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{{Short description|Law governing who can become British monarch}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2023}}
[[File:Sovereign's Throne, House of Lords.jpg|upright=1.29|thumb|The Sovereign's Throne in the [[House of Lords]], from which [[Speech from the throne|the speech]] is delivered at the [[State Opening of Parliament]]]]
{{Monarchic orders of succession}}

'''Succession to the British throne''' is determined by descent, sex,{{NoteTag|Males born on or before 28 October 2011 precede their elder sisters in the line of succession.<ref name="BM"/>}} legitimacy, and religion. Under [[common law]], the Crown is inherited by a sovereign's children or by a childless sovereign's nearest [[Collateral descendant|collateral line]]. The [[Bill of Rights 1689]] and the [[Act of Settlement 1701]] restrict succession to the throne to the legitimate Protestant descendants of [[Sophia of Hanover]] who are in "[[Communion (Christian)|communion]] with the [[Church of England]]".<ref name="BM">{{Cite web |title=Succession |url=https://www.royal.uk/succession |website=Official website of the British monarchy |access-date=19 September 2022 |archive-date=13 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513014456/https://www.royal.uk/succession |url-status=live}}</ref> Spouses of [[Catholics]] were disqualified from 1689 until the law was amended in 2015. Protestant descendants of those excluded for being Roman Catholics are eligible.<ref name=bogdanor_55>Bogdanor (1995), p. 55.</ref>

[[King Charles III]] has been the sovereign since 2022, and his [[heir apparent]] is his elder son, [[William, Prince of Wales]]. William's three children are next, in order of birth: [[Prince George of Wales|Prince George]], [[Princess Charlotte of Wales (born 2015)|Princess Charlotte]], and [[Prince Louis of Wales|Prince Louis]]. Fifth in line is [[Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex]], the younger son of the King; sixth is Harry's elder child, [[Prince Archie of Sussex|Prince Archie]]. Under the [[Perth Agreement]], which came into effect in 2015, only the first six in line of succession require the sovereign's consent before they marry; without such consent, they and their children would be disqualified from succession.

The United Kingdom is one of the [[Commonwealth realm]]s, which are [[sovereign states]] that share the same person as monarch and the same order of succession. In 2011, the prime ministers of the then-16 realms [[Perth Agreement|agreed unanimously]] to amend the rules of succession. [[Primogeniture#Male-preference (cognatic) primogeniture|Male-preference (cognatic) primogeniture]] was abandoned, meaning that males born after 28 October 2011 no longer precede females (elder sisters) in line, and the ban on marriages to Catholics was lifted. The monarch still needs to be in communion with the [[Church of England]]. After the necessary legislation had been enacted in accordance with each realm's constitution, the changes took effect on 26 March 2015.

== Current line of succession ==
No official, complete version of the line of succession is maintained. The exact number, in more remote collateral lines, of the people who would be eligible is uncertain. In 2001, American genealogist [[William Addams Reitwiesner]] compiled a list of 4,973 living descendants of [[Electress]] [[Sophia of Hanover]], in order of succession without omitting [[Roman Catholics]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Reitwiesner|first=W. A.|title=Persons eligible to succeed to the British Throne as of 1 Jan 2001|url=http://www.wargs.com/essays/succession/2001.html|website=wargs.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050609073923/http://www.wargs.com/essays/succession/2001.html|url-status=live|archive-date=9 June 2005}}</ref> When updated in January 2011, the list included 5,753.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lewis|first=David|title=Persons eligible to succeed to the British Throne as of 1 Jan 2011|url=http://www.wargs.com/essays/succession/2011.html|website=wargs.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517155140/http://www.wargs.com/essays/succession/2011.html|archive-date=17 May 2011}}</ref> The final person in both lists, number 4,973 and 5,753, was Karin Vogel (born 1973), a therapist from [[Rostock]], Germany.<ref name="wsj 2011-04-27">{{Cite news |last=Sonne |first=Paul |date=27 April 2011  |title=Last in the Line of Succession, Ms. Vogel Is Glad She Isn't Queen |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704889404576276502793788310.html |access-date=11 July 2022  |issn=0099-9660 |archive-date=27 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927122509/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704889404576276502793788310.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The annotated list below covers the first part of this line of succession, being limited to [[List of descendants of George V|descendants of the sons]] of [[King George V]], King Charles III's great-grandfather. The order of the first twenty-four numbered in the list, all descendants of [[Queen Elizabeth II]], is given on the official website of the British monarchy;<ref name="BM"/> other list numbers and exclusions are explained by annotations and footnotes [[#notes and sources|below]]. People named in italics are unnumbered either because they are deceased or because sources report them to be excluded from the succession.

