In 1917 King George V, issued a Royal Proclamation to change the family dynasty's German name of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Windsor. This was due to the growing anti-sentiment towards Germany from the onset of WWI. In a further act of separation, King George stripped many of his German relatives of their British titles, such as his cousin German Emperor Wilhelm II. The name Windsor was rooted deep into England's royal identity, most specifically the Windsor Castle.
The change of household name was only a symbolic gesture and did not change any format to the constitutional monarchy. The line of monarchs were still descendants from the House of Hanover and Saxe-Coburg. Nonetheless this changed marked a major historical turning point, as political tension had spread throughout Europe and onto a global basis. With the aftermath of WWI and later WWII, Empires and monarchies around Europe would eventually collapse. In 1931 the British Empire transitioned to a Commonwealth of Nations, which allowed it's dominions to govern themselves.
In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II ascended to begin a peaceful and prosperous reign that continues to this day. For 63 years she has reigned and is only months away from surpassing Queen Victoria as the longest sitting monarch in English history. She has demonstrated great character and resolve serving as a symbolic yet also a diplomatic tool of British identity. Its an identity that is centered around it's monarchy, which has endured political, technological, and social changes for over a 1000 years,
House of Windsor (1910-present)
King George V
Reign: 1910-1936
Dynasty: House of Windsor
Marriage: Mary of Teck
Children: Edward VIII, George VI, Mary, Henry, George, John
Historical Bio: He was the son of King Edward VII, and succeeded his father to the throne in 1910. His reign consisted of political turmoil throughout Europe which saw the rise of socialism, communism, fascism, and revolutions in Ireland and India. During which his cousin Nicholas II sat on the throne of Russia, while his other cousin Wilhelm sat on the throne of Germany. During WWI he changed his dynasty name from Saxe-Coburg to Windsor, due to anti-German sentiment. Following WWI he dealt with the growing movement of Irish republicanism led by revolutionaries such as Michael Collins. The Irish War of Independence from 1919 to 1921, saw the eventual independence of Ireland and the Establishment of the Republic of Ireland in 1937. King George also dealt with the Indian Independence Movement, which was initiated in 1915 by Mahtma Ghandi and eventually saw their liberation in 1947. By the end of WWI many monarchies and empires throughout Europe had ended, however the British Monarchy endured. Nonetheless in 1931 the British Empire decided it was time to recognize global independence. King George signed Parliaments' Statute of Westminster which established a Commonwealth Realm, of self-governing nations.
King Edward VIII
Reign: 1936
Dynasty: House of Windsor
Marriage: Wallis Sampson
Historical Bio: He was the eldest son of King George V and succeeded his father to the throne. However his reign was cut very short due to a disagreement with parliament over his marriage. He wanted to marry Wallis Simpson, an American socialite who had already been divorced twice. However this was strongly opposed by Parliament. In order to avoid any further civil conflict Edward abdicated his throne so he could marry Wallis. His brother, Albert succeeded him as King George VI. Edward spent the remaining of his life with Wallis and a Duke of Windsor. During WWII he was accused of being a Nazi sympathizer and after the war spent the last of his years without official appointment or title.
King George VI
Reign: 1936-1952
Dynasty: House of Windsor
Marriage: Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Children: Elizabeth II, Margaret
Historical Bio: He was the second son of King George V, and reluctantly succeeded his brother Edward after he had abdicated his throne. George thus inherited the throne in a very unstable period, against the rise of Nazi Germany. He also continued with the early transitions of the Commonwealth Realms and Ireland as a free state. During WWII, he worked closely with Prime Minister Winston Churchill, to bring hope and strength to a nation at war. In 1947 he recognized India's independence and a year later Ireland's independence in 1948. By the end of WWII, the British empire had declined and was no longer a super-power like the United States and the Soviet Union. Nonetheless King George was victorious by withstanding one of the darkest periods in history. He died at the age of 56 and his eldest daughter, Elizabeth II, became queen.
Queen Elizabeth II
Reign: 1952-present
Dynasty: House of Windsor
Marriage: Prince Philip
Children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, Edward
Historical Bio: She is the eldest daughter of King George VI, and succeeded her father in the post-war era. She has overseen the continuing evolution of the Commonwealth Realms. To this day there are 16 nations that are a part of the Commonwealth Realm, and under the queen's dominion. This includes many Caribbean nations such as Jamaica and the Bahamas. As well as others where she sits as regent queen such as UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon. Elizabeth II has furthered the House of Windsor through her upstanding public image and diplomatic relations. She has overseen many changes such as decolonization in Africa as well as the devolution of the United Kingdom. She has overseen a new age of broadcast and media, which has helped lift the royalty's standing through the public's curiosity. However this media attention also brought negative affects with the unfolding of her son Charles' divorce to Princess Diana, and her tragic death in a car crash. However despite all this she has remained very popular throughout he reign with both the public and the Parliament. She is the oldest living British monarch, and is only months away from passing Queen Victoria's longevity of 63 years as queen. Her eldest son Prince Charles is her heir apparent, and his son Prince William is second in line.
