A hereditary monarchy is the most common style of monarchy and is the form that is used by almost all of the world's existing monarchies.

Under a hereditary monarchy, all the monarchs come from the same family, and the crown is passed down from one generation to the next.

For example, when the king or queen of a hereditary monarchy dies, the crown is usually passed to his or her eldest child. When that child dies it is in turn passed to his or her eldest child, or (if no child exists) a brother, cousin, or other relative. Hereditary monarchies sometimes arrange succession by primogeniture.

See also

• Absolute monarchy
• Elective monarchy