{{also|Family tree of the British royal family}}
<!--
 The names in the list should be kept consistent with the official royal web site (see above) except when there is reason to believe the official web site is out of date or incorrect. All such inconsistencies should be footnoted and discussed on the [[Talk:Line of succession to the British throne|talk page]].
-->
{{Tree list}}
*[[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] ''[[King George V]] (1865–1936)''
** [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] ''[[King Edward VIII]] (1894–1972)''
** [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] ''[[King George VI]] (1895–1952)''
*** [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] ''[[Queen Elizabeth II]] (1926–2022)''
**** [[File:Simple gold crown.svg|15px]] '''[[King Charles III]]''' ({{Born in|1948}})
***** '''(<span class="ltr">1</span>)''' [[William, Prince of Wales]] ({{Born in|1982}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
****** '''(<span class="ltr">2</span>)''' [[Prince George of Wales]] ({{Born in|2013}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
****** '''(<span class="ltr">3</span>)''' [[Princess Charlotte of Wales (born 2015)|Princess Charlotte of Wales]] ({{Born in|2015}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
****** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">4</span>)''' [[Prince Louis of Wales]] ({{Born in|2018}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">5</span>)''' [[Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex]] ({{Born in|1984}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
****** {{Tree list/final branch}} '''(<span class="ltr">6</span>)''' [[Prince Archie of Sussex]] ({{Born in|2019}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
****** {{Tree list/final branch}} '''(<span class="ltr">7</span>)''' [[Princess Lilibet of Sussex]] ({{Born in|2021}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D]]}}
**** '''(<span class="ltr">8</span>)''' [[Prince Andrew, Duke of York]] ({{Born in|1960}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">9</span>)''' [[Princess Beatrice]] ({{Born in|1988}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
****** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">10</span>)''' Sienna Mapelli Mozzi ({{Born in|2021}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">11</span>)''' [[Princess Eugenie]] ({{Born in|1990}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
****** '''(<span class="ltr">12</span>)''' August Brooksbank ({{Born in|2021}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D]]}}
****** {{Tree list/final branch}} '''(<span class="ltr">13</span>)''' Ernest Brooksbank ({{Born in|2023}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D]]}}
**** '''(<span class="ltr">14</span>)''' [[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh]] ({{Born in|1964}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">15</span>)''' [[James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex]] ({{Born in|2007}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
***** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">16</span>)''' [[Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor]] ({{Born in|2003}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
**** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">17</span>)''' [[Anne, Princess Royal]] ({{Born in|1950}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">18</span>)''' [[Peter Phillips]] ({{Born in|1977}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
****** '''(<span class="ltr">19</span>)''' Savannah Phillips ({{Born in|2010}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
****** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">20</span>)''' Isla Phillips ({{Born in|2012}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
***** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">21</span>)''' [[Zara Tindall]] (née Phillips; {{Born in|1981}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
****** '''(<span class="ltr">22</span>)''' Mia Tindall ({{Born in|2014}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
****** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">23</span>)''' Lena Tindall ({{Born in|2018}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D W]]}}
****** '''(<span class="ltr">24</span>)''' Lucas Tindall ({{Born in|2021}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|B D]]}}
*** {{Tree list/final branch}}''[[Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon]] (1930–2002)''
**** '''(<span class="ltr">25</span>)''' [[David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon]] ({{Born in|1961}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">26</span>)''' Charles Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley ({{Born in|1999}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">27</span>)''' [[Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones]] ({{Born in|2002}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
**** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">28</span>)''' [[Lady Sarah Chatto]] (née Armstrong-Jones; {{Born in|1964}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">29</span>)''' Samuel Chatto ({{Born in|1996}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">30</span>)''' Arthur Chatto ({{Born in|1999}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
** ''[[Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester]] (1900–1974)''
*** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">31</span>)''' [[Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester]] ({{Born in|1944}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
**** '''(<span class="ltr">32</span>)''' [[Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster]] ({{Born in|1974}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">33</span>)''' Xan Windsor, Lord Culloden ({{Born in|2007}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">34</span>)''' Lady Cosima Windsor ({{Born in|2010}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
**** '''(<span class="ltr">35</span>)''' [[Lady Davina Windsor]] ({{Born in|1977}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">36</span>)''' Senna Lewis ({{Born in|2010}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">37</span>)''' Tane Lewis ({{Born in|2012}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
**** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">38</span>)''' Lady Rose Gilman (née Windsor; {{Born in|1980}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">39</span>)''' Lyla Gilman ({{Born in|2010}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">40</span>)''' Rufus Gilman ({{Born in|2012}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
** {{Tree list/final branch}}''[[Prince George, Duke of Kent]] (1902–1942)''
*** '''(<span class="ltr">41</span>)''' [[Prince Edward, Duke of Kent]] ({{Born in|1935}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
**** '''(<span class="ltr">42</span>)''' [[George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews]] ({{Born in|1962}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|M D W]]}}
***** ''[[Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick]]'' ({{Born in|1988}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|X D W]]}}
***** ''[[Lady Marina Windsor]]'' ({{Born in|1992}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|X D W]]}}
***** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">43</span>)''' [[Lady Amelia Windsor]] ({{Born in|1995}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
**** ''[[Lord Nicholas Windsor]]'' ({{Born in|1970}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|X D W]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">44</span>)''' Albert Windsor ({{Born in|2007}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|X? D W]]}} {{NoteTag|name=n3|1=Albert and Leopold Windsor were listed on the [https://www.royal.uk/succession official website of the British monarchy] until 2015 and in the 2013 edition of ''Whitaker's Almanack'' as following Estella Taylor (b 2004) and eligible to succeed; [https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/photos/britains-royal-line-of-succession/ss-BBj3lVx#image=37 MSN News], and ''Whitaker's Almanack'' 2015 and 2021 list them after Lady Amelia Windsor and before Lady Helen Taylor. They were baptised as Catholics, and are not listed in line in editions of ''Whitaker's'' earlier than 2012. Debrett's says their place in the line of succession will be re-assessed when they reach the age of majority.}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">45</span>)''' Leopold Windsor ({{Born in|2009}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|X? D W]]}} {{NoteTag|name=n3}}
***** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">46</span>)''' Louis Windsor ({{Born in|2014}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|X? D W]]}}
**** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">47</span>)''' [[Lady Helen Taylor]] (née Windsor; {{Born in|1964}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">48</span>)''' Columbus Taylor ({{Born in|1994}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">49</span>)''' Cassius Taylor ({{Born in|1996}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">50</span>)''' Eloise Taylor ({{Born in|2003}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">51</span>)''' Estella Taylor ({{Born in|2004}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
*** '''(<span class="ltr">52</span>)''' [[Prince Michael of Kent]] ({{Born in|1942}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|M D W]]}}
**** '''(<span class="ltr">53</span>)''' [[Lord Frederick Windsor]] ({{Born in|1979}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">54</span>)''' Maud Windsor ({{Born in|2013}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">55</span>)''' Isabella Windsor ({{Born in|2016}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
**** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">56</span>)''' [[Lady Gabriella Kingston]] (née Windsor; {{Born in|1981}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
*** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">57</span>)''' [[Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy]] ({{Born in|1936}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
**** '''(<span class="ltr">58</span>)''' [[James Ogilvy]] ({{Born in|1964}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">59</span>)''' Alexander Ogilvy ({{Born in|1996}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">60</span>)''' Flora Vesterberg (née Ogilvy; {{Born in|1994}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
**** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">61</span>)''' [[Marina Ogilvy]] ({{Born in|1966}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** '''(<span class="ltr">62</span>)''' Christian Mowatt ({{Born in|1993}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
***** {{Tree list/final branch}}'''(<span class="ltr">63</span>)''' Zenouska Mowatt ({{Born in|1990}}) {{Sup|[[#notes and sources|D W]]}}
<!-- NOTE TO EDITORS: Before adding more people to this list, please note this list is limited to descendants of the sons of George V. -->
{{Tree list/end}}

