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Elizabeth II

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor (HM Queen Elizabeth II, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born April 21, 1926, London) is the reigning queen and head of state of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is also the queen of 15 states of the British Commonwealth of Nations (Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Jamaica). Supreme President of the Republic of Fiji, Head of the Anglican Church, Supreme Commander of the British Armed Forces, Colonel, Lord of the Isle of Man. She was also Queen from May 29, 1953 to May 31, 1961. South Africa. Belongs to the Windsor dynasty. She ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, and was crowned on June 2, 1953.

Princess Elizabeth at the age of seven

Eldest daughter of the Duke of York George, the future King George VI of Great Britain (1895-1952) and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900-2002). Her grandparents: George V (1865-1936), King of Great Britain and Queen Mary (1867-1953), Princess of Teck, - paternal, Claude George Bowes-Lyon (1855-1944), Earl of Strathmore and Cecilia Nina Bowes-Lyon (1883-1961), - by mother.

Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary of York was born at the residence of the Earl of Strathmore at No. 17 Brewton Street. Now the Mayfair area has been redeveloped, and the house no longer exists, but a Memorial plaque. The princess was third in the line of succession after her uncle, the Prince of Wales, who was not yet married, and her father. She got her name in honor of her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. At the same time, the father insisted that the first name of the daughter be like that of the duchess. At first they wanted to give the girl the name Victoria, but then they changed their minds. George V remarked: “Bertie discussed the name of the girl with me. He named three names: Elizabeth, Alexandra and Mary. The names are all good, I told him so, but about Victoria, I absolutely agree with him. It was redundant." The christening of Princess Elizabeth took place on May 29 in the chapel Buckingham Palace later destroyed during the war.

After the abdication of her uncle Edward VIII and the accession of her father to the throne in December 1936, 10-year-old Elizabeth became the heiress and moved with her parents from Kensington to Buckingham Palace.

The future queen grew up in an atmosphere of love and care. She received a good education at home, mainly in the humanities. As a child, she was very inquisitive. She was especially interested in horses. She has been faithful to this hobby for many decades. During World War II, Princess Elizabeth worked as an ambulance driver as a subaltern, as the royal family was required to work for the country's defense.

At the age of 13, Elizabeth met Prince Philip, a cadet at the Dortmouth Naval School, son of Prince Andrew of Greece, great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria. In 1947, becoming her husband, Philip received the title of Duke of Edinburgh. On February 6, 1952, after the death of her father, Elizabeth, who was at that time with her husband on vacation in Kenya, was proclaimed queen. She was in the Tree Tops Hotel, built on the branches of a giant ficus, on the day of her father's death. Corbett, who lived there at the same time, left an entry in the hotel registration book: For the first time in world history, a young girl, once climbing a tree as a princess, descended from it the next day as a queen - God bless her!

The following year, 1953, her coronation took place, which was first broadcast on television.

Elizabeth performs only representative functions, practically without any influence on the country's politics. In the early years of her reign, she still played some role in the appointment of the prime minister if there was no clear leader in the ruling party. The Queen maintained correct relations with all prime ministers, including representatives of the Labor Party - Harold Wilson, Anthony Blair. Some friction between the prime minister and the queen, hidden from the public eye, arose during the premiership of Margaret Thatcher. Elizabeth was somewhat embarrassed by the "royal style" of the management of the new prime minister. In particular, there were disagreements between them in connection with the support of the apartheid regime in South Africa by the British government, which, in the opinion of the queen, could negatively affect the influence of Great Britain in the African countries - members of the Commonwealth. At the same time, she always remained true to the tradition of the English kings of modern times - to be above political fights.

The authority of the Windsor royal house was more threatened by family scandals and the divorce proceedings of Princess Anne, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew. Elizabeth's reserved attitude towards tragic death Princess Diana in August 1997 caused disapproval from ordinary Britons. Nevertheless, Elizabeth manages to maintain the high prestige of the English monarchy in the eyes of her subjects.

