Britain’s Royal Family

Cindy Cullen February 2014

Queen Victoria: 1819-1901 (ruled from 1837-1901)- born Alexandrina Victoria

Victoria was the only child of Edward, the Duke of Kent. Edward diedwhen she was only one year old and her mother (also named Victoria) was highly controlling and over-protective and tried to keep her awayfrom Edward’s two older brothers: George IV, the king from 1820-30and William IV who succeeded him as king in 1930. Victoria was quiteresentful of her isolated and restrictive upbringing.

When her uncle William died in 1930, Victoria was placed on the throne as neither of her king uncles had any children. She was only18 years old but was intelligent and strong-willed and refused to becontrolled by her mother, royal advisors or British prime ministers.

In 1840, Victoria married her cousin Prince Albert and they had a strong and loving marriage. Victoria gradually handed over manyresponsibilities to Albert and they ruled in partnership, although shewas the undisputed monarch and had final authority. They had 9 children,many of whom married into royal families in many different Europeannations.

In 1861, Albert died of typhoid, which sent Victoria into a long period of intense grieving. She never re-married and wore black clothing the rest of her life, although some suspected her of having a relationship with John Brown, one of her servants. She ruled until her death in 1901, and her reign of 63 years is a record for any British monarch.

Victoria in her mourning clothes

Edward VII (1941-1910)Ruled 1901-1910-Born Albert Edward (nicknamed Bertie)

When Victoria died in 1901, she was succeeded by her eldest son Edward. Edward had been a popular prince, but had a reputation as a playboy and had not been in good favour with hismother. He and his wife had six children, and Edward continuedto have a number of affairs with well known British women. He diedof pneumonia in 1910.

George V: Ruled from 1910-1936 Born George Frederick Ernest Albert

George was the younger brother of King Edward VII and had servedin the British navy for 15 years before assuming the throne when hisbrother died. George and his wife Mary had 6 children, includingeldest son Edward and second son Albert, both of who would oneday become king. He also was a loving grandfather to Elizabeth, currentqueen of England.

King George withhis granddaughterElizabeth

George ruled in some turbulent times, including World War 1, the Great Depression and the lead-up to World War 2. Although he generally was well loved by his subjects, he was criticized by some for not rescuing the Romanov royal family after the Russian Revolution. One of George’s actions during WW 1 was to officially change the name of the British royal family from the German-sounding Saxe- Coburg to Windsor.

Prince John: “ The Little Prince”

King George’s sixth and youngest child was Prince John, who sufferedfrom epilepsy and experienced violent seizures. He may also have hadautism. In those times, children with disabilities were often kept outof the public eye and John led a sheltered childhood. He died at the young age of 13.

John with his older brother George

Edward VIII: Ruled from Jan - Dec 1936 Born Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David

Edward, known as David to his family was considered one of the mosteligible bachelors in Europe before he came to the throne at the age of41.He had a rocky relationship with his father the king, who felt Daviddidn’t take his royal duties seriously enough and spent too much timesocializing. Some also questioned his support of appeasement policiesin the years leading up to WW2 and he was labelled by some as a Nazi supporter.

David in his WW1 uniform.He was not allowed to serve on the front linesas it was deemed toodangerous.

Edward’s Abdication: Dec. 1936

Edward was not enthusiastic about becoming king, not the leastbecause he was in a relationship with Wallis Simpson, an Americandivorcee who was still legally married to her second husband at thetime. Edward hoped to marry her but Parliament refused to approve her as queen so he gave up the throne and moved to France with Wallis.He met Hitler in 1937 and in an attempt to get him away from the Naziinfluence, his brother, the new King George V1, sent him to the Bahamasto assume the role of governor.

George VI: Ruled from 1937-1952 Born Albert Frederick Arthur George (called Bertie by his family)

Bertie was very reluctantly thrust into the position of king in 1937when Edward abdicated and took the name of King George. He sufferedfrom anxiety and had a serious stutter which made public speaking verystressful. George had fought with the Royal Navy in the WW1 Battle ofJutland and was also a pilot. George worked hard to overcome his stutterand became a popular king. He and his wife had two daughters:Elizabeth and Margaret. WW2 took its toll on George’s health and he died in 1952at the age of 56.

