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Loryn's British Royalty Page
The Line of Succession



The succession to the throne is regulated not only through descent, but also by statute; the Act of Settlement confirmed that it was for Parliament to determine the title to the throne. The Act laid down that only Protestant descendants of Princess Sophia - the Electress of Hanover and granddaughter of James I - are eligible to succeed. Subsequent Acts have confirmed this.

Parliament, under the Bill of Rights and the Act of Settlement, also laid down various conditions which the Sovereign must meet. A Roman Catholic is specifically excluded from succession to the throne; nor may the Sovereign marry a Roman Catholic. The Sovereign must, in addition, be in communion with the Church of England and must swear to preserve the established Church of England and the established Church of Scotland. The Sovereign must also promise to uphold the Protestant succession.

  1. HRH The Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales (1948)
  2. HRH Prince William of Wales, eldest son of The Prince Charles (1982)
  3. HRH Prince Henry of Wales, younger son of The Prince Charles (1984)
  4. HRH The Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, second son of HM Queen Elizabeth II (1960)
  5. HRH Princess Beatrice of York, elder daughter of The Prince Andrew (1988)
  6. HRH Princess Eugenie of York, younger daughter of The Prince Andrew (1990)
  7. HRH The Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex, youngest son of HM Queen Elizabeth II (1964)
  8. HRH The Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, only daughter of HM Queen Elizabeth II (1950)
  9. Peter Phillips, son of The Princess Anne (1977)
  10. Zara Phillips, daughter of The Princess Anne (1981)
  11. David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley, son of The Princess Margaret (1961)
  12. The Hon. Charles Patrick Inigo Armstrong-Jones (1999)
  13. The Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones (2002)
  14. Lady Sarah Chatto, daughter of The Princess Margaret (1964)
  15. Samuel Chatto (1996)
  16. Arthur David Nathaniel Chatto (1999)
  17. HRH Prince Richard, The (2nd) Duke of Gloucester, surviving son of HRH The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, who was the 3rd son of HM King George V (1944)
  18. Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster (1974)
  19. Lady Davina Windsor (1977)
  20. Lady Rose Windsor (1980)
  21. HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (1935)
    • George Windsor, The Earl of St. Andrews (excluded himself from succession by marrying a Roman Catholic)
  22. Edward Windsor, Baron Downpatrick (1988)
  23. Lady Marina Charlotte Windsor (1992)
  24. Lady Amelia Windsor (1995)
    • Lord Nicholas Windsor (1970) (excluded himself by becoming a Roman Catholic)
  25. Lady Helen Taylor (1964)
  26. Columbus Taylor (1994)
  27. Cassius Taylor (1996)
    • Prince Michael of Kent (excluded himself from succession by marrying a Roman Catholic)
  28. Lord Frederick Windsor (1979)
  29. Lady Gabriella Windsor (1981)
  30. HRH Princess Alexandra. the Hon. Lady Ogilvy (1936)
  31. James Ogilvy (1964)
  32. Alexander Ogilvy (1996)
  33. Miss Flora Ogilvy (1994)
  34. Mrs Marina Mowatt (1966)
  35. Christian Mowatt (1993)
  36. Miss Zenouska Mowatt (1990)
  37. George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood (1923)
  38. David Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles (1950)
  39. Mark Lascelles (1964)
  40. Alexander Lascelles (1980)
  41. Edward Lascelles (1982)
  42. James Lascelles (1953)
  43. Rowan Lascelles (1977)
  44. Tewa Lascelles (1985)
  45. Sophie Lascelles (1973)
  46. Jeremy Lascelles (1955)
  47. Thomas Lascelles (1982)
  48. Ellen Lascelles (1984)
  49. Amy Lascelles (1986)
  50. Henry Lascelles (1953)
  51. Maximilian Lascelles (1991)
  52. James Carnegie, (3rd) Duke of Fife, only child of (HH Princess) Maud, Countess of Southesk (1929)
  53. David Carnegie, Earl of Southesk, only son of James Carnegie (1961)
  54. Charles Duff Carnegie, Lord Carnegie, eldest son of David Carnegie (1989)
  55. The Hon. George William Carnegie, 2nd son of David Carnegie (1991)
  56. The Hon. Hugh Alexander Carnegie, youngest son of David Carnegie (1993)
  57. Lady Alexandra Carnegie, only daughter of James Carnegie (1959)
  58. HM King Harald V of Norway, only son of HM King Olav V of Norway (1937)
  59. HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, only son of HM King Harald of Norway (1973)
  60. HRH Princess Martha Louise of Norway, only daughter of HM King Harald of Norway (1971)
  61. HH Princess Raghnild, Mrs. Erling Lorentzen, eldest daughter of HM King Olav V of Norway (1930)

The succession to the throne is known as the accession, and after this takes place there is an interval of convenience of a year or more, during which time he or she can settle into the new role of monarch. Then there is the coronation, which takes place in Westminster Abbey. The service is conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the presence of representatives of the Houses of Parliament, the Church of England, and the State. Leaders from other nations are also invited to attend.

During the ceremony, the monarch swears an oath to rule according to the law of the land, and he or she is then anointed and crowned. The Archbishop of Canterbury and assorted senior peers pay their tributes, and then Holy Communion is celebrated.

William I's coronation was presided over by two prelates for the benefit of the English and French people in attendance. Archbishop Ealdred of York spoke in English and Bishop Geoffrey of Coutences spoke in French. Each in turn asked his countrymen if they would accept William as their king. Both groups happily shouted they would. A guard posted outside heard the loud French response and assumed a mob was threatening the king. He quickly set fire to some of the buildings. Naturally everyone fled, but no one was seriously hurt.

All information © 2000, S.L. Cearley
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