{| class=wikitable
|+ Notes and sources{{Anchor|notes_and_sources}}
! Mark
! Source for listing or note on exclusion from succession

|-
| align="center" | '''B'''
| Listed by the official website of the British monarchy, [https://www.royal.uk/succession "Succession"], retrieved 9&nbsp;June 2023.

|-
| align="center" | '''D'''
| [[Debrett's]] website ({{As of|2024|May|22|lc=y}}): [https://debretts.com/royal-family/line-of-succession "The Line of Succession"]

|-
| align="center" | '''W'''
| ''[[Whitaker's Almanack]]'' 2021, Oxford: Rebellion, {{ISBN|978-1-7810-8978-1}}, p.&nbsp;26

|-
| align="center" | '''M'''
| These people had been excluded through marriage to a Roman Catholic. This exclusion was repealed on 26&nbsp;March&nbsp;2015, restoring them to the line of succession, when the [[Perth Agreement]] came into effect.

|-
| align="center" | '''X'''
| Excluded as Roman Catholics. This exclusion is not affected by changes subsequent to the [[Perth Agreement]].
|}

== History ==
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2015}}

=== England ===

The line of succession was governed by the [[common law]] rule of [[primogeniture]] until the fourteenth century, when Parliament first began to legislate on the subject.<ref name=Blackstone /> However, this was not invariably followed. The sons of [[William the Conqueror]] contested each other for the throne, and his granddaughter Matilda was passed over for his grandson [[Stephen, King of England|King Stephen]], even though Matilda's father had been king, and Stephen's claim was only that his mother had been William's daughter. After the death of [[Richard I of England|Richard I]] in 1199, the throne should have gone to his nephew [[Arthur I, Duke of Brittany|Arthur]], the son of his next brother [[Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany|Geoffrey]], but as Arthur was still only a child, Richard's youngest brother [[John, King of England|John]] was able to take the throne for himself, under the pretext that he was a closer relative to the late king than Arthur, who was one generation removed.<ref name=Blackstone>[https://lonang.com/library/reference/blackstone-commentaries-law-england/bla-103/ ''Commentaries on the Laws of England,'' book 1, chapter 3: "Of the King, and His Title"] (1765-69), Sir William Blackstone</ref> John bolstered his claim to the throne by having his nephew secretly killed.

When [[Richard II of England|Richard II]] was deposed in 1399 by [[Henry IV of England|Henry IV]], Henry also usurped another relative with a better claim, 
[[Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March|Edmund, Earl of March]].<ref name=Blackstone /> Richard and Henry were the grandsons of [[Edward III of England|Edward III]] by, respectively, Edward's first and fourth sons; Edmund was descended from Edward's third son, and so was placed ahead of Henry in the line of succession. But as Edmund was only seven at the time, and Henry's position would not have been secure with any lesser title than king, Henry took the throne for himself, with the endorsement of Parliament.<ref name=Blackstone /><ref>7 Hen. IV. c. 2</ref> Decades later, the rival [[House of York]], which was descended from Edmund's sister [[Anne de Mortimer]], seized the throne from Henry's grandson during the [[Wars of the Roses]].

In 1485, Henry Tudor, a female-line descendant of a legitimated branch of the [[royal house]] of [[House of Lancaster|Lancaster]], the [[House of Beaufort]], assumed the English crown as [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]], after defeating and killing [[Richard III of England|Richard III]] in battle. Richard had been the last king of the House of York, and the last of the [[House of Plantagenet|Plantagenet dynasty]]. Henry declared himself king retroactively from 21 August 1485, the day before his victory over Richard at Bosworth Field.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chrimes |first=S. B. |author-link= Stanley Bertram Chrimes |date=1999 |page=[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=db8JCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA50 50] |title=Henry VII |publisher=Yale University |isbn=978-0-3000-7883-1}}</ref> [[William Blackstone|Sir William Blackstone]] called Henry's hereditary claim "the most remote and unaccountable that was ever set up," and said that his subsequent marriage to Richard's sister [[Elizabeth of York]], the daughter of [[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]], was "his best title to the crown."<ref name=Blackstone /> Henry caused Richard's ''[[Titulus Regius]]'' (Parliament's recognition of his own claim) to be repealed and expunged from the [[Rolls of Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://partyparcel.co.uk/information/price-guarantee.html#annullment |title=Rotuli Parliamentorum A.D. 1485 1 Henry VII |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306014901/http://partyparcel.co.uk/information/price-guarantee.html#annullment |archive-date=6 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> After Henry's [[coronation]] in London in October that year, his first parliament, summoned to meet at Westminster in November, enacted that "the inheritance of the crown should be, rest, remain and abide in the most royal person of the then sovereign lord, King Henry VII, and the heirs of his body lawfully coming."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=G. Barnett |orig-date=1892 |page=[http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015024035605?urlappend=%3Bseq=332 298] |title=History of the English Parliament |date=19 March 2021 |publisher=Ward, Lock, Bowden & Co.}}</ref>

Henry VII was followed by his son, [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]]. Though his father descended from the Lancastrians, Henry VIII could also claim the throne through the Yorkist line, as his mother [[Elizabeth of York|Elizabeth]] was the daughter of [[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]]. In 1542, Henry also assumed the title [[King of Ireland]]; this would pass down with the monarchs of England, and later Great Britain, until the separate crowns [[Acts of Union 1800|merged in 1800]].

Henry VIII's multiple marriages led to several complications over succession. Henry VIII was first married to [[Catherine of Aragon]], by whom he had a daughter named [[Mary I of England|Mary]]. His second marriage, to [[Anne Boleyn]], resulted in a daughter named [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth]]. Henry VIII had a son, [[Edward VI of England|Edward]], by his third wife, [[Jane Seymour]]. The [[Succession to the Crown Act 1533]] declared Mary illegitimate; the [[Second Succession Act|Second Act in 1536]], did the same for Elizabeth. The [[Succession to the Crown Act 1543|Third Act in 1543]] did not legitimize the daughters, but did reinsert them into the line of succession after Edward, providing further『that the King should and might give, will, limit, assign, appoint or dispose the said imperial Crown and the other premises … by [[letters patent]] or last will in writing.』Mary and Elizabeth, under [[Will of Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII's will]], were to be followed by the granddaughters of the King's deceased sister [[Mary Tudor, Queen of France|Mary Tudor, Duchess of Suffolk]]. Still excluded were the duchess's still-living daughters, [[Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk]] and [[Eleanor Clifford, Countess of Cumberland]]). This will also excluded from the succession the descendants of Henry's sister [[Margaret Tudor]], who were the rulers of [[Scotland]].