Elizabeth II: Ruled from 1952-present Born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary

(known as Lilibet to family)

Elizabeth came to the throne at the age of 25 after the early deathof her father. She had married Philip Mountbatten at the age of 21and the royal couple was visiting Kenya when they received thenews to return to England.

Queen Elizabeth celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and mayreplace Queen Victoria as Britain’s longest serving monarch if sheremains healthy.

Queen Elizabeth participated in the opening ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympics with Daniel Craig andher beloved corgis.

Prince Philip Mountbatten: married to Queen Elizabeth

Philip, the great great grandchild of Queen Victoria was born in Corfu.His father was Prince Andrew of Greece and his mother was PrincessAlice of Battenburg (German). After a 1922 coup to overthrow the Greek monarchy, King George V of England sent a naval ship torescue the royal family. One year old Philip was smuggled out in anorange crate! After his parents separated, Philip was sent away to boarding school and eventually joined the Royal Navy. He became a British citizen in 1947, changed his name to Mountbatten (anglicizedversion of Battenburg) and converted to the Anglican church. In 1947,at the age of 25, he married Elizabeth and the couple moved to Malta.

Philip and his mother Alice

Prince Charles: First in line to the throne (since 1948) Born Charles Philip Arthur George

Charles has led a quiet but distinguished life as heir to the throne. He earned his BA in anthropology and archaeology and was a jet pilotin the RAF. He has also embraced environmental, architectural and aboriginal issues. In 1981 he married Diana Spencer in a fairy taleroyal wedding and the couple had two sons: William and Harry. Charlesand Diana divorced in 1996 and Diana died a year later in a caraccident. Charles married his long-time girlfriend Camilla ParkerBowles in 2005.

Prince Charles’ Two Royal Weddings

Charles and Camilla

Charles and Diana

Princess Diana Spencer 1961-1996Married to Charles; mother to William and Harry

Diana Spencer was a nanny and kindergarten teaching assistant whofirst met Charles when he was dating her older sister Sara. Shemarried Charles at the age of 21 in a wedding that captured world attention. Diana became heavily involved in a number of charities,including AIDS programs and helping victims of landmines. She wasalso a devoted mother to sons William and Harry. Diana suffered fromdepression and an eating disorder and struggled with the constant mediaattention. Both she and Charles were accused of having affairs duringtheir marriage and the couple divorced in 1995. One year later, Dianadied in a traffic accident while being pursued by the paparazzi.

Diana with her sons William and Harry

Charles, William and Harry at Diana’s funeral

Prince William: Second in line to the throne Born William Arthur Philip Louis

William had a busy childhood and was often in the public eye, despite thebest efforts of his parents to shield their sons from the media. He attended Eton College boarding school and later went to the Universityof St. Andrews in Scotland where he graduated with a degree ingeography. He later joined the RAF and trained as a military pilot.William worked as a helicopter pilot with a search and rescue crew forseveral years but has stopped active service with the RAF to focus onhis royal family responsibilities. He married Catherine Middleton in 2011and they have a son George.

Prince William and Catherine Middleton’s wedding photo

Prince Harry: Third in line to the throne Born Henry Charles Albert David

Prince Harry also attended Eton College boarding school. He took a GAP year to work on a cattle ranch and volunteer in an orphanage inLesotho, Africa. He is a lieutenant in the British armed forces but was not allowed to serve in Iraq because it was deemed too dangerous.He did, however, see active duty in Afghanistan and is a qualified Apache helicopter pilot. Harry is a high-spirited individual with a senseof adventure.

Prince Harry’s fun-loving nature is captured in photos taken during various royal visits

Prince George: Second in line to the throne Born George Alexander Louis

Prince George was born July 22, 2013 to parents William and Catherine. He is the only grandchild of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana and will likely become king one day.