In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II ascended to begin a peaceful and prosperous reign that continues to this day. For 63 years she has reigned and is only months away from surpassing Queen Victoria as the longest sitting monarch in English history. She has demonstrated great character and resolve serving as a symbolic yet also a diplomatic tool of British identity. Its an identity that is centered around it's monarchy, which has endured political, technological, and social changes for over a 1000 years,
House of Windsor (1910-present)
King George V
Reign: 1910-1936
Dynasty: House of Windsor
Marriage: Mary of Teck
Children: Edward VIII, George VI, Mary, Henry, George, John
Historical Bio: He was the son of King Edward VII, and succeeded his father to the throne in 1910. His reign consisted of political turmoil throughout Europe which saw the rise of socialism, communism, fascism, and revolutions in Ireland and India. During which his cousin Nicholas II sat on the throne of Russia, while his other cousin Wilhelm sat on the throne of Germany. During WWI he changed his dynasty name from Saxe-Coburg to Windsor, due to anti-German sentiment. Following WWI he dealt with the growing movement of Irish republicanism led by revolutionaries such as Michael Collins. The Irish War of Independence from 1919 to 1921, saw the eventual independence of Ireland and the Establishment of the Republic of Ireland in 1937. King George also dealt with the Indian Independence Movement, which was initiated in 1915 by Mahtma Ghandi and eventually saw their liberation in 1947. By the end of WWI many monarchies and empires throughout Europe had ended, however the British Monarchy endured. Nonetheless in 1931 the British Empire decided it was time to recognize global independence. King George signed Parliaments' Statute of Westminster which established a Commonwealth Realm, of self-governing nations.King Edward VIII
Reign: 1936
Dynasty: House of Windsor
Marriage: Wallis Sampson
Historical Bio: He was the eldest son of King George V and succeeded his father to the throne. However his reign was cut very short due to a disagreement with parliament over his marriage. He wanted to marry Wallis Simpson, an American socialite who had already been divorced twice. However this was strongly opposed by Parliament. In order to avoid any further civil conflict Edward abdicated his throne so he could marry Wallis. His brother, Albert succeeded him as King George VI. Edward spent the remaining of his life with Wallis and a Duke of Windsor. During WWII he was accused of being a Nazi sympathizer and after the war spent the last of his years without official appointment or title.
King George VI
Reign: 1936-1952Dynasty: House of Windsor
Marriage: Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Children: Elizabeth II, Margaret
Historical Bio: He was the second son of King George V, and reluctantly succeeded his brother Edward after he had abdicated his throne. George thus inherited the throne in a very unstable period, against the rise of Nazi Germany. He also continued with the early transitions of the Commonwealth Realms and Ireland as a free state. During WWII, he worked closely with Prime Minister Winston Churchill, to bring hope and strength to a nation at war. In 1947 he recognized India's independence and a year later Ireland's independence in 1948. By the end of WWII, the British empire had declined and was no longer a super-power like the United States and the Soviet Union. Nonetheless King George was victorious by withstanding one of the darkest periods in history. He died at the age of 56 and his eldest daughter, Elizabeth II, became queen.
Queen Elizabeth II
Reign: 1952-present
Dynasty: House of WindsorMarriage: Prince Philip
Children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, Edward
Historical Bio: She is the eldest daughter of King George VI, and succeeded her father in the post-war era. She has overseen the continuing evolution of the Commonwealth Realms. To this day there are 16 nations that are a part of the Commonwealth Realm, and under the queen's dominion. This includes many Caribbean nations such as Jamaica and the Bahamas. As well as others where she sits as regent queen such as UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon. Elizabeth II has furthered the House of Windsor through her upstanding public image and diplomatic relations. She has overseen many changes such as decolonization in Africa as well as the devolution of the United Kingdom. She has overseen a new age of broadcast and media, which has helped lift the royalty's standing through the public's curiosity. However this media attention also brought negative affects with the unfolding of her son Charles' divorce to Princess Diana, and her tragic death in a car crash. However despite all this she has remained very popular throughout he reign with both the public and the Parliament. She is the oldest living British monarch, and is only months away from passing Queen Victoria's longevity of 63 years as queen. Her eldest son Prince Charles is her heir apparent, and his son Prince William is second in line.
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