Heir Presumptive

The Heir Presumptive is the first-in-line to a throne, where that prospective heir is not the male descendant of the existing monarch. The Heir Presumptive's position is based on the absence of such a descendant, who would take precedence as the Heir Apparent. If at any stage an heir apparent is born, he becomes first-in-line to the throne, with all of his descendants taking priority over the Heir Presumptive in the Line of Succession. In the event of there being an heir apparent, the title Heir Presumptive lapses and is not used to describe the most senior person in the Line of Succession who is not a direct male descendant of the monarch.

Examples of Heir Presumptives who inherited thrones

• Queen Mary I of England who succeeded her half-brother King Edward VI of England
• Queen Elizabeth I of England who succeeded her half-sister Queen Mary I of England
• King James I of England (who was James VI of Scotland) who succeeded his distant cousin Queen Elizabeth I of England
• King George VI of the United Kingdom who succeeded his brother King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
• King Albert II of the Belgians who succeeded his brother King Baudouin of the Belgians
• King Paul of Greece who succeeded his brother King George II of Greece

See:

• Monarchy
• Constitutional Monarchy
• Line of Succession