How to Become the British Monarch

TL;DR

The rules of succession for the British Monarch have evolved over time, with key factors including religion, legitimacy, gender, and birth order.

Transcript

How to become the British Monarch: Historically, the crown sat upon your head mostly because you had the biggest army. When you died usually your eldest son kept control over that army and so the crown relocated to his head, though, of course, someone with a bigger army could change the political landscape quite abruptly. As time marched on and the... Read More

Key Insights

• ✊ Historically, the British Monarch's succession was determined by military power and the transfer of power to the eldest son.
• 👶 The rules of succession prohibit Catholics and illegitimate children from inheriting the crown.
• 🗯️ Spouses of Monarchs have no right to the throne and are considered Royal Consorts.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Male primogeniture was the dominant rule until 2013 when the preference for male heirs was removed.
• 🫅 Queens were rare in the British Monarchy, with daughters only inheriting the crown under specific circumstances.
• 🫥 The crown has a contingency plan to find a living heir if the direct line of succession ends.
• 😉 Most Europeans are distantly related to the first king of England due to the mathematics of human reproduction.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the size of an army influence the British Monarch's succession?

In the past, the British Monarch's succession was often determined by the size of their army. The person with the biggest army could change the political landscape, leading to a transfer of power.

Q: Why did the rules of succession prohibit Catholics from becoming the British Monarch?

The rules were initially established in 1701, motivated by the history of conflicts between Catholics and Protestants. The British Monarch, being the head of the Church of England, had to be Protestant, excluding Catholics from the succession.

Q: What role do spouses play in the British Monarchy?

Spouses of Monarchs, known as Royal Consorts, do not have a right to the throne. While they may be called 'prince' or 'queen', they are viewed as necessary for producing the real heir and do not inherit the crown.

Q: How were queens able to come to power if male primogeniture was the rule?

Queens were a rare occurrence in the British Monarchy due to the preference for male heirs. However, if a daughter was the only child of the monarch or the eldest without competing brothers, she could inherit the crown.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Historically, the British Monarch was determined by the size of their army and the transfer of power to their eldest son.

• In 1701, Parliament established rules for succession, including the requirement to be Protestant, legitimate, and male primogeniture.

• Changes were made in 2013, removing the male preference and focusing solely on birth order.