Expert: Joseph Logue - 11/13/2006

Question
Now, I realize that Edward became king after Victoria died, but what would have
happened if he had died?    What was the line of succession to Victoria's throne?  
I have found some help, but I need to know a list of at least the top ten of the
line.

Answer
Hello Alex,

I assume you mean what would have happened if Edward VII died before his mother.  Interesting question, and one that has many answers depending on at what time in his life he would have pre-deceased his mother.

Say, as Prince of Wales, he died a week before his mother.  His children and grandchildren would have filled nine of the top ten slots of succession like so:

1. The Duke of York who would have become king upon Victoria's death (he was Edward VII's son, and who only later became King George V);
2. Prince Edward of York (George's eldest son, later King Edward VIII and Duke of Windsor);
3. Prince Albert of York (George's second son, later King George VI, father to the present queen);
4. Prince Henry of York (George's third son and fourth child, later the Duke of Gloucester);
5. Princess Mary of York (George's only daughter, later Princess Royal, Countess of Harewood);
6. Princess Louise, (Edward VII's eldest daughter, later the Princess Royal);
7. Lady Alexandra Duff (Louise's elder daughter by the Duke of Fife);
8. Lady Maud Duff (Louise's younger daughter by the Duke of Fife);
9. Princess Victoria of Wales (second daughter of Edward VII);
10. Princess Maud of Wales (later Queen of Norway).

It should be noted that there was a son, the eldest child of Edward VII and Alexandra, Prince Albert Victor, who died in 1892, aged 28, and a son, Prince Alexander, who was born and died in 1871.

As you can see, the succession follows the son, the son of sons then the daughters of sons, then daughters and the children of daughters.

Now, if Edward VII had died while Prince of Wales and when all of his brothers and sisters were born but before any of them had children (a period of only two years), then the succession after Queen Victoria would have gone thus:

1. Prince Alfred (oldest surviving son of Victoria);
2. Prince Arthur (third son);
3. Prince Leopold (fourth son);
4. Princess Victoria, the Princess Royal (eldest child of Victoria);
5. Princess Alice (second daughter);
6. Princess Helena (third daughter);
7. Princess Louise (fourth daughter);
8. Princess Beatrice (fifth daughter and youngest child of Victoria);
9. Prince Ernest, the Duke of Cumberland and King of Hanover (Victoria's father's next younger brother);
10. Prince George of Hanover (son of the King of Hanover, above).

Note that when Princess Victoria (#4) had a child -- a son who became Kaiser Wilhelm II -- that son pushed everyone down a notch.

Because of the constant cycle of births and deaths, the list is ever-changing.  I have a list of who were the ten in line of succession on my site.  Go here:

http://www.josephlogue.com/succession.htm

I hope that helps Alex.  Thanks for visiting AllExperts, and come back soon.

Sincerely,

Joseph Logue