What is the current status of the Royal House of Stuart (Stewart), royal family of Ireland/Scotland?

Question

Are there any direct survivors left? Who are they? I know there are indirect descendants.

Answer 1

A History Lesson.

Elizabeth I's heir was James VI of Scotland who was her first cousin, and when she died childless in 1603 he became James VI of Scotland and I of England. His ascension to the throne united the two warring countries under a single royal house.

Religion at this time in the now united countries was a key factor in many conflicts and skirmishes. James VI and I was a Protestant, however he tolerated Catholics which angered many. James VI and I believed in the Divine Right Of Kings, a distinct Catholic belief in that they were placed on the throne by God. His second son and successor Charles I inherited this belief. He too was liberal towards Catholics and even married a Catholic woman which was taboo in those days. Following the English Civil War, and Charles I's beheading, there was a time of the "Commonwealth" under the directorate of Oliver Cromwell. The country returned the monarchy in 1660 and returned the throne to Charles I's son, Charles II. Charles II died childless in 1685.

Now for the interesting part.

Charles II was a Protestant, however his younger brother and heir - James, had declared himself to be Catholic in the early 1660s. Parliament and the country in general did not want to have a Catholic King of England, and attempted to remove him from the order of succession which ultimately failed. When James II came to the throne, he attempted to return the country back the Catholicism which caused conflict with the Church and Parliament. The birth of a son in 1688 was all that the country needed to rise up against him and force him into exile which he did the same year.

Now for the really interesting bit.

Technically, James II's heir was his son, but as he was Catholic he would not be accepted as King, so the crown went to James II's daughter Mary (a non-Catholic). The country was ruled by Mary and her husband William. After a childless marriage, the crown transferred to Mary's sister Anne. An Act Of Parliament in 1701 ensured that no Catholic successor would ever become the monarch. Anne too died without an heir in 1714. (it all seems to be childless in this house).

Now the country faced an uncertain decision. Revert the country back to Catholicism in the form of James II's son or to hand over the country to James VI and I's greatgrandson through his eldest daughter - a German noble. The country took the plunge as thus the Stuart line came to an end in the form of Anne and the beginnings of a new house came in the form of the House Of Hanover (where the current Queen is decended from). Because religion was such an issue and still is when it comes to ascension of the throne, the country would rather put their trust in someone who had never come to England before and couldnt speak a word of English rather than turn it over to the Catholics.

James II's son wasnt done however, and the belief that he should have inherited instead of William and Mary became "jacobitism". Several uprisings later, they still hadnt reclaimed the throne, but the line still continues to this day and that branch still privately claim the throne, although its unlikely they will do anything to reclaim it publicly.

The Jacobite Line:
James II
his son, James (III);
James III's son, Charles (Bonnie Prince Charlie)
James III's brother, Henry

(after Henry's death, there were no direct heirs, but heres the line that would have continued after the extinction of James II's line)

Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia (through Charles I's youngest daughter)
Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia
Maria Beatrice, Princess of Sardinia
Francis V of Habsburg-Este
Maria Theresia, Princess of Modena
Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria
Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria
Franz, Duke of Bavaria

Franz, Duke of Bavaria is considered by Jacobites to be the surviving heir to James II and is therefore should be the person on the throne today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz%2C_Duke_of_Bavaria
http://www.jacobite.ca/gentree.htm

Answer 2

House Of Stewart

Answer 3

Well they are not a royal House right now. I believe there are some survivors but they are only a noble house not a royal one. Queen Elizabeth is the royal house of both england and scotland

Answer 4

Actually, Princess Diana was descended from the House of Stewart, which means William and Harry are, too.