Family and Children

1 crown 1993 - Gibraltar commemorative coin dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the coronation of Elizabeth II

On November 20, 1947, Elizabeth married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten (born June 10, 1921), the son of the Greek Prince Andrew, who received the title of Duke of Edinburgh. Four children were born in their family:

First marriage (from July 29, 1981 - divorced August 28, 1996) Diana, Princess of Wales (July 1, 1961 - August 31, 1997);

Second marriage (since April 9, 2005) Camilla Parker Bowles (née Shand) (born July 17, 1947), known as the Duchess of Cornwall (except in Scotland, where she uses the title of Duchess of Rothesay)

First marriage - Captain Mark Phillips (b. 1948)

Second marriage - Commander (now Vice Admiral) Timothy Lawrence (born 1955)

George VI, King of Great Britain 4. Grandfather:

George V, King of Great Britain 8. Great-grandfather:

Edward VII, King of Great Britain

2. Great-grandmother:

Alexandra Danish

Maria Tekskaya 10. Great-grandfather on the female line:

Francis of Teck

4. Great-grandmother in the female line:

Mary Adelaide of Cambridge

Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon 6. Grandfather in the female line:

Claude George Bowes-Lyon 12. Great-grandfather in the female line:

Claude Bowes-Lyon

6. Great-grandmother in the female line:

Francis Dora Smith

7. Grandmother on the female line:

Nina Ceselia Cavendish-Bentinck 14. Great-grandfather on the female line:

Charles William Cavendish-Bentinck

8. Great-grandmother in the female line:

Caroline Louise Barnaby

The British royal family is the pride of the British. Members of the royal family do not play a role in government, but faith in the monarch and reverence for centuries of history have become an integral part of the English mentality. The current government in the person of parliament does not inspire much confidence among ordinary Englishmen, unlike the king and queen - the guardians of traditions and the center of national unity.

Today, members of the royal family represent the country abroad, performing social and ceremonial functions. The importance of the royal family to the British is undeniable. For people, their monarchs are a moral standard and an example to follow. When problems arise in the royal family or one of them behaves inappropriately for their position, the whole country takes it to heart - as their own mistake. Every year, at the appropriate celebrations, the Queen delivers a speech in which she addresses the whole nation, educating and instructing on the right path for the whole of Great Britain.

Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II took the throne at the age of twenty-five in 1952. She is unique for a number of reasons. First, before her, Britain had no monarch who would rule for so long (the exception is Queen Victoria). Secondly, Elizabeth ruled Britain in troubled times.

The country has experienced many high-profile events - such as the collapse of the empire and the founding of the Commonwealth of Nations, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, riots in. The royal monarchy withstood these and many other blows with dignity, successfully coping with the inevitable wave of criticism. Elizabeth II managed to maintain the high status of the royal family and its prestige. Currently, her popularity among the British is at the highest level, she is loved and respected. The population of Britain is impressed by the behavior of its queen, who is distinguished by rare frugality and is famous for carefully saving the funds that go to the maintenance of the family from the country's budget. However, these expenses cannot even be compared with the revenues coming into the budget thanks to the monarchy, not to mention the respect and love that the British have for her.

Members of the British Royal Family

If you are going to go to England not only on a tour, it is worth knowing not only the name of the queen, but also family members. So, here is a list of the family of monarchs in order of succession:

Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, her husband

Charles of Wales - First Heir and his wife Camilla

Prince William - son of Charles

Prince George

Charlotte of Cambridge

Henry of Wales

Prince Andrew

Beatrice and Eugenie of York

Prince Edward and his wife Sophie

James and Louise Windsor

Princess Anna.

Prince Richard and Catherine Birgitta, his wife

Prince Edward and his wife Catherine

Prince Michael of Kent and his wife Marie Christine von Reibnitz

Princess Alexandra

In order to learn more about the life and customs of the British, use the thematic programs on the website of the English Club TV channel - a complete immersion in the atmosphere and National character will help you better understand the language and learn communication skills.

Many people know that Great Britain is a kingdom. But not everyone is aware of who is in the royal family, and how many members it consists of. There is also confusion over titles. Why is the husband of the Queen of Great Britain called the Duke? And how much does the UK spend annually on the royal house? Does the royal family have any privileges and responsibilities? Read about all this in this article. We will try to explore the Windsor family tree, highlight some Interesting Facts that have been in this family for centuries. We will also talk about the order of succession to the British throne. Who will rule the monarchy after Elizabeth II?

