son of the Earl of Harewood

66. Sebastian Lascelles (b. 2020), only son of Hon Edward Lascelles

X. Lady Emily Lascelles, legitimated daughter of the Earl of Harewood

67. Hon James Lascelles (b. 1953), uncle of the Earl of Harewood

68. Rowan Lascelles (b. 1977), elder son of Hon James Lascelles

69. Tewa Lascelles (b. 1985), younger son of Hon James Lascelles

70. Sophie Lascelles (b. 1973), elder daughter of Hon James Lascelles

X. Tanit Lascelles, legitimated younger daughter of Hon James Lascelles

71. Hon Jeremy Lascelles (b. 1955), uncle of the Earl of Harewood

72. Thomas Lascelles (b. 1982), only son of Hon Jeremy Lascelles

73. Ellen Lascelles (b. 1984), eldest daughter of Hon Jeremy Lascelles

X. Jack Marley Hermans (b. 2016), illegitimate son of Ellen Lascelles

X. Penny Moon Hermans (b. 2018), illegitimate daughter of Ellen Lascelles

74. Amy Lascelles (b. 1986), second daughter of Hon Jeremy Lascelles

X. Marlow Fox Lascelles Burton (b. 2020), illegitimate son of Amy Lascelles

75. Tallulah Lascelles (b. 2005), third daughter of Hon Jeremy Lascelles

X. Hon Mark Lascelles, legitimated uncle of the Earl of Harewood

76. Henry Lascelles (b. 1953), elder cousin of the Earl of Harewood

77. Maximilian Lascelles (b. 1991), only son of Henry Lascelles

X. Martin Lascelles, legitimated younger cousin of the Earl of Harewood

Family of the late Princess Louise, Princess Royal, Duchess of Fife, eldest daughter of King Edward VII

78. His Grace the Duke of Fife (b. 1961)

79. Earl of Southesk (b. 1989), eldest son of the Duke of Fife

80. Lord George Carnegie (b. 1992), second son of the Duke of Fife

81. Lord Hugh Carnegie (b. 1993), third son of the Duke of Fife

82. Lady Alexandra Etherington (b. 1959), only sister of the Duke of Fife

83. Miss Amelia Etherington (b. 2001), only daughter of Lady Alexandra Etherington

The Order of Succession next moves to the family of the late Princess Maud, Queen of Norway, great-aunt of Queen Elizabeth II and third but second surviving daughter of King Edward VII. After the Royal House of Norway the Order of Succession moves to the families of the younger sons of Queen Victoria and then to the families of her daughters. At this point the Order of Succession amounts to several thousand people, all possessing a theoretical but highly unlikely right of succession to the British Throne.

There is an excellent article in Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, showing all the descendants of the Electress Sophia who are eligible to succeed to the Throne.

Last updated  16 Jul 2023

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