Heir

An heir is a person in line to receive an inheritance. It is most often used in relation to a person next in line to become king.

The heir-apparent refers to the first in line for the throne in cases where nobody else may be born to supersede that claim. In cases where the person currently next in line may yet be superseded, such as when the current monarch has not yet had children, the heir is referred to as the heir presumptive.

In France the heir to the French crown was known as the dauphin.