User:Dralwik/British
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the main explanatory article, see Succession to the British throne.
The line of succession to the British throne lists people eligible to succeed to the throne of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms in order of eligibility.
The right of succession is regulated by the Act of Settlement 1701, the Royal Marriages Act 1772 and common law.[1]
- The succession is restricted to those descended in a legitimate line from the Electress Sophia of Hanover. A person born to parents who are not married to each other at the time of birth is not included in the line of succession and passes no rights to their descendants. The subsequent marriage of the parents does not alter this.[n 1][2]
- The succession is ordered by male-preference (cognatic) primogeniture. A person is always immediately followed in the succession by his or her own legitimate descendants (his or her line) except for any legitimate descendants who already appear higher in the line of succession. A person's sons and their lines all come before a person's daughters and their lines. Older sons and their lines come before younger sons and their lines. Older daughters and their lines come before younger daughters and their lines.[3]
- At the time of accession, the heir to the throne must be a Protestant and enter into communion with the Church of England.[3]
- Anyone who is Roman Catholic, becomes Roman Catholic, or marries a Roman Catholic is excluded from the line of succession.[3]
The line of succession is also used to select the Counsellors of State (and a regent if the need arises) under the provisions of the Regency Act 1937.[4]
For past versions of the line of succession, see History of the British line of succession.