In July 1543, Parliament passed the third Act of Succession of Henry VIII's reign. This act overrode the first Act of Succession (1534), which had vested the succession of the English Crown to the children of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, and the second Act of Succession (1536), which had made the children of Jane Seymour first in line for the throne, and both princesses Mary and Elizabeth illegitimate. The act, which gained Royal Assent at the close of Parliament in February 1544, established the new line of succession as Edward, then any children he were to have, then a son Henry VIII might have with Katherine Parr, that potential son's possible children, then children from marriages after Queen Katherine, if any, then Mary, Mary's children, if any, then Elizabeth. Credit for Mary and Elizabeth's restoration to the line of succession is often given to Queen Katherine.


Abridged Text of the Third Act of Succession, 1544

• First Act of Succession, 1534
  
• Second Act of Succession, 1536
  

	to King Henry VIII
	to Katherine Parr