WOMEN ROYALTY OF THE WORLD

HEIRESSES OF THRONES

By Martin Christansin

Most of the women listed here were considered the most likely heiresses to the thrones until the birth of their brothers or other male relatives. Some of the other heiresses died before they were able to succeed to the throne.

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1. 1947-65 Second-in-Line H.R.H. Sofia of Greece. The Daughter of King Paul and Queen Frederikka von Hannover, she was second-in-line until the birth of her niece, Princess Alexia. In 1962 she married to Juan Carlos I of Spain, who was named heir to the throne in 1969 and succeeded as king in 1976. (b. 1938-)

2. 1947-64 Second-in-Line H.R.H. Princess Irene van Oranje-Nassau of The Netherlands. The daughter of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard zu Lippe-Biesterfeld, she was second in line after her sister, Princess Beatrix, Until 1964 when she married Carlos de Bourbon-Parma without asking for the permission of the parliament and thereby lost her succession-rights. Mother of four children. (b. 1940-)

3.1950-60 Second-in-Line H.R.H. Princess Anne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. She was second in line until the birth of her brothers. 

4.1953-67 Second-in-Line H.R.H.Princess Benedikte of Denmark 1967- In-line for the Throne. She became a member of the Council of State by the age of 21 and has acted as regent (Rigsforstander) first in the place of her father and then for her sister, Queen Margrethe 2, whey they were abroad - alternating with Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim of Denmark, since they came of age. Princess Benedikte is married to H.H. Prince Richard zu Sayn- Wittgenstein-Berleburg and lives in Germany. Mother of 3 children. (b. 1944-)

5. 1953-64 Third-in-line H.R.H. Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark. She was in line for the throne until she married King Konstantine II of Greece. Mother of five children. (b. 1946-)

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6. 1953- In-line for the Throne H.H. Princess Elisabeth of Danmark. The daughter of Hereditary Prince Knud and Princess Caroline-Mathilde, she has in line for the throne after the change of the succession-law in 1953. Her two younger brothers married commoners, lost their succession-rights and and were given the title  of Count af Rosenborg. Princess Elisabeth worked 40 years as a clerk and principal clerk in the Foreign Ministry and was posted abroad a number of times.

7. 1957-58 and 2002- Heiress Presumptive H.S.H. Caroline of Monaco.The firstborn daughter of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly she was first-in-line until the birth of her brother, prince Albert. Until the constitutional changes in 2002 she was possible heir, but since 2002 she has been second in-line-for the succession. She is married to Ernst-August of Hannover and mother of three children. (b. 1957)

8. 1965- In line for the Throne H.S.H. Princess Stephanie of Monaco. Her two oldest children, Louis Ducruet (b. 1992) and Pauline Ducruet (b. 1994). were legitimized by her marriage to her father, Daniel Ducruet in 1995. Her youngest daughter, Charlotte Grimaldi is (b. ...). Stephanie is (b.1965).

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11. 1965-67 H.R.H. Crown Princess Alexia of Greece, 1967-69 Second-in-Line (Princess). The Daughter of King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Denmark, she was first in line for the throne until the birth of her brother, Crown Prince Paulos and then second-in-line until the birth of her second brother, Nicolaos two years later. She works as a group therapist for children at the Fundacion Catalana of Down's Syndrome in Barcelona and is married to Carlos Morales Quintana. Mother of one daughter Arrietta Morales y Grecia (b. 2001). Princes Alexia of Greece and Denmark (b. 1965-).

12.1975- Second-in-line H. R.H. Infanta Doña Elena de Borbon y Grecia of Spain. After the reintroduction of the monarchy she is seond-in-line to the throne after her younger brother, Don Felipe, the Prince of Asturias. She was created Duchess de Lugo before she married Don Jaime de Marichalar y Sáenz de Tejada (1963-) in 1995 and is the mother of Don Felipe-Juan de Marichalar y de Borbón (b. 1998-) and  Doña Victoria Federica (b. 2000-)  (b. 1963-).

13. 1975-98 Third-in-line H.R.H. Infanta Doña Cristina de Borbon y Grecia of Spain. After the reintroduction of the monarchy she is third-in-line to the throne after her younger brother, Don Felipe, and older sister, Dona Elena. Christina was created Duchess of Palma de Mallorca on the  day of her marriage to Don Iñaki Urdangarín y Liebaertand (b. 1968-) and mother of three sons. (b. 1965-).

14. 1977-  Possible Heiress H.R.H. the Royal Princess, Somdetceh Phra Debaratanarajasuda Chao Fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand (5.12-). In 1977 the Thai constitution was changed to allow for possible female succession. She is the Second daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej Rama IX, and has acted as regent on several occasions - in 1997 for example she averted a military coup d’etat during her fathers illness. She is one of his closest advisors. In 1996 she was appointed General, Admiral and Air Chief-Marshal. She is unmarried. (b. 1955-).

15. 1980- H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. In 1980 absolute premogeniture was introduced and she became the heiress. She is also Duchess of Västergötland. On her 18th birthday the 14th of June the crown princess swore the oath on the constitution and was inaugurated as Deputy Head of State. (b. 1979-).

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16. 1982- Third-in-line H.R.H Princess Madeleine of Sweden. Also Duchess of Hälsingland och Gästrikland. She is the youngest child of  King Carl XVI Gustaf, and she acts as regent in the absence of her elder sister and brother, Prince Carl Phillip (b. 1979). She is born (b. 1982-).

17. 1991-2004 Second-in-Line Princess Märta Louise of Norway, 2004- Third-in-line. In 1991 Norway introduced absolute premogeniture, until then women were excluded from the Norwegian succession, but it was stipulated that the provision would only come in force for the following generations, so Märtha Louise became second in line after her younger brother, Crown Prince Håkon until the birth of his daughter in 2004. Märtha Louise married Ari Behn in 2002 and the following year she gave birth to her daughter, Maud. (b. 1971-).

18. 1991-2001 Second-in-Line H.R.H. Princes Astrid of Belgium, 2001- Third-in-Line. After the Succession-Law was changed in 1991 to allow female succession, she became second-in-line after her oldest brother, Prince Filip and her four children took precedence before her younger brother Laurents.

19. 1996-98 Second-In-Line H.R.H. Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece, 1998- Third-in-Line. The oldest child of Crown Prince Pavlos, she was second-in-line until the birth of her brother, Constantine Alexios in 1998. (b. 1996-).

20. 1997- Heiress to the Headship of the Royal House H.R.H. Princess Margarita of Romania. In 1997 her father, King Michael named her heir to the headship of the Royal House of Romania, but he was not able to name her Heir to the Throne, since the Monarchial Constitution only allows male succession. She married Radu Duda, who was created Prince von Hohenzollern-Veringen (b. 1960-). She (1949-). -Martin Christansin.

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