Heir Apparent

According to the order of succession of many monarchies, the Heir Apparent is a direct descendant of a monarch who is the heir to their throne, whose status as heir cannot be defeated by the birth of someone else who would then become the heir. An heir apparent differs from an Heir Presumptive in that, although an heir presumptive inherits the throne upon the death of the monarch, the right of the heir presumptive could be defeated by the birth of another person who would then be the heir apparent. For example, in Britain, if the monarch has a daughter and no sons, the daughter is the heiress presumptive, who becomes Queen if the monarch dies. But if the monarch later has a son, the son is then the heir apparent. In most monarchies, the monarch's oldest son, even if not the oldest child, becomes Heir Apparent. A growing number of monarchies however now allow the monarch's oldest child, irrespective of sex, to become Heir Apparent. Where that heir has died leaving children, their oldest child (or oldest son) becomes Heir Apparent.

It is an error to call the heir apparent simply the "heir." The heir is the person who currently owns the estate, having inherited it - in this case, the currently reigning monarch.

Examples

• Charles, Prince of Wales is the Heir Apparent of Queen Elizabeth II

• Philippe, Duke of Brabant is the Heir Apparent of King Albert II, King of the Belgians

• Felipe, Prince of Asturias is the Heir Apparent of King Juan Carlos of Spain.

• Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden is the Heiress Apparent of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden

In contrast,

• Albert, Duke of York, the King's brother (and later King George VI) was the Heir Presumptive of King Edward VIII.

• Princess Victoria, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria, was heiress presumptive until the birth of her brother, who later became King Edward VII.

Referenced By