[[File:Elizabeth I in Parliament.jpg|thumb|upright|Queen Elizabeth I enthroned in Parliament]]
Edward VI succeeded Henry VIII in 1547. Edward VI attempted to divert the course of succession in his will to prevent his Catholic half-sister, Mary, from inheriting the throne. He excluded both Mary and Elizabeth, settling on the Duchess of Suffolk's daughter, [[Lady Jane Grey]]. Jane was also originally excluded on the premise that no woman could reign over England. Nonetheless, the will, which originally referred to Jane's heirs-male, was amended to refer to Jane ''and'' her heirs-male. Upon Edward VI's death in 1553, Jane was proclaimed Queen of England and Ireland. She was not universally recognised and after nine days she was overthrown by the popular Mary. As Henry VIII's will had been approved by the [[Succession to the Crown Act 1543]], Edward's contravening will was ignored  as unlawful.

Mary was succeeded by her half-sister, Elizabeth, who broke with the precedents of many of her predecessors, and refused to name an heir. Whilst previous monarchs (including Henry VIII) had specifically been granted authority to settle uncertain successions in their wills, the [[Treasons Act 1571]] asserted that Parliament had the right to settle disputes, and made it treason to deny parliamentary authority. Wary of threats from other possible heirs, Parliament further passed the [[Safety of the Queen, etc. Act 1584]], which provided that any individual involved in attempts to murder the sovereign would be disqualified from succeeding (the act was repealed in 1863).

=== Scotland ===
{{stub-section|date=April 2024}}
The [[House of Stuart|House of Stewart]] (later Stuart) had ruled in Scotland since 1371. It followed strict rules of primogeniture. In 1503 [[James IV of Scotland|King James IV]] married [[Margaret Tudor]], a daughter of England's Henry VII,<ref>Morvern French, [https://www.irss.uoguelph.ca/index.php/irss/article/view/6575 'Ostentatious by nature: Flemish Material Culture at the Marriage of James IV and Margaret Tudor', ''International Review of Scottish Studies'', 46 (2021), pp. 27–54]</ref> which one hundred years later resulted in his great-grandson [[James VI]] inheriting the English Crown as well.<ref>[[Susan Doran]], ''From Tudor to Stuart: The Regime Change from Elizabeth I to James I'' (Oxford, 2024), p. 13.</ref>

In 1543, Henry VIII had attempted to marry his son [[Edward VI of England|Edward]] to [[Mary, Queen of Scots]], daughter of [[James IV of Scotland|James IV]], which would have drawn the kingdoms closer together. This marriage plan, outlined by the [[Treaty of Greenwich]], was resisted by Scots who favoured the [[Auld Alliance]] with France. A nine year long war resulted, now known as the [[Rough Wooing]].<ref>[[Marcus Merriman]], ''The Rough Wooings'' (East Linton: Tuckwell, 2000), pp. 6–10.</ref> [[Wedding of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Henry, Lord Darnley|In July 1565, Mary, Queen of Scots, married]] [[Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley]], a grandson of Margaret Tudor. Mary, Queen of Scots, was deposed in June 1567 and there was [[Marian civil war|civil war]] in Scotland until May 1573.<ref>[[Michael Lynch (historian)|Michael Lynch]], ''Scotland, A New History'' (Pimlico, 1991), pp. 221–222.</ref> For the rest of the 16th century England's diplomatic relations with Scotland were characterised by a so-called "amity". Elizabeth I did not publicly name Mary's son James VI as her successor, but gave him an [[English subsidy of James VI|annual cash subsidy]].<ref>Alexander Courtney, ''James VI, Britannic Prince: King of Scots and Elizabeth's Heir, 1566–1603'' (Routledge, 2024), p. 110.</ref>

=== After the union of the crowns ===
==== Stuarts ====
In 1603 Elizabeth I of England and Ireland was succeeded by King [[James VI of Scotland]], her first cousin twice removed, even though his succession violated Henry VIII's will, under which [[Anne Stanley, Countess of Castlehaven|Lady Anne Stanley]], heiress of Mary Tudor, Duchess of Suffolk, was supposed to succeed. James asserted that hereditary right was superior to statutory provision and, as King of Scotland, was powerful enough to deter any rival. He reigned as James I of England and Ireland, thus effecting the [[Union of the Crowns]], although England and Scotland remained separate sovereign states until 1707. His succession was rapidly ratified by Parliament.<ref>[https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Succession_to_the_Crown_Act_1603 "Succession to the Crown Act 1603"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605054009/https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Succession_to_the_Crown_Act_1603 |date=5 June 2016}}.</ref>

{{Wide image|House of Stuart.png|850px|Principal members of the house of Stuart following the 1603 Union of the Crowns.|center}}

James's eldest surviving son and successor, [[Charles I of England|Charles I]], was overthrown and beheaded in 1649 and the monarchy was abolished. A few years later, it was replaced by the Protectorate under [[Oliver Cromwell]], a de facto monarch with the title of [[Lord Protector]] rather than King. Cromwell had the right to name his successor, which he exercised on his deathbed by choosing his son, [[Richard Cromwell]]. Richard was ineffective and was quickly forced from office. Shortly afterwards, the monarchy was restored, with Charles I's son [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] as King.