History of the British Royal Family

The tradition of monarchical rule dates back to Alfred the Great. He ascended the throne in the distant 871. And although many years have passed since then and many dynasties have changed, perhaps this is why the citizens of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are in no hurry to abandon the monarchy and switch to a republican form of government. After all, for such a rich country as Great Britain, the royal family is, to a certain extent, a brand. Moreover, estimated at a tidy sum of 44.5 billion pounds (69.8 billion US dollars). After all, the reign of different clans, branches and representatives of the royal family covers about one thousand two hundred years. Thirty-seven generations have passed since the time of Alfred the Great! The most prominent rulers of the British monarchy are Elizabeth I and Henry VIII. During the reign of the first, England experienced the era of the so-called Golden Age, and the second created the Anglican Church and gained the fame of Bluebeard, because he beheaded two of his six wives.

Why do modern monarchs have the surname Windsor?

But let's move on to the royal family that rules now. She has her own characteristics. At first, in a country like Great Britain, the royal family did not have any surname. Everyone knew only the name of the dynasty - Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. This continued until 1917. When the First broke out in 1914 World War, the ruling monarch, George V, who did not want to be associated with Germany (with which he was then at war), decided to change the too German name of the dynasty to a more patriotic, English one. He renamed himself and his descendants the House of Windsor. In the middle of the twentieth century, the royal family experienced another fundamental change in ancient traditions. Previously, only the male line was taken into account in the genealogy (and, accordingly, the succession to the throne). According to this rule, the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty was to end on Elizabeth. King George VI had no sons, and theoretically the Duke of Gloucester should have inherited the throne. But Elizabeth II, who still reigns, issued a proclamation in 1952, according to which her son and descendants continue to belong to the Windsor family. Thus, Elizabeth's husband, Duke Philip of Edinburgh, was denied the right to pass on his surname to his children.

Who is part of the royal family of Great Britain

Despite the high social status, a member of the royal family is difficult to describe in clear legal terms. It is traditionally considered that this is the queen and her husband, their children, grandchildren in the male line, spouses and widows of children and grandchildren. At the same time, a strict rule applies: only a Protestant can have views of the throne. Even marriage to a Catholic woman can deprive a member of the Windsor family of the right to inherit. Thus, there are only about fifty people in the British royal family. Photographs of monarchs that constantly appear in magazines show Elizabeth II and her husband, Crown Prince Charles with his second wife Camilla and sons William and Harry. As you know, the Queen's eldest grandson married Catherine, who received the title of Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince George was born to this couple. The family also includes the sons of Elizabeth - Andrew and Edward with their spouses, children and grandchildren.

Who will inherit the throne

To understand this delicate issue, it is not enough to study the genealogical tree of the British royal family. The Bill of Rights (1689) and the Act of Succession (1701) state that persons claiming the throne must be descendants of James I's granddaughter Sophia of Hanover. This lady, unexpectedly for herself, was second in line to the British throne. She was helped in this by the Anti-Catholic Act, according to which only Protestants were allowed to rule the monarchy. In accordance with the law of 1772, the marriage of representatives of the royal family should be concluded only with the permission of the monarch. Otherwise, children from such a union will be considered illegitimate. And finally, most recently, in 2012, the law on succession to the throne was changed. Now the throne is inherited by the eldest child, regardless of his gender. So, the first pretender to the throne is Prince Charles, followed by William, his eldest son. The next contender is so far the baby George of Cambridge, the queen's great-grandson. In which case, Prince Harry, William's younger brother, also has a chance.

Yard maintenance costs

This amount is included in the state budget. It is approved annually by the UK Parliament. The royal family receives about thirteen and a half million pounds for their own needs. In addition, twice the amount is allocated for the maintenance and repair of palaces and residences, for the safety of members of the clan, as well as to cover the costs associated with foreign official trips. However, the Windsors are trying to alleviate the financial burden of their people. The Royal Family brand annually brings about a billion pounds sterling to the budget of the monarchy.

The Royal Family of Great Britain: Interesting Facts

The prohibition against marrying Catholic women is also valid in our progressive age. The Earl of St. Andrews, son of the Duke of Kent, Edward and grandson of the current Queen Elizabeth, was deprived of the right to the throne because of this.

Victoria stayed on the throne for the longest time - from 1837 to 1901. An entire era is named after her.

