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THE
WINDSOR
The Windsor Dynasty
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The Windsor name
now used by Queen Elizabeth II and other British royals only
dates back to 1917.
Before that,
the British royal family bore the German name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
(Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha in German).
In 1917, during the First World War, King
George V of the United Kingdom announced that he, and all
other descendants of Queen Victoria in the male line, would
change their surname from Saxe - Coburg - Gotha to Windsor
because anything German had a bad connotation.
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The period saw the
modernisation of the monarchy in tandem with many social changes
which have taken place over the past 90 years.
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One such
modernisation has been the use of mass communication
technologies to make the Royal Family accessible to a broader
public all over the world.
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The Coronation ceremony was broadcast on
television for the first time in 1953, at The Queen's
insistence.
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During this period, British monarchs have
also played a vital part in promoting international relations.
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The Queen retains
close links with former colonies in her role as Head of the
Commonwealth.
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The Commonwealth
is an association of 53 independent sovereign states, almost all
of which are former territories of the British Empire.
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The Windsor Monarchs
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George V
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reigned 1910 – 1936
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Born in 1865, died in 1936
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Son of Edward VII
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He was the first British monarch of the House of
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and
changed the name for House of Windsor.
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As well as being
King of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland and the
Commonwealth Realms,
George
was also the Emperor of India.
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George reigned from 6 May 1910
until
his death, which included World War I
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Edward VIII
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reigned 1936 (11 months)
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Born in 1894, died in 1972
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Son of George V
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Like his father, he was
King
of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain,
Ireland, the Commonwealth Realms, and Emperor of India.
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Edward VIII is the only British monarch to
have voluntarily relinquished the throne.
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He signed the instrument of abdication on
10 December 1936.
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After that he became The Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor.
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George VI
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reigned 1936 – 1952
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Born in 1895, died in 1952
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Son of George V, brother of
Edward VIII
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George VI succeeded the throne
unexpectedly after the abdication of his brother, King
Edward VIII.
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He was king during the Second World War.
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Like his father and his brother, he was
King
of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain,
Ireland and the Commonwealth Realms.
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But George VI was the last Emperor of India
(until 1947) and the last King of Ireland (until 1949).
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He married Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon ( the
future Queen Mother ) on 26 April 1923 in Westminster Abbey.
Queen Mum
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Elizabeth II
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reigned
1952 - Present
Born in 1926.
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Daughter of George VI and
Elisabeth Bowes
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Heir apparent : Charles,
Prince of Wales
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Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth
II is Queen of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain, North
Ireland and the Commonwealth .
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She is
Monarch of 32 nations in all.
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She also holds the positions
of Head of the Commonwealth, The Lord High Admiral,
Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Lord of Mann and
Duke of Lancaster.
Diana
Princess of Wales
Royal Family tree
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The succession
- Three
generations of the House of Windsor:
- The
Queen and her husband,
- Prince
Charles of Wales
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Prince William
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As Her Majesty
Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip have 4 children,
their oldest son Charles, Prince of Wales , Duke
of Edinburgh will be the
heir.
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On 29th July, 1981, the marriage
of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana
Spencer was televised live and attracted a world
wide audience of 750 million.
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The day was declared a national
holiday.
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Charles and Diana
produced two sons, Princes William and Harry,
second and third in line to the throne
respectively.
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They were
divorced in August, 1996.
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The hugely
popular Princess Diana was killed in a tragic
car accident in Paris the following year.
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Charles took
divorcee Mrs Camilla Rosemary Parker-Bowles as
his second wife on 9th April, 2005, in a civil
ceremony at Windsor.
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She then took the
title of Duchess of Cornwall and as a divorcee,
will be known as the Princess Consort when her
husband ascends the throne.
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