[[File:Wissing, Willem - Queen Anne, 1687.jpg|thumb|upright|After her last child died in 1700, only [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Princess Anne]] was left in the line of succession set by the Bill of Rights.]]
[[James II of England|James II and VII]], a Roman Catholic, followed his brother Charles II, despite efforts in the late 1670s to [[Exclusion Crisis|exclude]] him in favour of Charles's illegitimate Protestant son, the [[James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth|Duke of Monmouth]]. James was deposed when his Protestant opponents forced him to flee from England in 1688. Parliament then deemed that James had, by fleeing the realms, abdicated the thrones and offered the Crowns not to the King's infant son [[James Francis Edward Stuart|James]] but to his Protestant daughter [[Mary II of England|Mary]] and to her husband [[William III of England|William]], who as James's nephew was the first person in the succession not descended from him. The two became joint Sovereigns (a unique circumstance in British history) as William III of England and Ireland (and II of Scotland) and Mary II of England, Scotland and Ireland. William had insisted on this unique provision as a condition of his military leadership against James.

The English [[Bill of Rights 1689|Bill of Rights]] and the Scottish [[Claim of Right|Claim of Right Act]], both passed in 1689, determined succession to the English, Scottish and Irish Thrones. First in the line were the descendants of Mary II. Next came Mary's sister [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Princess Anne]] and her descendants. Finally, the descendants of William by any future marriage were added to the line of succession. Only Protestants were allowed to succeed; those who married Roman Catholics were excluded.

After Mary II died in 1694, her husband continued to reign alone until his own death in 1702. The line of succession provided for by the Bill of Rights was almost at an end; William and Mary had no children and Princess Anne's children had died. Parliament passed the [[Act of Settlement 1701]]. The Act maintained the provision of the Bill of Rights whereby William would be succeeded by Princess Anne and her descendants, and thereafter by his own descendants from future marriages. The Act declared that they would be followed by James I & VI's granddaughter [[Sophia of Hanover|Sophia]], Electress Dowager of Hanover (the daughter of James's daughter [[Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia|Elizabeth Stuart]]), and her heirs. As under the Bill of Rights, non-Protestants and those who married Roman Catholics were excluded. Because Sophia was a foreign citizen, Parliament passed the [[Sophia Naturalization Act 1705]] to make her and her descendants English and therefore eligible for the throne.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/parliamentaryauthority/revolution/collections1/parliamentary-collections/princess-sophia-act |title = Princess Sophia |website = www.parliament.uk |access-date = 3 June 2020 |archive-date = 3 June 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200603133152/https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/parliamentaryauthority/revolution/collections1/parliamentary-collections/princess-sophia-act |url-status = live}}</ref>

[[File:Kurfuerstin Sophie.JPG|thumb|upright|Electress Sophia of Hanover (1630–1714)]]
Upon William's death, Anne became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland. Because the Parliament of England settled on Sophia as Anne's heir-presumptive without consulting Scottish leaders, the [[Estates of Scotland]] retaliated by passing the Scottish [[Act of Security]]. The Act provided that, upon the death of Anne, the Estates would meet to select an heir to the throne of Scotland, who could not be the same person as the English Sovereign unless numerous political and economic conditions were met. Anne originally withheld the [[Royal Assent]], but was forced to grant it when the estates refused to raise taxes and sought to withdraw troops from the queen's army. England's Parliament responded by passing the [[Alien Act 1705]], which threatened to cripple Scotland's economy by cutting off trade with them. Thus, Scotland had little choice but to unite with England to form the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]] in 1707; the crown of the new nation (along with the crown of Ireland) was subject to the rules laid down by the English Act of Settlement.

==== Hanoverians and Windsors ====
[[File:ProtestantTutor.png|right|upright|thumb|[[Benjamin Harris (publisher)|Benjamin Harris's]] ''Protestant Tutor'', a primer popular for decades and the source for the ''[[New England Primer]]''. Edition of 1713. Hanoverian propaganda extended to books for children's education.|alt=Title page, which is crowded with fonts of varying sizes and shapes, reads "The Protestant Tutor, Instructing YOUTH, and Others, In the Compleat Method of Spelling, Reading, and Writing True English; Also, Discovering to them the Notorious ERRORS, Damnable DOCTRINES, and Cruel MASSACRES, of the Bloddy Papists; Which England may Expect from a Popish Successor. With Instructions for Grounding them in the True Protestant Religion."]]

Anne was predeceased by Sophia, Electress Dowager of Hanover, and was therefore succeeded by the latter's son, who became [[George I of Great Britain|George I]] in 1714.

Attempts were made in the [[Jacobite risings|risings of 1715 and 1745]] to restore Stuart claimants to the Throne, supported by those who recognised the [[Jacobite succession]]. The [[House of Hanover]] nonetheless remained undeposed, and the Crown descended in accordance with the appointed rules. In 1801, following the [[Acts of Union 1800]], the separate crowns of Great Britain and Ireland were merged and became the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]]. Between 1811 and 1820, when [[George III]] was deemed unfit to rule, the Prince of Wales (later [[George IV]]) acted as his [[Regency era|regent]]. Some years later, the [[Regency Act 1830]] made provision for a change in the line of succession had a child been born to [[William IV of the United Kingdom|William IV]] after his death, but this event did not come about.
[[File:Coronation of George VI 1937.jpg|thumb|left|upright|George VI receiving [[Homage (feudal)|homage]] at his [[Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth|coronation]] in 1937]]

On the death of William IV in 1837, his 18-year-old niece [[Queen Victoria|Victoria]] succeeded to the throne. After a 63-year reign, often known as the [[Victorian era]], she was succeeded in 1901 by her eldest son [[Edward VII]]. On his death in 1910, his second son acceded to the throne as [[George V]] (Edward's first son [[Prince Albert Victor]] died during an [[influenza pandemic]] in 1892).

[[Edward VIII]] became King on the death of his father, George V, in January 1936.<ref>{{Cite news |publisher= UPI |location= London |date= 21 January 1936 |url= http://www.upi.com/Archives/1936/01/21/Prince-of-Wales-proclaimed-King-Edward-VIII/7807693511214 |title= Prince of Wales proclaimed King Edward VIII |access-date= 20 August 2017 |archive-date= 20 August 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170820202648/http://www.upi.com/Archives/1936/01/21/Prince-of-Wales-proclaimed-King-Edward-VIII/7807693511214 |url-status= live}}</ref> Edward [[State Opening of Parliament|opened Parliament]] in November, but abdicated in December 1936, and was never [[Abandoned coronation of Edward VIII|crowned]]. Edward had desired to marry [[Wallis Simpson]], a divorcee, but the [[Church of England]], of which the British Sovereign is Supreme Governor, would not authorise the marriage of divorcees. Consequently, Parliament passed [[His Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act 1936]], by which Edward VIII ceased to be Sovereign "immediately upon" his royal assent as King being signified in Parliament on 11 December. The Act provided that he and his descendants, if any, were not to have any "right, title or interest in or to the succession to the Throne". Edward died childless in 1972.

