Who are the heirs to the thrones of Europe? Many beginners to royal watching often get confused as to who is who. This article outlines the families most discussed in the Royal Examiner on a daily and weekly basis (this is not an exhaustive list).

Denmark
Monarch
Queen Margrethe II
Heir Apparent
HRH Crown Prince Frederik
Line of Succession
Following Crown Prince Frederik is his young son Prince Christian followed by his daughter Princess Isabella. Prince Frederik also has two children on the way, as his wife Crown Princess Mary is pregnant with twins.

Japan
Monarch
Emperor Akihito
Heir Apparent
HIH Crown Prince Naruhito
Line of Succession
Japan follows male only primogeniture. The Crown Prince has one daughter, Princess Aiko which was cause concern for a number of years, as his brother also only had daughters. In early 2006 the Prime Minister pledged to submit a bill letting women to ascend to the throne, however, later that year it was announced that the Crown Prince’s younger brother was having another child. The legislation was shelved and later that year a boy was born: Prince Hisahito. Therefore next in the line of succession after the Crown Prince is his brother Prince Akishino, followed by his nephew Prince Hisahito.

Monaco
Reigning Prince
Prince Albert II
Heir Presumptive
HRH Princess Caroline of Hanover, Hereditary Princess of Monaco 
Line of Succession
The line of succession follows male-preference primogeniture, modified in 2002 to allow succession through the Prince’s siblings. Women may inherit, but only if there are no males available. Therefore, because he has no children, the current line goes through Albert’s older sister Princess Caroline (who's title Princess of Hanover is from her husband) and her children Andrea, Pierre, and then Charlotte. Albert is engaged to be married and any child he has would take preference over his sister.

The Netherlands
Monarch
Queen Beatrix
Heir Apparent
HRH Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange. He will be the first male since 1890 to sit on the throne of The Netherlands.
Line of Succession
Following Crown Willem-Alexander are his three daughters: TRH Princess Catharina-Amalia, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane.

Norway
Monarch
King Harald V
Heir Apparent
HRH Crown Prince Haakon
Line of Succession
Equal primogeniture (eldest child, regardless of gender) adopted in 1990. Following Prince Haakon are his daughter and son Prince Ingrid-Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. Previous to 1990, females were excluded from the line of succession all together – so while Prince Haakon has an older sister Princess Märtha Louise, she was not born as an heir presumptive.

Spain
Monarch
King Juan Carlos
Heir Apparent
HRH Prince Felipe, Prince of Asturias
Line of Succession
The line of succession follows male-preference primogeniture, even as the government has pledged to amend this to be gender neutral. Following Prince Felipe are currently his two daughters: TRH Infanta Leanor and Infanta Sofia. (In Spain, children of the monarch and the heir are styled “Infanta” which translates to “infant” or “child” of Spain.) Infanta Leanor would be, should her father become King, heir presumptive. If her parents have a son, she would be supplanted in the line of succession by her younger brother as Prince Felipe did when he was born after his two older sisters.

Sweden
Monarch
King Carl XVI Gustaf
Heir Apparent
HRH Crown Princess Victoria, Duchess of Västergötland. She is the first female heir apparent to a European throne.
Line of Succession
Equal primogeniture (eldest child, regardless of gender) adopted in 1979. When adopted Prince Carl Philip, who was less than a year old, was the heir apparent. Upon adoption it was applied retroactively and Princess Victoria became the Crown Princess. Sweden was the first country to adopt equal primogeniture.

United Kingdom
Monarch
Queen Elizabeth II
Heir Apparent
HRH Prince Charles – he has many titles and is often referred to as the Prince of Wales, Duke of Rothesay, or the Duke of Cornwall.
Line of Succession
The line of succession follows male-preference primogeniture. Women may inherit, but only if there are no males available. Therefore the line after Prince Charles is his son Prince William, then Prince Henry, followed by his younger brother Prince Andrew. Andrew’s older sister Anne is tenth in line.