In the redistribution of land among the Ernestine duchies that followed the death of the last Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg on 11 February 1825, the late Duke's nephew-in-law, Duke Ernst III of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, received Gotha, while he ceded Saalfeld to the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. On 12 November 1826 he thus became Ernst I of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The duchies of Saxe-Coburg and Saxe-Gotha remained in personal union until 1852, when a political union was effected.
This article is a list of those men who were heir-apparent or heir-presumptive to Saxe-Coburg and Gotha from 1826 until the abolition of the monarchy on 14 November 1918.
| Person | Name | Status | Relation | Became Hereditary Prince | Reason | Ceased to be Hereditary Prince | Reason | Next in succession, relation to heir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert, Prince Consort | Heir presumptive | Younger brother | 29 July 1844 | Elder brother acceded to throne | 14 December 1861 | Died | Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, son | |
| Albert Edward, Prince of Wales | Heir presumptive | Nephew | 14 December 1861 | Father died | 19 April 1863 | Renounced rights for himself and descendants | Prince Alfred, brother | |
| Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh | Heir presumptive | Nephew | 19 April 1863 | Elder brother renounced rights for himself and descendants | 22 August 1893 | Acceded to throne as Alfred I | Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, 1863–1874, brother | |
| Prince Alfred of Edinburgh, 1874–1893, son | ||||||||
| Person | Name | Status | Relation | Became Hereditary Prince | Reason | Ceased to be Hereditary Prince | Reason | Next in succession, relation to heir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hereditary Prince Alfred | Heir apparent | Eldest son | 22 August 1893 | Father acceded to throne | 6 February 1899 | Died | Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, uncle | |
| Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn | Heir presumptive | Brother | 6 February 1899 | Nephew died | 15 July 1899 | Renounced rights for himself and descendants | Prince Arthur of Connaught, son | |
| Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Albany | Heir presumptive | Nephew | 15 July 1899 | Uncle renounced rights for himself and descendants | 30 July 1900 | Acceded to throne as Charles Edward I | Carlos I of Portugal, 3rd cousin | |
| Person | Name | Status | Relation | Became Hereditary Prince | Reason | Ceased to be Hereditary Prince | Reason | Next in succession, relation to heir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos I of Portugal | Heir presumptive | 3rd Cousin | 30 July 1900 | 3rd cousin acceded to throne | 2 August 1906 | Son born to duke | Luís Filipe, Prince Royal of Portugal, son | |
| Hereditary Prince Johann Leopold | Heir apparent | Eldest son | 2 August 1906 | Born | 14 November 1918 | Monarchy abolished | Carlos I of Portugal, 1906–1908, 3rd cousin -1 | |
| Luís Filipe, Prince Royal of Portugal, 1908, 4th cousin | ||||||||
| Manuel II of Portugal, 1908–1909, 4th cousin | ||||||||
| Prince Hubertus, 1909–1918, brother | ||||||||