Edward's abdication was "a [[demise of the Crown]]" (in the words of the Act), and the [[Duke of York#Seventh creation, 1920–1936|Duke of York]], his brother who was then next in the line, immediately succeeded to the throne and to its "rights, privileges, and dignities", taking the [[regnal name]] [[George VI]]. He in turn was succeeded in 1952 by his elder daughter, [[Elizabeth II]]. By that time, the monarch of the United Kingdom no longer reigned in the greater part of Ireland (which had become a [[Republic of Ireland|republic]] in 1949), but was the monarch of a number of independent sovereign states (Commonwealth realms). She was then succeeded in 2022 by her eldest son, [[Charles III]].

=== Commonwealth realms ===
{{Further|Perth Agreement}}

[[File:Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II Couronnement de la Reine Elizabeth II.jpg|thumb|upright|Elizabeth II at her coronation in 1953, passing to the left of the [[Coronation Chair]]]]

By the terms of the [[Statute of Westminster 1931]], each of the Commonwealth realms has the same person as monarch and, to maintain that arrangement, they have agreed to continue the same line of succession; some realms do so through domestic succession laws, while others stipulate whoever is monarch of the United Kingdom will also be monarch of that realm. In February 1952, on her accession, Elizabeth II [[Proclamation of accession of Elizabeth II|was proclaimed]] as sovereign separately throughout her realms. In October 2011, the heads of government of all 16 realms agreed unanimously at a [[Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011|meeting]] held in [[Perth]], Western Australia, to proposed changes to the royal succession laws that would see the order of succession for people born after 28 October 2011 governed by absolute primogeniture—wherein succession passes to an individual's children according to birth order, regardless of sex—instead of male-preference primogeniture. They also agreed to lift a ban on those who marry Roman Catholics. The ban on Catholics themselves was retained to ensure that the monarch would be in communion with the [[Church of England]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15492607 |title=Girls equal in British throne succession |publisher=BBC News |date=28 October 2011 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-date=16 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116214426/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15492607 |url-status=live}}</ref> The changes came into effect across the Commonwealth realms on 26 March 2015, after legislation was made according to each realm's constitution.<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/894/made The Succession to the Crown Act 2013 (Commencement) Order 2015] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529011836/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/894/made |date=29 May 2021}} legislation.gov.uk; [[Nick Clegg|Clegg, Nick]] (26 March 2015). [http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2015-03-26/HCWS490 "Commencement of Succession to the Crown Act 2013: Written statement"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705020637/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2015-03-26/HCWS490 |date=5 July 2016}}. UK Parliament.</ref>

Following the changes coming into effect, the positions of the first 27 in line remained unchanged, including Princess Anne and her children and grandchildren, until the birth of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge on 2 May 2015. The first to be affected by the changes, on the day they came into effect on 26 March of that year, were the children of [[Lady Davina Windsor]]—her son Tane Mahuta Lewis (born 2012) and her daughter Senna Kowhai Lewis (born 2010)—who were reversed in the order of succession, becoming 29th and 28th in line respectively (now 36th and 35th {{As of|lc=y|2022|September}}).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Line of Succession |url=https://debretts.com/royal-family/line-of-succession |website=Debrett's |access-date=8 March 2023 |archive-date=8 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308135139/https://debretts.com/royal-family/line-of-succession |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Current rules ==
The Bill of Rights and the Act of Settlement (restated by the Acts of Union) still govern succession to the throne. They were amended in the United Kingdom by the [[Succession to the Crown Act 2013]], which was passed mainly "to make succession to the Crown not depend on gender" and "to make provision about Royal Marriages" (according to its [[long title]]), thereby implementing the [[Perth Agreement]] in the UK and in those realms that, by their laws, have as their monarch automatically whoever is monarch of the UK. Other realms passed their own legislation.

Anyone ineligible to succeed is treated as if they were dead. That person's descendants are not also disqualified, unless they are personally ineligible.

=== Marriages ===
The [[Act of Settlement 1701]] provides that Protestant "[[heirs of the body]]" (that is, legitimate descendants) of [[Sophia, Electress of Hanover]], are eligible to succeed to the throne, unless otherwise disqualified. The meaning of ''heir of the body'' is determined by the common law rules of male preference [[primogeniture]] (the "male-preference" criterion is no longer applicable, in respect of succession to the throne, to persons born after 28 October 2011), whereby older children and their descendants inherit before younger children, and a male child takes precedence over a female sibling.<ref>Blackstone (1765).</ref> Children born out of wedlock and adopted children are not eligible to succeed. Illegitimate children whose parents subsequently marry are legitimated, but remain ineligible to inherit.{{NoteTag|Neither the [[Legitimacy Act 1926]] nor the [[Legitimacy Act 1959]] changed the Law of Succession.}}

The [[Royal Marriages Act 1772]] (repealed by the Succession to the Crown Act 2013) further required descendants of [[George II of Great Britain|George II]] to obtain the consent of the reigning monarch to marry. (The requirement did not apply to descendants of princesses who married into foreign families, as well as, from 1936, any descendants of Edward VIII,{{NoteTag|Per the [[His Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act 1936]].}} of whom there are none.) The Act provided, however, that if a [[Dynasty#Dynasts|dynast]] older than twenty-five years notified the Privy Council of his or her intention to marry without the consent of the Sovereign, then he or she may have lawfully done so after one year, unless both houses of Parliament expressly disapproved of the marriage. A marriage that contravened the Royal Marriages Act was void, and the resulting offspring illegitimate and thus ineligible to succeed, though the succession of the dynast who failed to obtain consent was not itself affected. This also had the consequence that marriage to a Roman Catholic without permission was void, so that the dynast was not disqualified from succeeding on account of being married to a Roman Catholic. Thus when the future [[George IV of the United Kingdom|George IV]] attempted to marry the Roman Catholic [[Maria Anne Fitzherbert|Maria Fitzherbert]] in 1785 without obtaining permission from [[George III of the United Kingdom|George III]] he did not disqualify himself from inheriting the throne in due course.<ref name="bogdanor_55"/> A marriage voided by the 1772 act prior to its repeal remains void "for all purposes relating to the succession to the Crown" under the 2013 act.<ref name="Act 2013">[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/20/section/3 "Succession to the Crown Act 2013"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709185259/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/20/section/3 |date=9 July 2015}}. UK Parliament. Section 3.</ref>

The constitutional crisis arising from Edward VIII's decision to marry a divorcee in 1936 led to [[His Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act 1936]], which provided that Edward VIII and his descendants would have no claim to the throne.<ref>His Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act 1936, section 2</ref> The Act is no longer applicable, because Edward died in 1972 without issue.

