List of heirs to the Swedish throne explained

This page is a list of heirs to the Swedish throne. The list includes all individuals who were considered to inherit the throne of the Kingdom of Sweden, either as heir apparent or as heir presumptive, since the accession of the House of Holstein-Gottorp on 25 March 1751. Those who succeeded as King of Sweden are shown in bold in the table below.

In 1809 a coup d'état against King Gustav IV replaced him with his uncle Karl XIII. As the new king was childless, he and the ruling government arranged for the adoption of an heir to succeed him.

House of Holstein-Gottorp (1751–1818)
MonarchHeirRelationship
to monarch
Became heir
(Date; Reason)
Ceased to be heir
(Date; Reason)
Next in line of succession
Adolf FredrikCrown Prince GustavSon25 March 1751
Father became king
12 February 1771
Father died, became king
Prince Karl, brother
Gustav IIIPrince Karl, Duke of SödermanlandBrother12 February 1771
Brother became king
1 November 1778
Son born to king
Prince Fredrik Adolf, Duke of Östergötland, brother
Crown Prince Gustav AdolfSon1 November 1778
Born
29 March 1792
Father died, became king
Prince Karl Gustav, Duke of Småland, 1782–1783, brother
Prince Karl, Duke of Södermanland, 1783–1792, uncle
Prince Karl, Duke of SödermanlandUncle29 March 1792
Nephew became king
9 November 1799
Son born to king
Prince Fredrik Adolf, Duke of Östergötland, 1792–1798, brother
Prince Karl Adolf, Duke of Värmland, 1798, son
Prince Fredrik Adolf, Duke of Östergötland, 1798–1799, brother
Crown Prince GustavSon9 November 1799
Born
29 March 1809
Father abdicated, excluded from succession
Prince Karl Gustav, Grand Duke of Finland, 1802–1805, brother
Prince Karl, Duke of Södermanland, 1805–1809, granduncle
Karl XIIINone, 1809–1810
Crown Prince Karl AugustAdopted son24 January 1810
Elected as heir
28 May 1810
Died
None
None, 1810
Crown Prince Karl JohanAdopted son21 August 1810
Elected as heir
5 February 1818
Adoptive father died, became king
Prince Oscar, Duke of Södermanland, son
House of Bernadotte (1818–present)
MonarchHeirRelationship
to monarch
Became heir
(Date; Reason)
Ceased to be heir
(Date; Reason)
Next in line of succession
Karl XIV JohanCrown Prince Oscar, Duke of SödermanlandSon5 February 1818
Father became king
8 March 1844
Father died, became king
None, 1818–1826
Prince Karl, Duke of Skåne, 1826–1844, son
Oscar ICrown Prince Karl, Duke of SkåneSon8 March 1844
Father became king
8 July 1859
Father died, became king
Prince Gustaf, Duke of Uppland, 1844–1852, brother
Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland, 1852, brother
Prince Carl Oscar, Duke of Södermanland, 1852–1854, son
Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland, 1854–1859, brother
Karl XVPrince Oscar, Duke of ÖstergötlandBrother8 July 1859
Brother became king
13 September 1872
Brother died, became king
Prince Gustaf, Duke of Värmland, son
Oscar IICrown Prince Gustaf, Duke of VärmlandSon13 September 1872
Father became king
8 December 1907
Father died, became king
Prince Oscar, Duke of Gotland, 1872–1882, brother
Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Skåne, 1882–1907, son
Gustaf VCrown Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of SkåneSon8 December 1907
Father became king
29 October 1950
Father died, became king
Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten, 1907–1947, son
Prince Carl Gustaf, Duke of Jämtland, 1947–1950, grandson
Gustaf VI AdolfCrown Prince Carl Gustaf, Duke of JämtlandGrandson29 October 1950
Grandfather became king
15 September 1973
Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland, uncle
Prince Bertil, Duke of HallandUncle15 September 1973
Nephew became king
13 May 1979
Son born to king
None
Crown Prince Carl Philip, Duke of VärmlandSon13 May 1979
Born
1 January 1980
Law of succession changed
Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland, granduncle
Daughter1 January 1980
IncumbentPrince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland, 1980–2012, brother

See also