The current British Royal Family is composed of the Queen, Elizabeth II,
her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, their children, and the Queen's
relatives bearing the title style Royal Highness. The current royal family is
descended from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Before World War I, the
British Royal Family is named the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. In 1917, out
from strong anti-German sentiments and a surge of anti-monarchist propaganda,
King George V (the current queen's grandfather) changed the name of the British
Royal Family from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to Windsor, named after the oldest
inhabited castle in the world.
A Queen is Born
Queen Elizabeth II was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary in
1926. Her father was then the Duke of York, while her mother was the former
Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. The young Elizabeth's father was never expected to
become king because he had an elder brother, Edward, Prince of Wales, who
ascended as King Edward VIII in 1936. However, the new king fell in love with a
twice-divorced American, Wallis Warfield-Simpson. Those days, marrying a
divorcee meant social disgrace and the king was faced with the dilemma of choosing
between his duty as head of the Great Britain and the Commonwealth and marrying
the €woman that he loves.€ He abdicated in December 1936, was made Duke of
Windsor, and married Mrs. Simpson the following year.
King George VI and Queen
Elizabeth
The new king assumed the name George VI and went on to
rule Great
Britain and the far-flung British Empire from 1936 until his death in 1952. He and Queen Elizabeth were popular anti-German figures during World War II that boosted the morale of their countrymen. After his death, their elder daughter, Elizabeth, succeeded as Queen Elizabeth II. Her reign ushered in the New Elizabethan II and marked the disintegration of the British Empire and the development of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Furthermore, her reign witnessed the gradual decline of the monarch's political power, albeit her fairness and wisdom proved better than any of her prime ministers. In 2002, she celebrated her 50th year on the throne, followed by her diamond jubilee in 2012.
Britain and the far-flung British Empire from 1936 until his death in 1952. He and Queen Elizabeth were popular anti-German figures during World War II that boosted the morale of their countrymen. After his death, their elder daughter, Elizabeth, succeeded as Queen Elizabeth II. Her reign ushered in the New Elizabethan II and marked the disintegration of the British Empire and the development of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Furthermore, her reign witnessed the gradual decline of the monarch's political power, albeit her fairness and wisdom proved better than any of her prime ministers. In 2002, she celebrated her 50th year on the throne, followed by her diamond jubilee in 2012.
The British Royal Family
Today
In 1947, she married Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He was
born a Prince of Greece and Denmark, although he relinquished that title, as
well as his rights to the throne of Greece and Denmark before he married
Elizabeth. Prince Philip is the queen's strong supporter in various public and
ceremonial functions. He also takes official and charitable duties of his own
in support for the British Royal
Family. The couple has four children: Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne Princess
Royal; Albert, Duke of York; and Edward, Earl of Wessex.
