Why did Anne of Great Britain succeed William III of England?
Inheritance under the Bill of Rights order of succession. Sister-in-law and first cousin — Anne was Mary II's sister and, like William, a grandchild of Charles I.
The short answer
William III died on 8 March 1702 without children. The Bill of Rights of 1689 had placed Anne next after William and Mary's line, so she succeeded at once. The Act of Settlement of 1701 had already fixed who would follow her: the Protestant Sophia of Hanover and her heirs.
Who they were
Key points
- Next in the statutory order set in 1689
- Her only surviving child, William, Duke of Gloucester, had died in 1700
- Act of Settlement 1701 already named the Hanoverian line after her
Related family connections
- How were Anne of Great Britain and George I of Great Britain related?
Second cousins - How were William III of England and Mary II of England related?
First cousins — and husband and wife
Sources
- Anne, Queen of Great BritainAccession of 1702
- Act of Settlement 1700The Hanoverian succession fixed by statute
Explanation written and reviewed by HistorIQly · reviewed 2026-09-18. Part of the House of Stuart family tree. Background on Wikipedia.
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