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ENGLISH KINGS AND QUEENS

A useful mnemonic rhyme for memorising the order of succession to the English Throne, from William the Conquerer (in 1066) right through to the present day:

Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee,
Harry, Dick, John, Harry Three,
One-To-Three Neds, Richard Two,
Harrys Four-Five-Six... then who?

Edwards Four-Five, Dick the Bad,
Harrys (twain), Ned Six (the lad),
Mary, Bessie, James you ken,
Then Charlie, Charlie, James again...

Will & Mary, Anne of gloria,
Georges ( 4! ), Will Four, Victoria,
Edward Seven next, and then
Came George the Fifth in 1910...

Ned the Eighth soon abdicated,
So George Six was coronated,
Then Number Two Elizabeth...
And that's all, folks (until her death...)!!

And if the present line of succession holds, a substitute last-line will doubtless eventually become:

Charles Three (and now I'm out of breath...!)

The origin of the rhyme is unknown but it may be about a century old as different endings seem to have been extended to cover the last few monarchs. One shortened alternative sometimes quoted for the end of the rhyme after Victoria is:

Edward Seven, Georgie Five,
Edward, George, and Liz (alive).

Translated into names, the order of succession is:

WILLIAM I, WILLIAM II, HENRY I, STEPHEN,
HENRY II, RICHARD I, JOHN, HENRY III,
EDWARD I, EDWARD II, EDWARD III, RICHARD II,
HENRY IV, HENRY V, HENRY VI,

EDWARD IV, EDWARD V, RICHARD III,
HENRY VII, HENRY VIII, EDWARD VI,
MARY I, ELIZABETH, JAMES I (& VI of Scotland),
CHARLES I, CHARLES II, JAMES II,

WILLIAM III & MARY II, ANNE,
GEORGE I, GEORGE II, GEORGE III, GEORGE IV, WILLIAM IV, VICTORIA,
EDWARD VII, GEORGE V,
EDWARD VIII, GEORGE VI,
ELIZABETH II

A separate page contains mnemonics for English royal dynasties.

 

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