History of the English line of succession to the French succession. On the day of Henry IV's death, 20 March 1413, the line of succession to the English throne following agnatic primogeniture was: Upon his death, the throne passed smoothly to the first person in line, who became Henry V. On the day of Henry V's death, 31 August 1422, the line of succession following agnatic primogeniture was: Upon his death, the throne passed smoothly to the first person in line, who became Henry VI. On the day of Henry VI's first deposition, 4 March 1461, the line of succession following agnatic primogeniture was; However, during the
Succession to the British throne made provision for a change in the line of succession had a child been born to William IV after his death, but this event did not come about. In 1936 Edward VIII abdicated 11 months after he succeeded to the throne immediately on his father's death. Edward was proclaimed King in January 1936, and opened (for the only time) Parliament in November 1936. Edward VIII had desired to marry Wallis Simpson, a divorcee, but the Church of England, of which the British Sovereign is Supreme Governor, would not authorize the marriage of divorcees. Consequently, Parliament passed His Majesty's Declaration of