Royal dynasty of Windsor: interesting facts

Great Britain is one of the few countries that have preserved the traditions of the monarchy. Today, the kingdom is headed by the dynasty of Windsor, originating from Queen Victoria. It is interesting to look into the depths of the centuries and learn how this noble family ascended to the throne. And the beginning, perhaps, follows from the fact that its roots are far from being British.

German blood of the royal family

The ruling family of Great Britain is the dynasty of Windsor. Its history originates from the famous princely family of Germany - Vettinov. His family received this name in the second half of the 10th century from the name of the family castle. It was acquired about 1000 years old Count Gassegau Dietrich I. Since then, genealogy is clearly traced, although the name of the ancestor of the founder of the family is unknown. None of the versions offered by the researchers have any documentary evidence.

Almost five hundred years later, in 1485, the descendants of Dietrich I Ernst and Albrecht shared their possessions. The event went down in history as the Leipzig section. Since then, the Wettin line has been divided into Albertine and Ernestine lines. From the second, the dynasty of the Windsor dynasty ruled England.

Coupling of dynasties

Representatives of this family have been in leadership positions for more than 800 years. Thanks to their successful position and profitable marriages, today they head the thrones of Belgium and Great Britain.

It all began with the marriage of Victoria with Prince Albert, who belonged to the Saxons. The queen herself came from the Hanover dynasty. Representatives of this genus occupied a total throne in Great Britain from 1714 to 1901. It was through the marriage of Victoria and Albert united two dynasties: Hanover and Windsor.

From noble family to family castle

The new line actually began to dominate the UK with the beginning of the reign of Edward VII (son of Victoria and Albert). But from the point of view of the law Edward VII (the years of government - 1901-1910) - officially the first and last of the Saxon, paternal, clan.

The successor was his son George V, grandson of Queen Victoria. It was this man who in 1917 changed his German name to English. So the Windsor appeared. The name is borrowed from Windsor Castle, the residence of British monarchs. Therefore, in fact, the dynasty of Windsor began with George V, the grandson of Albert - the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

Nicholas II's double on the throne

George V (who occupied the throne from 1910 to 1936) was born on July 3, 1865. His mother Alexandra was from a noble family and was a sister of Maria Feodorovna (the wife of the emperor of Russia). Therefore, the cousins Georg V and Nicholas II were very similar in appearance.

From infancy, the boy had health problems, later he was sent to sail. So he was continuously on the ship for fourteen years. Lived like a sailor, got a parrot and stuffed tattoos. Returning to England, he was educated and married a princess who was to marry his older brother as the first candidate for the throne. George V led the country in 1911. Interestingly, during the coronation his wife was ordained as Mary, although her name was at the birth of Victoria. This move was made deliberately. The dynasty of Windsor in England decided that from now on no woman can bear the name of the great empress Victoria. Also the emperors could not bear the name of Victoria's husband - Albert.

With the outbreak of World War I, King George V issued a decree to change the name from Saxon to British. This was a manifestation of patriotism, which was supported by subjects with German roots.

Before his death, the king was seriously ill. He died in 1936. Only fifty years later it became known that his doctor deliberately injected him with a lethal dose of morphine and cocaine.

The royal dynasty of Windsor continued the elder son of George V - Edward VIII (ruled the country from January 20 to December 11, 1936).

King in Love

Edward VIII (future monarch, son of George V) after birth was given to nurse care. This separation from her parents later created misunderstandings in the family. Participated in the First World War. Later, he frankly admired fascism.

At one of the receptions he met a beautiful and strong woman, Wallis Simpson, who was married to an American businessman. Between the young people feelings arose. They did not hide their love, although earlier there were rumors about Edward's homosexuality.

He ascended the throne after the death of his father George V, but abdicated in favor of his brother George VI in ten months of rule. It was a forced move, to which the Windsors pushed him. The dynasty was against the marriage of Edward with a divorced woman. In turn, the king, when explaining the reasons for the abdication, said that he can not rule without the support of his beloved. At the wedding of Edward VIII and Wallis, the groom's family was absent. Their marriage was strong and lasted until the death of the ex-ruler. My wife lived after that for another fourteen years. She was buried next to her husband.