An interesting fact is also that the current queen and her husband are distant relatives. And Camilla, the second wife of Prince Charles, is a descendant of the mistress of his great-grandfather Edward VII.

Elizabeth II served in the army in her youth. And her only daughter Anna in 1976 took part in Olympic Games(in equestrian sports).

Today state structure The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. However, Elizabeth II continues to be considered one of the most respected and influential people on the planet. The reverence shown to her by the people of her country extends to members of her family, the House of Windsor.

Despite the fact that in England there is no strict definition (neither legal nor formal) of the members of the monarch's family, nevertheless, as a rule, the following persons are considered to be: the monarch himself (king and queen), the queen's spouse (if he is not a king ), children of the monarch and their spouses, children of the sons of the monarch (i.e. grandchildren in the male line) and their wives (husbands). The King and Queen of Great Britain bear the title of Her (His) Royal Majesty, and the rest of the family - Their Royal Highnesses. They are considered princes and princesses. In the old days, each of the members of the monarchical family represented the king (queen) throughout the country, holding responsible government posts. The transition to a constitutional monarchy has changed a lot in the kingdom of Great Britain: the royal family has lost many of its powers, and today its members perform only social and ceremonial functions both within the kingdom and abroad. The same applies to the role of the queen in the affairs of the state. The country is governed by a cabinet of ministers, which is responsible to parliament. However, she has and can, at her own discretion, dissolve parliament and call new elections, etc.

All members of the British Royal Family

So, first on the list, of course, are Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the Prince Consort. Then follow the heir to the British throne, the eldest son of the queen, and his wife (second) - Camilla Parker-Bowles - Duchess of Cornwall. Next on the list are the newly-made parents - the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - Prince William (the Queen's eldest grandson) and Princess Catherine (nee Middleton), and, of course, their son - the great-grandson of Elizabeth II - Prince John of Cambridge - the youngest member of the royal family . Next on the list is the second son of Prince Charles and his first wife, Prince Henry of Wales, better known around the world as Prince Harry. He is followed by his uncle (the second son of the Queen) Prince Andrew of York and his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, then the family of the third son of Elizabeth II, Earl of Wessex (his wife Sophia, son Viscount James Severen, daughter Louise Windsor), and the only daughter of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh - Anna - Princess of the Kingdom of Great Britain. The royal family is not limited to so many royals. Next on the list are cousins of Elizabeth II, etc.

The Windsor dynasty is a British branch of the Goth dynasty of Saxe-Coburg, hence also the House of Wettin, from which Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria (Hanover), descends. However, during the First World War, when England was in hostile relations with Germany, King George the Fifth abandoned the Saxon and other German titles, renaming the former dynasty the House of Windsor. The monarchs of this dynasty were who ruled from 1910 to 1936, Edward the Eighth, who was immediately replaced on the throne by George the Sixth - the father of the current queen, who ruled the kingdom for 16 years, well, and Elizabeth II, the now living Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The royal family, despite minor scandals that arise from time to time, nevertheless enjoys great love and respect in the country. Any event that concerns them, both joyful and sad, the people accept as their own. In this country, one of the most beloved holidays is the birthday of the beloved queen.

Added to bookmarks:

The royal line of succession has changed twice this year. First on April 23, when Prince Louis of Cambridge was born. He moved the entire line of succession, starting from his uncle Harry. On June 18, Lena Elizabeth Tindall was born, who also changed the line of succession, but not so significantly ...

Queen Elizabeth II is head of the royal house of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

In addition to the United Kingdom, she is the Queen of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, Grenada, papua new guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize and Saint Kitts and Nevis, where it is represented by governors general. The sixteen countries of which she is Queen are known as the Commonwealth of Nations, and their combined population is 150 million.

In addition to the fact that Queen Elizabeth II is the monarch of vast territories, she is also a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Learn more about the Royal Family and the succession to the British throne.

Royal family: line of succession

Prince of Wales, born 1948

Charles, Prince of Wales

The Prince of Wales is the Queen's eldest son and first in line for the throne. On July 29, 1981, he married Lady Diana Spencer, who became the Princess of Wales. The couple had two sons, William and Harry. They later separated and their marriage was annulled in 1996. On August 31, 1997, the princess died in a car accident in Paris. Prince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles on April 9, 2005. As heir to the throne, his main duties are to support the queen in her royal duties.

