What are some facts about the family tree of the British Monarchy?


Quick Answer

The current British royal family is known as the House of Windsor. The monarch is Queen Elizabeth II, who has reigned since 1952. Her son, Prince Charles, also known as the Prince of Wales, is the heir to the throne.

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Full Answer

Queen Elizabeth married Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1947. In addition to Prince Charles, they have three other children: Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. They divorced in 1996, and she died in a car accident the following year. They had two children, Prince William and Prince Harry. Prince William is second in line to the throne. His children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, are third and fourth in the line of succession. Prince Harry is fifth in line to the throne.

The House of Windsor was known as the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha from 1837, when Queen Victoria ascended the throne, until 1917. King George V, grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II, changed the name during World War I due to anti-German attitudes.

Since 1837, there have been six British monarchs. Queen Victoria was queen from 1837-1901 and held the record for the longest-reigning British monarch until 2015, when Queen Elizabeth II surpassed her.

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