Heir apparent versus heir presumptive Heir apparent

throngs before imperial palace in japan awaiting appearance of crown prince hirohito recent proclamation of official recognition heir apparent japanese imperial throne – new york times, 1916.

in hereditary system governed form of primogeniture, heir apparent identifiable person position first in line of succession title or office secure, regardless of future births. heir presumptive, contrast, can bumped down in succession birth of more closely related in legal sense (according form of primogeniture) current title-holder.

the clearest example occurs in case of holder of hereditary title, 1 can inherited single person, no children. if @ time or produce children, (the offspring of title-holder) rank ahead of whatever more distant relative (the title-holder s sibling, perhaps, or nephew or cousin) had been heir presumptive.

many legal systems assume childbirth possible regardless of age or health. in such circumstances person may be, in practical sense, heir apparent still, legally speaking, heir presumptive. indeed, when queen victoria succeeded uncle king william iv, wording of proclamation gave caveat:

...saving rights of issue of late majesty king william iv, may born of late majesty s consort.

this provided possibility william s wife, adelaide of saxe-meiningen, pregnant @ moment of death, since such posthumous child, regardless of sex, have displaced victoria throne. adelaide 44 @ time, pregnancy possible if unlikely.

daughters in male-preference primogeniture

daughters (and lines) may inherit titles descend according male-preference primogeniture, in default of sons (and heirs). is, both female , male offspring have right place somewhere in order of succession, when comes place is, female rank behind brothers regardless of ages or age.

thus, normally, daughter not heir apparent, since @ time brother might born who, though younger, assume position. hence, heir presumptive. example, queen elizabeth ii heir presumptive during reign of father, king george vi, because @ stage death, george have fathered legitimate son.

women heirs apparent

in system of absolute primogeniture disregards gender, female heirs apparent occur. succession titles, positions, or offices in past favoured males females, females considered heir apparent rare. absolute primogeniture not practiced modern monarchy succession thrones until late twentieth century sweden being first adopt absolute primogeniture in 1980 , other european monarchies following suit.

since adoption of absolute primogeniture contemporary european monarchies, examples of female heir apparents include: crown princess victoria of sweden, princess catharina-amalia of netherlands, , princess elisabeth of belgium; these, respectively oldest children of kings carl xvi gustaf, willem-alexander, , philippe. princess ingrid alexandra of norway heir apparent father (who heir apparent norwegian throne), , victoria herself has female heir apparent in oldest child, princess estelle. victoria not heir apparent birth (in 1977), gained status in 1980 following change in swedish act of succession. younger brother carl philip (born 1979) heir apparent few months (and rare example of heir apparent losing status without death occurring).

in 2015, pursuant 2011 perth agreement, commonwealth realms changed rules of succession 16 thrones of elizabeth ii absolute primogeniture, except male heirs born before perth agreement. effects not felt many years; first 2 heirs @ time of agreement (charles, prince of wales , son prince william, duke of cambridge) eldest born children, , in 2013, william s first-born son prince george of cambridge became next apparent successor.

but in legal systems apply male-preference primogeniture, female heirs apparent no means impossible: if male heir apparent dies leaving no sons @ least 1 daughter, eldest daughter replace father heir apparent whatever throne or title concerned, when has become clear widow of deceased not pregnant. then, representative of father s line assume place ahead of more distant relatives. such situation has not date occurred english or british throne; several times heir apparent has died, each example has either been childless or left son or sons. however, there have been several female heirs apparent british peerages (e.g., frances ward, 6th baroness dudley, , henrietta wentworth, 6th baroness wentworth).

in 1 special case, however, england , scotland had female heir apparent. revolution settlement established william , mary joint monarchs in 1689 gave power continue succession through issue mary ii, eldest daughter of previous king, james ii. william, contrast, reign life only, , (hypothetical) children wife other mary placed in original place (as mary s first cousin) in line of succession – after mary s younger sister anne. thus, although after mary s death william continued reign, had no power beget direct heirs, , anne became heir apparent remainder of william s reign. succeeded him queen of england, scotland , ireland.