Heir apparent
From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change
An heir is a person who has inherited something after the original owner's death. Usually a child after their parents' death.
Heir Apparent and Heir Presumptive usually refer to someone who will inherit a royal or noble title.
An heir apparent is someone who will inherit after the death of the present title holder.
An heir presumptive is someone who might inherit, unless someone with a better claim under the rules of succession is born.
For example
- as her eldest son Prince Charles is heir apparent to Queen Elizabeth II.
- as his eldest daughter Princess Elizabeth was heiress presumptive to King George VI, because if the king had had a son he would take over as heir apparent.
- Prince Bertil of Sweden was heir presumptive to his nephew King Carl XVI Gustav. The King's son, Prince Carl Philip became heir apparent when he was born, but because the law of succession changed his sister Princess Victoria became the world's first heiress apparent.
