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Salon
Salon
Lifestyle
Samantha Arrowsmith

Royal heirs who died before they reigned

Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales, the only child of the marriage between George IV and Caroline of Brunswick The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images

For Henry VI, the wait to become King of England only lasted nine months, while for Edward VII it was nearly six decades. But not every hopeful monarch got their chance to ascend the throne, no matter how long they waited. Here are 10 of the least fortunate royal heirs in English history — those who waited in vain and died before they could reign.

1. William Ætheling (1103-1120)

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