Heir Apparent

The term heir apparent is most often used to refer to someone who is first in the order of succession to a throne and who cannot lose this status by the birth of any other person. It is also used less formally to indicate someone who is an apparent successor to a non-royal position of power, e.g., a political or corporate leader.

Footnote

1 Since Belgium is a popular monarchy, its monarch is called King of the Belgians, not King of Belgium.

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