Oscar-winning King

After the scandal in the family, the throne was taken by the younger brother of Edward VIII, the second son of George V, George VI (at birth he was given the name Albert, then replaced with Georg by tradition, which is observed by the dynasty of Windsor). History knows him as a man of the people. Years of government - from 1936 to 1952.

The boy was weak and received even less attention of his parents than the elder Edward. Nanny also did not give time to the development of the child, so the future emperor grew up a stutterer.

He was in the First World War, but did not take part in the battles. In 1923 he married. Subsequently, it was his wife, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who made from a humble, quiet person a real king.

In 1936 George VI unexpectedly took the place of Edward VIII's brother and became a monarch. The beginning of his reign coincided with the outbreak of World War II. It was he, a stutterer from childhood, had to inform the people about Britain's entry into the war. These events are filmed in the Oscar-winning film "King says!".

During the bombing of London, more than a million inhabitants were in the city, and the Windsor remained. The dynasty decided not to leave the capital and its subjects. Representatives of the ruling family, like all ordinary people, fled to the cellars after the sirens. Have a modest life. Together with all welcomed the victory.

Georg VI died in 1952. His heir was the eldest daughter of Elizabeth II, who heads England at the present time.

The First Queen of the World

Most of the monarchist regimes were removed during the first half of the twentieth century. But such innovations did not affect conservative England. The successor to King George VI was Elizabeth II. She is the eldest of two daughters. She was born on April 21 in 1926. Has received excellent education at home. In 1945, entered the military service. Studied to drive and repair cars.

Elizabeth II - the first queen, who traveled around the world. She is also one of the richest women in Europe. Annually, Elizabeth's treatment is allocated huge amounts. She tries equally well to treat all politicians.

The Queen still rules England and is not going to give up the throne in favor of descendants. In 2012, she celebrated her sixtieth anniversary as the head of the United Kingdom.

Another of her merits is that, despite the change of names, the house of kings continues to be headed by the dynasty of Windsor. The modern standard of the monarchy is Queen Elizabeth II.

The unimaginable spouse of the great queen

At the age of thirteen, Elizabeth fell in love with the poor, but titled son of the Greek king Philip. He was raised by his mother and sisters. Father was famous for his love deeds.

The family was against such a party for the daughter, but the obstinate Elizabeth persuaded her parents of the advisability of marriage, after which she regretted repeatedly about this.

November 20, 1947 the couple played a modest in connection with the recent war wedding. They had four children. The name of Philip is Mountbatten, so all children have a double naming: Mountbatten-Windsor.

There is evidence that Prince Philip had several mistresses, relations with which were not so carefully concealed. Nevertheless, Queen Elizabeth kept her marriage, although she preferred the fate of the ruler, not her wife and mother.

Prince Charles

Charles was born on November 14, 1948. After the death of his grandfather, George VI, and the coronation of the mother, the three-year-old boy received the title of Prince. They continue the dynasty of Windsor. Raising Charles and the other children was to Philip. By hierarchy, the descendants were above it. Because of envy, he often beat his children.

So in search of warmth and love, Charles came under the influence of Lord Mountbetten, who did not differ in aristocratic manners and led a dissolute life.

The young prince attended an elite school and, despite the bad grades, continued his studies at Cambridge University.

Perfect Lady Dee and her children

At first the love story of Charles and Diana looked like a fairy tale, but later became the reason for hundreds of scandalous headlines. The Prince continued to meet with Camille Parker Bowles (whom he married after the death of his wife), Diana, in turn, also had a love relationship on the side.

The royal couple had heirs, so thanks to Diana, the dynasty of Windsor continued. The tree was replenished with princes William and Harry. And the legitimacy of the second son is questioned, since even then Diana met with her lover.

The family disintegrated in 1996. And on August 31, 1997 Lady Di died in a car crash. Buried on September 6 in the family estate Spencer Eltorp in Northamptonshire on a secluded island. They say that the royal family is involved in this tragedy. About Princess Diana written a lot of books in different languages, as well as filmed documentaries.

After Charles, the throne will be inherited by his son William, Duke of Cambridge, who is married to Kate Middleton, his longtime friend, since 2011. Subsequently, the throne will take his newborn son George (George) Alexander Louis Cambridge, who was born on July 22, 2013. Thus, the dynasty of Windsor continues to exist.