Thirteen monarchs have ruled Great Britain since the 1707 political union of the kingdoms.

Cultures · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: While the British monarchy feels ancient, the official title of British monarch only dates back to 1707. Before then, England and Scotland shared a ruler in a personal union, but remained distinct states. This shift created a unique lineage of ten kings and three queens who have navigated centuries of change.

The transition to a unified British monarchy was a complex legislative process. Although James VI and I styled himself 'King of Great Britain' as early as 1604, the English Parliament resisted this official designation for over a century. It was not until the Treaty of Union was passed by both the Scottish and English parliaments in early 1707 that the Kingdom of Great Britain was formally established. Queen Anne, who had ascended the separate thrones in 1702, became the first monarch of this new unified state.

The succession was far from guaranteed. Anne faced significant dynastic pressure, enduring eighteen pregnancies without an heir who survived to adulthood. Before the union, England and Scotland held conflicting succession laws; England had passed the Act of Settlement in 1701 to exclude Catholics, while Scotland’s 1704 Act of Security allowed its parliament to choose a different successor. Upon union, the English succession was adopted, leading to the accession of George I in 1714. This German-born monarch was the first of two to be born outside the United Kingdom, the other being his son, George II.

The role of the monarch has evolved significantly beyond the British Isles. For over a century, monarchs from George I to William IV also served as Electors or Kings of Hanover, a separate kingdom governed by Salic law. This link ended in 1837 when Victoria ascended the British throne but was barred from Hanoverian succession. Later, the title of Empress of India was held by monarchs from 1876 until 1948. Today, the monarch’s reach is defined by the ceremonial role as Head of the Commonwealth, while ancient secondary titles like Duke of Lancaster and Duke of Normandy remain merged into the Crown.

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