What is the lineage of the British royal family?
House of Windsor
| House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha | |
|---|---|
| William I King of Prussia, German Emperor 1797–1888 | Albert Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha 1819–1861 |
| Frederick III German Emperor 1831–1888 | Louis IV Grand Duke of Hesse 1837–1892 |
| Wilhelm II German Emperor 1859–1941 | Ernest Louis Grand Duke of Hesse 1868–1937 |
How far back can the royal family trace their roots?
The current reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, can trace her ancestral history all the way back to the 9th Century, some 1,200 years. In these 1,200 years, there have been some weird and wonderful members of the Royal Family, each with a more interesting story than the next.
Is the royal family of England really German?
In 1917, the name of the British royal house was changed from the German Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the English Windsor because of anti-German sentiment in the United Kingdom during World War I. There have been four British monarchs of the House of Windsor since then: George V, Edward VIII, George VI, and Elizabeth II.
Why is the English Royal Family German?
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, also a grandson of Queen Victoria, was the king’s cousin; the queen herself was German. As a result, on June 19, 1917, the king decreed that the royal surname was thereby changed from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor.
How are Elizabeth and Philip related?
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh have been married for 72 years, but their relationship goes much farther back. In fact, they knew each other from childhood—and are cousins.
How do you tell if you are descended from royalty?
So the best way to find out if you have royal ancestry is simply to do your research well. To be more specific: Research all your family surnames carefully. If you find records indicating where your ancestors lived, look up those residences and see if they are associated with royalty.
Is the British royal family inbred?
In modern times, among European royalty at least, marriages between royal dynasties have become much rarer than they once were. This happens to avoid inbreeding, since many royal families share common ancestors, and therefore share much of the genetic pool.
Are the Windsors of German descent?
The House of Windsor as we know it today began in 1917 when the family changed its name from the German “Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.” Queen Elizabeth’s grandfather, King George V, was the first Windsor monarch, and today’s working royals are the descendants of King George and his wife, Queen Mary.
Are William and Kate related?
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, GCVO (born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton; 9 January 1982) is a member of the British royal family. She is married to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, second in the line of succession to the British throne, making Catherine a likely future queen consort.