heir presumptive
Displaceable next-in-line
An heir presumptive is someone who stands to inherit a title, throne, or estate but whose claim could be displaced by the birth of someone with a stronger claim.
Compare heir apparent, whose position cannot be superseded.
A king's daughter might be heir presumptive until a son is born: Princess Elizabeth was heir presumptive to George VI until she became heir apparent when it was clear no sons would follow.
- primogenitureEldest inherits all
- order of successionSequence of rightful heirs
- crownSovereign's ornamental headpiece
- contestedArgued against, disputed
- successionFollowing in order
throne · pretender · displacement · will · ascendant · bloodline · royal · usurper · lineage · family line · monarch · firstborn · regent · abdication · sovereign · claimant · royal family · accession
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