If you think your family tree is complicated, wait until you read about the British Royal family tree! So many royals, inbreeding, throne politics and more are sure to get your head spinning. But don’t you fret! This article is just for you! Get ready to simplify the Royal Family Tree England history!
The newest addition to this huge Royal family is the son of Duke and Duchess of Sussex – Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. It is evident through his name that he belongs to the House of Windsor. In fact, all the current Royals of England belong to this house. However, did you know that it was not always like that?
Let us go way back into the past of this complicated family!
The House of Windsor as we now know it, is only 103 years old. The first monarch from this house King George V, the grandson of Queen Victoria. However, when the inherited the throne from his father in 1910 he was a member of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, as was his father King Edward VII.
Then why was there a change in House? Was it because the former was too long a name? Well, maybe…
But the more prominent reason is the World War 1. As we know, Britain and Germany were major enemies in this war, and by 1917, their relations reached rock bottom. The catch here is that the husband of Queen Victoria was German. So, as an attempt to fuel anti-German sentiments, King George V made the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha into the House of Windsor. And voila! Now a century later we have mini Windsors running about in Windsor Castle.
Ok now back to the Royal Family Tree.
King George V married Mary of Teck. Together they had six children in the span of 1894-1905. The youngest of these six, Prince John, died at a very young age due to epilepsy in 1919.
As per Royal customs, the eldest child in the family would inherit the throne once the preceding monarch dies. Therefore, after King George V died, his son King Edward VII inherited the throne in 1936.
However, here comes the twist! Edward VII ended up abdicated the throne in order to marry an American divorcee Wallis Simpson. At the time, the monarch is considered the head of the English church and the church prohibited divorce or the action of marrying a divorcee too. Only in 2002, did the church allow the remarriage of divorced people under certain circumstances.
Since the eldest son abdicated the throne, the crown fell on the head of the second son King George VI in 1937. He reigned for 15 years. Unlike Edward VII, King George VI had children. The King and Queen Elizabeth had two daughters, Queen Elizabeth II (the current reigning monarch) and Princess Margaret.
As per custom, on the death of her father, the preceding King, Elizabeth II became the Queen. She is the longest-reigning monarch in history!
She married Prince Philip and had four children with him. The eldest of which is Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales.
It is said that next year, 2021, when the Queen turns 95, Prince Charles would inherit the throne.
The next line of succession will be through Prince Charles’s descendants namely Prince William followed by little Prince George.
RANALD MACKECHNIE /PA
The Netflix series ‘The Crown’ explores the British monarchy history pretty well. It is a recommended watch if interested in the Royal Family Tree of England or all of Britain.
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