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This is a list of the regnal numerals which may in time be used by future British monarchs.

Contents 1 Background 2 List 2.1 Names which have been used multiple times 2.2 Names which have been used once in both England and Scotland 2.3 Names which have been used once in Scotland but not (post-1066) in England 2.4 Names which have been used once in England (post-1066) but not in Scotland 3 See also 4 Notes

During the reign of the current monarch of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II, there was some controversy in Scotland over whether it was appropriate to refer to her as "the Second of that name" since no Elizabeth had previously reigned in Scotland. Most supporters of Scottish independence, and many other pro-union Scots, believed the title to be an example of establishment bias favouring England. But affirming the Queen's intention to continue as "the Second" throughout the UK, a policy was announced^[1] that all future UK monarchs would be numbered uniformly according either to an English or Scottish reckoning, whichever was higher. (The policy announcement, coming from the UK government, naturally could not apply to the various other Commonwealth Realms which share a monarch with the UK; but since the current queen is known as "Elizabeth II" in all those realms as well, the convention appears to be accepted universally.)

Accordingly, when assigning a regnal numeral to any future UK monarch, it will be necessary to consult the list of monarchs of Scotland and the list of monarchs of England, as well as the list of British monarchs for monarchs since the 1707 Acts of Union. (Checking back at all regnal names since that event, incidentally, it will be found that none of them violates this policy.)

It should be noted that the regnal name of a new monarch is a matter of personal choice when he or she ascends the throne. The first forename of current queen's father, for example, was "Albert" and he was known as "Bertie"; yet he reigned as George VI. So far, however, no UK monarch has chosen to reign under a name which was not one of his or her various baptismal names.

For the purposes of this table, it is assumed that the reckoning of English monarchs started with a blank slate from the Norman Conquest of 1066. This approach is undeniably conventional with respect to the name "Edward": although there had been three Edwards (Edward the Elder, Edward the Martyr, and Edward the Confessor) prior to the Conquest, the thirteenth-century Plantagenet is always referred to as Edward I, and other Edwards are always reckoned from him. However, while the Edward precedent is by now set in stone, there is a possibility that a future Harold or Alfred might choose to number himself "III" or "II", respectively, to take into account pre-Norman kings of those names.

Name	Scottish uses to 1707	English uses to 1707	Greater usage by kingdom	UK uses since 1707 union	regnal numeral when next used
Edward	1	6	E	2	IX
Henry	0	8	E	0	IX
James	7	2	S	0	VIII
George	0	0	=	6	VII
Malcolm	4	0	S	0	V
William	2	3	E	1	V
Alexander	3	0	S	0	IV
Constantine	3	0	S	0	IV
Donald	3	0	S	0	IV
Kenneth	3	0	S	0	IV
Richard	0	3	E	0	IV
Robert	3	0	S	0	IV
Charles	2	2	=	0	III
David	2	0	S	0	III
Duncan	2	0	S	0	III
Elizabeth	0	1	E	1	III
Mary	2	2	=	0	III

• Anne (same person: Anne, Queen of pre-unification England and Scotland, and later of Great Britain)
• John (different people: John of England and John Balliol)
• Victoria (same person: Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland)

• Áed
• Amlaíb
• Cuilén
• Dub
• Edgar*
• Eochaid
• Giric
• Indulf
• Lulach
• Macbeth
• Margaret

*Note: prior to the Norman Conquest of 1066, England did have one Edgar (two if the uncrowned reign of Edgar Ætheling in 1066 is counted, as sometimes is the case).

• Stephen
• Mathilda: Mathilda (often known as "Empress Mathilda" or "Maud"), daughter of Henry I of England, was Henry's designated heir; but the English Barons declared her cousin Stephen to be King instead, leading to the civil war known as the Anarchy. She claimed the kingdom 1135-1153, for parts of which time she was in effective control. Lists of English monarchs differ as to whether she is included.

Doubtful cases:

• Jane: Lady Jane Grey was designated by Edward VI of England as his heir; she was proclaimed queen and is sometimes considered to have reigned for nine days in 1553. She is not usually included in lists of English monarchs.

Furthermore, Prince Louis, later King Louis VIII of France was proclaimed King of England in London in May 1216 during the First Barons' War against the unpopular King John and claimed the kingdom 1215–1216. However he later signed the Treaty of Lambeth, the effect of which was that he agreed he had never been the legitimate king of England, the proclamation notwithstanding.

An even more doubtful case is that of Philip II of Spain, who was styled "King of England" during his marriage to Mary I of England, making him the only King consort in English history. A queen consort, however, is never considered in reckoning regnal numerals and the same may safely be assumed for a king consort.

• English monarchs family tree
• Scottish monarchs' family tree
• List of the monarchs of the Kingdom of England
• List of monarchs of Scotland
• List of monarchs in the British Isles
• Direct descent from William I to Elizabeth II

1. ^ Winston Churchill, House of Commons Official Report cols 199-201, 15 April 1953