Under the [[Succession to the Crown Act 2013]], the first six persons in line to the throne must obtain the sovereign's approval before marrying.<ref name="Act 2013"/> Marriage without the Sovereign's consent disqualifies the person and the person's descendants from the marriage from succeeding to the Crown,<ref name="Act 2013"/> but the marriage is still legally valid.

=== Religion ===
Rules relating to eligibility established by the Bill of Rights are retained under the Act of Settlement and the [[Acts of Union 1707]]. Under Article II of the [[Treaty of Union]] between England and Scotland (which was given legal force by the acts of the English and Scottish parliaments), the succession to the throne is limited to "the Heirs of <nowiki>[Electress Sophia's]</nowiki> body being [[Protestantism|Protestants]]."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Ann/6/11/part/2 |title=Article II of the Treaty of Union in the Union With Scotland Act 1706 |access-date=16 October 2021 |archive-date=16 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016222104/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Ann/6/11/part/2 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Act of Settlement also states that "whosoever shall hereafter come to the Possession of this Crown shall join in Communion with the [[Church of England]]".<ref>Act of Settlement, section 3</ref> The definition of being "in Communion with the Church of England" has been interpreted broadly; for instance, [[George I of Great Britain|King George I]] was [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lathbury |first=Thomas |url = https://archive.org/details/ahistorybookcom00lathgoog |title = A History of the Book of Common Prayer and Other Books of Authority |publisher=John Henry and James Parker |year=1858 |location=Oxford |page=[https://archive.org/details/ahistorybookcom00lathgoog/page/n447 430] |quote=George I. remained a Lutheran as long as he lived, and had his German chaplain; but he conformed on some occasions with the Church of England. George II. was in the same position. Though Lutherans, they exercised acts of supremacy in the Church of England; and the common opinion was, that there was no opposition between the views of the two Churches |author-link=Thomas Lathbury}}</ref>

The Bill of Rights specifically excludes Roman Catholics from being sovereign, to the extent that they "shall be excluded and be for ever uncapeable to inherit possesse or enjoy the Crowne", thus ignoring any potential conversion from Roman Catholicism to Protestantism.<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/WillandMarSess2/1/2 Bill of Rights] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826183018/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/WillandMarSess2/1/2 |date=26 August 2021}} section I</ref> As such, a Roman Catholic is viewed as "naturally dead" for the purposes of succession.<ref>Bill of Rights, section I; Act of Settlement, preamble</ref> The Act of Settlement further provided that anyone who married a Roman Catholic was ineligible to succeed. The Act did not require that the spouse be Anglican; it only barred those who married Roman Catholics. The Succession to the Crown Act 2013 removed the ban on individuals who marry Roman Catholics, though not on Roman Catholics themselves, because the monarch is Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

=== Treason ===
Under the [[Treason Act 1702]] and the [[Treason (Ireland) Act 1703]], it is [[High treason in the United Kingdom|treason]] to "endeavour to deprive or hinder any person who shall be the next in succession to the crown ... from succeeding ... to the imperial crown of this realm". Since the [[Crime and Disorder Act 1998]], the maximum penalty has been life imprisonment.

== Accession ==
[[File:St Jamess Palace.jpg|thumb|upright|The Accession Council normally meets in [[St James's Palace]] to proclaim the new sovereign.]]

In the Commonwealth realms, upon the death of a sovereign, the heir apparent or heir presumptive succeeds to the throne immediately, with no need for confirmation or further ceremony.<ref>[https://www.royal.uk/accession "Accession"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605095603/https://www.royal.uk/accession |date=5 June 2016}}. Official website of the British monarchy. Retrieved 7 May 2016.</ref>{{NoteTag|A letter from [[Tony Newton, Baron Newton of Braintree|Tony Newton]] as [[Lord President of the Council]] to [[Tony Benn]] indicated this was the effect of the Act of Settlement after Benn had indicated he intended to block the next accession at the Privy Council.<ref>Bogdanor (1995), p.&nbsp;45.</ref>}} Nevertheless, the [[Accession Council]] meets and decides upon the making of the accession proclamation, which by custom has for centuries been ceremonially proclaimed in public places, in London, [[York]], [[Edinburgh]] and other cities. The anniversary is observed throughout the sovereign's reign as [[Accession Day]], including royal [[gun salutes]] in the United Kingdom.<ref>[https://www.royal.uk/gun-salutes "Gun Salutes"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401180817/https://www.royal.uk/gun-salutes |date=1 April 2022}}. Official website of the British monarchy. Retrieved 7 May 2016.</ref>

Formerly, a new sovereign proclaimed his or her own accession. But on the death of Elizabeth I an Accession Council met to proclaim the accession of James I to the throne of England. James was then in Scotland and reigning as King James VI of Scotland. This precedent has been followed since. Now, the Accession Council normally meets in [[St James's Palace]]. Proclamations since James I's have usually been made in the name of the [[Lords Spiritual]] and [[Lords Temporal|Temporal]], the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Council]], the [[Lord Mayor of the City of London|Lord Mayor]], [[Alderman|Aldermen]] and citizens of the [[City of London]] and "other principal [[Gentleman|Gentlemen]] of quality", though there have been variations in some proclamations. The proclamation of accession of Elizabeth II was the first to make mention of representatives of members of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]].

