The throne of England often did not pass smoothly from parent to child. Lack of heirs, civil wars, murders and invasions affected the inheritance in ways that a simple list of kings does not show.
- Egbert?, King of Wessex 802-839, First king of England (829-839)
- his son, Ethelwulf? 839-856
- his son, Ethelbald? 856-860
- his brother, Ethelbert? 860-866
- his brother, Ethelred? 866-871
- his brother, Alfred the Great 871-899
- his son, [Edward the Elder]? 899-924
- his son, Athelstan? 924-939
- his brother, [Edmund I]? 939-946
- his brother, Edred? 946-955
- Edmund I's son, Edwy? 955-959
- his brother, Edgar? 959-975
- his son, [Edward II]? the Martyr 975-979
- his brother, [Ethelred II the Unready]? 979-1013 and 1014-1016
- unrelated, Sweyn? 1013-1014
- Ethelred II's son, [Edmund II Ironside]? Apr-Nov 1016
- Sweyn's son, [Canute the Great]? 1016-1035
- his son, [Harold Harefoot]? 1037-1040
- his halfbrother, Hardicanute? 1040-1042
- Ethelred II's son, [Edward the Confessor]? 1042-1066
- his brother-in-law, [Harold II]? Jan-Oct 1066
- his half-greatnephew, [Edgar Atheling]? Oct-Dec 1066
- maternal 1st cousin twice removed of Edward, William the Conqueror 1066-1087
- his son, [William II Rufus]? 1087-1100
- his brother, [Henry I Beauclerc]? 1100-1135
- his nephew, Stephen 1135-1154
- his first cousin once removed, [Henry II Curtmantle]? 1154-1189
- his son, [Richard Coeur de Lion]? 1189-1199
- his brother, [John Lackland]? 1199-1216
- his son, [Henry III]? 1216-1272
- his son, [Edward I Longshanks]? 1272-1307
- his son, [Edward II]? 1307-1327
- his son, [Edward III]? 1327-1377
- his grandson, [Richard II]? 1377-1399
- his cousin, Henry IV 1399-1413
- his son, [Henry V]? 1413-1422
- his son, [Henry VI]? 1422-1461 and 1470-1471
- his third cousin twice removed, [Edward IV]? 1461-1470 and 1471-1483
- his son, [Edward V]? Apr-June 1483
- his uncle, Richard III 1483-1485
- his nephew, Henry VII 1485-1509
- his son, Henry VIII 1509-1547
- his son, [Edward VI]? 1547-1553
- his first cousin once removed, Jane? 1553
- Edward VI's half-sister, Mary I 1553-1558
- her half-sister, Elizabeth I 1558-1603
In 1603 the [Union of the Crowns]? took place, combining the royal lines of England and Scotland. King James VI of Scotland became James I of England. Since then, a single monarchy has ruled the United Kingdom
- her first cousin twice removed, James I 1603-1625
- his son, Charles I 1625-1649
- his son, [Charles II]? 1649-1685
- his brother, [James II]? 1685-1689
- Charles II's daughter [Mary II]? & her husband and cousin, William III jointly 1689-1694
- William III ruled alone 1694-1702
- Mary's sister, Anne? 1702-1714
- her second cousin, [George I]? 1714-1727
- his son, [George II]? 1727-1760
- his son, [George III]? 1760-1820
- his son, [George IV]? 1820-1830
- his brother, [William IV]? 1830-1837
- his niece, Victoria 1837-1901
- her son, [Edward VII]? 1901-1910
- his son, [George V]? 1910-1936
- his son, [Edward VIII]? Jan-Dec 1936
- his brother, [George VI]] 1936-1952
- his daughter, Elizabeth II 1952-