Duke of Cambridge, born 1982

Prince William is the eldest son of the Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales and is second in line to the throne. William was 15 years old when his mother died. He continued his studies at the University of St. Andrews, where he met his future wife, Kate Middleton. The couple got married in 2011. On his 21st birthday, he was formally appointed Queen's Counsel. Along with his royal duties, he also worked part-time for two years as a co-pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance. He left the role in July 2017 to take on more royal duties on behalf of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh - his grandfather.

Prince George of Cambridge, 2013

Prince George of Cambridge, son of William and Catherine, was born on July 22, 2013 at St Mary's Hospital in London. Prince George is third in line to the throne after his father and grandfather. Most likely, Prince George is the last in this line who will actually become king, and his children will already inherit him.

Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, born in 2015

The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to her second child, a girl, on May 2, 2015, again at St Mary's Hospital. The Duke and Duchess named her Charlotte Elizabeth Diana. She is fourth in line to the throne after her grandfather, father and brother. Charlotte's title is Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.

Prince Louis of Cambridge, 2018

The newborn prince moved the whole further line to the British throne, taking fifth place in it.

Prince Harry, born 1984

Prince Harry is the youngest son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana and is currently sixth in line to the throne.

Harry attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and became an army lieutenant serving as a helicopter pilot. Since his 21st birthday, he has held the position of Assistant to the Queen. During his 10 years in the Armed Forces, Captain Wales, as he became known, served twice in Afghanistan in 2012-2013 as co-pilot and gunner of an Apache helicopter. He retired from the military in 2015 and now focuses on philanthropic work. On May 19, 2018, Prince Harry married American-born actress Meghan Markle.

born 1960

Prince Andrew is the third son of The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. He received the title of Duke of York before his marriage to Sarah Ferguson, who became the Duchess of York in 1986. They had two daughters - Beatrice, in 1988, and Evgenia in 1990. The Duke and Duchess separated in March 1992 and divorced in 1996. The Duke served in the Royal Navy for 22 years and fought in the Falklands War in 1982. In addition to performing royal duties, he was the special trade representative of the government until 2011.

Princess Beatrice, born 1988

Princess Beatrice is the eldest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York. Her title is Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of York. She does not have an official surname, but the title York is used. If she marries, she will keep her royal title but will be able to take her husband's surname.

Princess Eugenie, born in 1990

Princess Eugenie is the youngest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York. Her title is Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York. Like her sister Princess Beatrice, she does not have an official last name. Princess Eugenie marries Jack Brooksbank on October 12, 2018. She will retain her royal title but will have the option of taking her husband's surname.

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, born 1964

Edward is the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Prince Edward was created Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn in his marriage to Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999. The couple have two children, Lady Louise, born in 2003, and James, Viscount Severn, born in 2007. After serving in the Royal Marines, the prince created his own television company. He now supports the Queen in her official duties and fulfills public charitable obligations.

James, Viscount Severn, born 2007

The Viscount Severn is the youngest child of the Earl and Countess of Wessex. The couple decided to give their children the titles of count's sons and daughters rather than the children of a prince or princess. It is believed that this decision was made to avoid the burden of certain royal titles.

Lady Louise, 2003

Lady Louise Windsor is the eldest child of the Earl and Countess of Wessex. She, like her brother, does not bear the title of princess.

Anna, Princess Royal, 1950

Princess Royale is the Queen's second child and only daughter. In June 1987, she was given the title "Princess Royal". Princess Anne married twice; her first husband Captain Mark Phillips is the father of her two children, Peter and Zara, and her second husband is Vice Admiral Timothy Lawrence. The Princess was the first royal to use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor in an official document in the marriage register following her marriage to Captain Phillips. She competed for Great Britain at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and is involved with a number of charities, including Save the Children, of which she has been president since 1970.

Peter Phillips, born 1977

Peter Phillips is the eldest of the Queen's grandchildren. He married Canadian Autumn in 2008 and they have two daughters: Savannah, born in 2010, and Isla, born in 2012. The children of the royal princess do not have royal titles as they are descended from the female line. Mark Phillips turned down the land offer when he married, so his children have no titles.

Savannah, born in 2010

Savannah, born in 2010, is the eldest daughter of Peter and Autumn Phillips and the Queen's first great-granddaughter.