Upon his or her accession, a new sovereign is required by law to make and subscribe several oaths. The Bill of Rights of 1689 first required the sovereign to make a public declaration of non-belief in Roman Catholicism.{{NoteTag|This declaration was similar to what members of both Houses of Parliament were originally required to take by the Test Acts. Eventually, by the time it was changed in 1910, the monarch was the only one left required to make the declaration.}} This declaration, known as the [[Accession Declaration]], is required to be taken either at the first meeting of parliament of his or her reign (i.e. during the [[State Opening of Parliament]]) or at his or her coronation, whichever occurs first. The wording of the declaration was changed in 1910 as the previous wording was deemed to be overly anti-Catholic. Rather than denouncing Roman Catholicism, the sovereign now declares him or herself to be a Protestant and that he or she will "uphold and maintain" the Protestant succession.<ref>Accession Declaration Act 1910, schedule</ref> In addition to the Accession Declaration, the new sovereign is required by the Acts of Union 1707 to make an oath to "maintain and preserve" the Church of Scotland.<ref>Union with Scotland Act 1706, article XXV. "...And Lastly that after the Decease of Her Present Majesty (whom God long preserve) the Soveraign succeeding to her in the Royal Government of the Kingdom of Great Britain shall in all time comeing at his or her accession to the Crown Swear and Subscribe That they shall inviolably maintain and preserve the foresaid settlement of the True Protestant Religion with the Government Worship Discipline Right and Priviledges of this Church as above established by the Laws of this Kingdom in prosecution of the Claim of Right..."</ref> This oath is normally made at the sovereign's first meeting of the Privy Council following his or her accession. According to the [[Regency Act 1937]], should the sovereign be under the age of 18, such oaths and declarations required to be taken by the sovereign shall be made upon attainment of that age.<ref>Regency Act 1937, section 1(<span class="ltr">2</span>)</ref>

After a period of mourning,<ref name="royal.gov-coronation">{{Cite web |url = https://www.royal.uk/coronation |title = Coronation |website = Official website of the British monarchy |access-date = 7 May 2016 |archive-date = 5 February 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190205125036/https://www.royal.uk/coronation |url-status = live}}</ref> the new sovereign is usually [[coronation of the British monarch|consecrated and crowned]] in [[Westminster Abbey]]. Normally, the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] officiates, though the sovereign may designate any other bishop of the [[Church of England]]. A coronation is not necessary for a sovereign to reign; for example, [[Edward VIII]] was [[Abandoned coronation of Edward VIII|never crowned]], yet during his short reign was the undoubted king.

== Regency Act 1937 ==
{{Main|Regency Act 1937}}
In the event that the sovereign is under 18, or is incapacitated, the first person in the line of succession who is over the age of 21 (or 18 in the case of the heir apparent) and is domiciled in the United Kingdom becomes regent, and exercises the powers of the sovereign.

The first four individuals in the line of succession who are over 21 (or 18 in the case of the heir), and the sovereign's consort, may be appointed [[counsellors of state]]. Counsellors of state perform some of the sovereign's duties in the United Kingdom while the sovereign is out of the country or temporarily incapacitated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/counsellors-state|title=Counsellors of State|work=The Royal Family|accessdate=13 June 2023|archive-date=22 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422140025/https://www.royal.uk/counsellors-state|url-status=live}}</ref>

Otherwise, individuals in the line of succession need not have specific legal or official roles.

Princess Anne and Prince Edward were added as extra counsellors of state in 2022 by an act of Parliament, following the death of Elizabeth II.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/47/enacted|title=Counsellors of State Act 2022|publisher=The National Archive|accessdate=5 January 2024|archive-date=29 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729005020/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/47/enacted|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Biography|Royalty|United Kingdom}}
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Accession Declaration Act 1910]]
* [[Alternative successions of the English crown]]
* [[British prince]]
* [[British princess]]
* [[Family tree of the British royal family]]
* [[History of the English and British line of succession]]
* [[Jacobite succession]]
* [[List of British monarchs]]
* [[List of descendants of George V]]
* [[List of heirs to the British throne]]
* [[List of heirs to the English throne]]
* [[List of heirs to the Scottish throne]]
* [[List of monarchs in the British Isles]]
* [[Posthumous birth]]
* [[Royal Succession Bills and Acts]]
** [[Succession to the Crown Act 2013]] (United Kingdom)
** [[Succession to the Throne Act, 2013]] (Canada)
** [[Royal Succession Act 2013]] (New Zealand)
** [[Succession to the Crown Act 2015]] (Australia)
}}

== Explanatory notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist|30em}}

=== General and cited sources ===
{{Refbegin|30em}}
*Blackstone, William (1765). [http://www.lonang.com/exlibris/blackstone/bla-103.htm "Chapter 3: Of The King, and His Title"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203001156/http://www.lonang.com/exlibris/blackstone/bla-103.htm |date=3 February 2014}}. ''Commentaries on the Laws of England'', Vol. 1. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
*Bogdanor, Vernon (1995). ''The Monarchy and the Constitution.'' Oxford: Clarendon Press. {{ISBN|978-0-1982-9334-7}}.
*Bryant, A. (1975). ''A Thousand Years of British Monarchy.'' London: Collins.
*{{Cite journal |url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/ALRS/1999/1.html |title=The Law of Succession to the Crown in New Zealand |journal=Waikato Law Review |first=Noel |last=Cox |volume=7 |year=1999 |pages=49–72 |access-date=7 February 2012 |archive-date=14 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914130701/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/ALRS/1999/1.html |url-status=live}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/WillandMarSess2/1/2 Text] of the [[Bill of Rights 1689]]
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Will3/12-13/2 Text] of the [[Act of Settlement 1701]]
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/20/enacted Full text] of the [[Succession to the Crown Act 2013]].
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23272491 "Royal Family tree and line of succession"] at the BBC website, 29 June 2018. Biographies of the Queen's descendants in order of their place in the line of succession.
*[https://lineofsuccession.co.uk British line of succession] on any date back to 1820.

{{Succession to the British throne}}
{{Orders of succession by country}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Succession To The British Throne}}
[[Category:Succession to the British crown| ]]
[[Category:Monarchy of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:British royal family]]
[[Category:British royalty]]
[[Category:Constitution of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Lines of succession|British]]