Lines of succession for Royal Dukes, Dukes and Marquesses

[bx...@yahoo.com]

Yesterday, Lord Ralph KERR succeeded his brother as the Marquess of Lothian.  With it, the new Marquess' eldest son, John,  received the courtesy title "Earl of Ancram."   I noted in my previous post, that the new ha was unmarried. 

 It made me wonder  how many others,  either as heirs apparent or presumptive, or their immediate heirs (i.e. grandsons or sons of HP)  were of age (my cut off was 25, or born in 1999), and had not yet produced an heir.  

Now, in fairness, some of these men are married with children (just not daughters), some are married,  and some are engaged. They may or may not produce heirs.  In most cases, there are still males in the line of succession, although not from them.  In other cases, like Reading, there are no others in the line of succession.

Here is the list I came up with:

ROYAL DUKE

Kent-- Grandson-- Baron Downpatrick (b. 1988)

DUKES

Atholl--Son-- Marquess of Tullibardine (b. 1985)

Fife-- Son-- Earl of Southesk (b. 1989)

Leinster--HP--Nephew-- Edward (b. 1988)

Marlborough-- Son- - Marquess of Blandford (b. 1992)

Montrose-- Son-- Marquess of Graham (b. 1973)

Norfolk-- Son-- Earl of Arundel and Surrey (b. 1987)

Northumberland-- Son-- Earl Percy (b. 1984)

Richmond and Gordon-- Son-- Earl of March and Kinrara (b. 1994)

Rutland-- Son-- Marquis of Granby (b. 1999)

St Albans-- Grandson-- Lord Vere of Hanworth (b. 1995)

Somerset-- Son-- Lord Seymour (b. 1992)

Sutherland--Son-- Marquess of Stafford (b. 1975)

Westminster-- Son of HP-- Lord Grey de Wilton (b. 1959)

MARQUESSES

Ailesbury-- Son-- Earl of Cardigan (b. 1982)

Ailsa-- Son-- Earl of Cassillis (b. 1995)

Camden-- Son-- Earl of Brecknock (b. 1965)

Downshire-- Son-- Earl of Hillsborough (b. 1996)

Exeter-- Son-- Lord Burghley (b. 1970)

Headfort-- Son-- Earl of Bective (b. 1989)

Lothian-- Son-- Earl of Ancram (b. 1988)

Milford Haven-- Son-- Earl of Medina (b. 1991)

Normanby-- Son-- Earl of Mulgrave (b. 1994)

Queensberry-- Son-- Viscount Drumlanrig (b. 1967)

Reading-- Son-- Viscount Erleigh (b. 1986)

Salisbury-- Son-- Viscount Cranborne (b. 1970)

Sligo-- Son-- Earl of Altamont (b. 1988)

Tweeddale-- HP-- Brother-- Alistair (b. 1955)

Waterford-- Son-- Earl of Tyrone (b. 1987)

Winchester-- Son-- Earl of Wiltshire (b. 1999)

Zetland-- Son-- Earl of Ronaldshay (b. 1965)

Brooke

[malcolm davies]

Brooke,

             Whilst what you have said is correct,the position is alternatively worse or better than the raw facts.

  The bad news: Edward Fitgerald now has 2 daughters and no sons.The chance of a son being born are diminishing.Both Stafford and his brother have daughters(4 & 3) respectively.It seems unlikely they will have further children. Brecknock is 60 next year  and unmarried, so it is unlikely he will produce an heir.In each case the title will become extinct if no male heirs are born.

 The good news is that there are a reasonable number of male heirs in the case of the others except Westminster & Sligo so the only titles where extinction is probable or possible are Leinster ,Sutherland,Westminster,Camden,Sligo and Winchester.Hopefully a male heir to Westminster may appear next year.

[bx...@yahoo.com]

Hi malcolm.

My list was really just born out of curiosity, not any deep analysis.

For me, on a personal level, I just appreciate the father to son successions, and the use of courtesy titles (which you don't get with heirs presumptive)

Ultimately, as you pointed out, except in a rare case or two , most of these titles have male heirs, so someone will succeed.  And then, at that point, we may see a new father to son succession.

Brooke

[Jonathan]

Westminster should really be listed under "Marquesses" as the HP and his heir are to the Marquessate only, as you are no doubt aware.

[bx...@yahoo.com]

You're absolutely right, Jonathan.  Thanks .

Brooke