Queen Elizabeth II’s family tree traces her direct line from the House of Windsor back through her father George VI, grandfather George V, and great-grandfather Edward VII, who was Queen Victoria’s son. Her descendants include three heirs to the throne (Charles III, William, and George) and a sprawling network of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren that connects the British royal family to most of Europe’s reigning monarchies.
The House of Windsor: A Name Born in 1917
The family tree begins with the name “Windsor,” which was adopted by King George V in 1917. Before that, the royal family was known as Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a German ducal house. The name change was a response to anti-German sentiment during World War I. George V’s son, George VI, inherited the throne in 1936 after the abdication of his brother Edward VIII. Elizabeth, born in 1926, was the elder daughter of George VI and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. She became heir presumptive in 1936 when her father became king, and she ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, after his death.
Immediate Family: Parents, Siblings, and Husband
- Father: King George VI (1895–1952), who reigned from 1936 until his death.
- Mother: Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (1900–2002), born Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.
- Sister: Princess Margaret (1930–2002), Countess of Snowdon.
- Husband: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921–2021), born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. They married on November 20, 1947.
Elizabeth and Philip had four children: Charles (born 1948), Anne (born 1950), Andrew (born 1960), and Edward (born 1964). The marriage of Elizabeth and Philip linked the British and Greek royal families, both of which descend from Queen Victoria and King Christian IX of Denmark.
Children and Their Lines
Each of Elizabeth II’s four children has produced descendants, though the line of succession flows primarily through the eldest son, Charles.
- Charles III (b. 1948): The eldest child and heir. He married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981; they had two sons, William (b. 1982) and Harry (b. 1984). They divorced in 1996. Charles later married Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005; she became Queen Camilla upon his accession in 2022.
- Anne, Princess Royal (b. 1950): The only daughter. She married Mark Phillips in 1973; they had two children, Peter Phillips (b. 1977) and Zara Tindall (b. 1981). Anne later married Sir Timothy Laurence in 1992. Her children are not in the direct line of succession beyond their own places, but they remain in the broader family tree.
- Andrew, Duke of York (b. 1960): The second son. He married Sarah Ferguson in 1986; they had two daughters, Beatrice (b. 1988) and Eugenie (b. 1990). The couple divorced in 1996. Andrew’s daughters are in the line of succession, but as of 2025, they are not in the immediate top ten.
- Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (b. 1964): The youngest son. He married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999; they have two children, Lady Louise Windsor (b. 2003) and James, Earl of Wessex (b. 2007). Edward was created Duke of Edinburgh in 2023, a title previously held by his father.
Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren
Elizabeth II had eight grandchildren and, by the time of her death in 2022, twelve great-grandchildren. The most prominent are the children of Charles and Diana:
- Prince William (b. 1982): Now Prince of Wales and first in line. He married Catherine Middleton in 2011. Their children are Prince George (b. 2013), Princess Charlotte (b. 2015), and Prince Louis (b. 2018).
- Prince Harry (b. 1984): Duke of Sussex. He married Meghan Markle in 2018. Their children are Archie (b. 2019) and Lilibet (b. 2021).
Other grandchildren include Peter Phillips’s daughters Savannah and Isla; Zara Tindall’s children Mia, Lena, and Lucas; Princess Beatrice’s daughter Sienna; Princess Eugenie’s sons August and Ernest; and Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex. The great-grandchildren from William’s line are the most significant for the future of the monarchy.
Line of Succession: How the Tree Branches
The line of succession follows male-preference primogeniture, which was changed to absolute primogeniture in 2013, meaning younger daughters no longer lose their place to younger brothers. The current order (as of 2025) is:
- Charles III (the sovereign)
- William, Prince of Wales
- Prince George of Wales
- Princess Charlotte of Wales
- Prince Louis of Wales
- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
- Prince Archie of Sussex
- Prince Andrew, Duke of York
- Princess Beatrice
- Princess Eugenie
This list excludes the descendants of Princess Anne and Prince Edward, who are further down. The line continues through all legitimate descendants of Sophia of Hanover, a 17th-century German princess, but in practice only the first few dozen are listed.
Comparison with Other Royal Families
Elizabeth II’s tree is unusually wide because of her long reign and the marriages of her children. Compared to other European monarchies, the British royal family is larger and more visible. For example, the Danish royal family descends from Queen Victoria through her daughter Alexandra, who married King Edward VII. The Norwegian royal family descends from Victoria’s granddaughter Maud. The Spanish royal family descends from Victoria’s granddaughter Victoria Eugenie. Thus, Elizabeth II was related to nearly every reigning European monarch, often through multiple lines. This interconnectedness is often called the “grandmother of Europe” effect, a term also applied to Queen Victoria.
Common Misconceptions and Clarifications
One common error is that Elizabeth II was a direct descendant of William the Conqueror. While true, the line passes through many generations and is not unique; most British people share some descent from medieval figures. Another misconception is that the surname “Windsor” applies to all descendants. In 1960, Elizabeth II declared that her descendants (except those styled as Prince/Princess and Royal Highness) would use the surname “Mountbatten-Windsor,” combining her husband’s name with the royal house name. This is why some of her grandchildren, like Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, use that surname. Also, the title “Prince of Wales” is not automatically inherited; it is a title granted by the sovereign. Charles was created Prince of Wales in 1958, and William was created Prince of Wales in 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Elizabeth II’s direct ancestors?
Her direct paternal line goes back through George VI, George V, Edward VII, and Queen Victoria, then to George III and the Hanoverian kings. Through her mother, she descended from the Bowes-Lyon family, a Scottish aristocratic family. Her maternal grandmother, Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck, was a descendant of the Dukes of Portland.
How many descendants does Elizabeth II have?
She had four children, eight grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren at the time of her death. The number of great-grandchildren has grown since then, with the birth of Lilibet in 2021 and others after 2022, so the total is now higher.
Why is Prince Philip not a king?
In British law, a husband of a reigning queen is called a prince consort, not a king. The title “King” is reserved for a sovereign in his own right. Philip was made a Prince of the United Kingdom in 1957 and Duke of Edinburgh in 1947, but he never held the title of king.
Is the royal family tree the same as the line of succession?
No. The family tree includes all blood relatives and their spouses, while the line of succession is limited to legitimate descendants of Sophia of Hanover who are in communion with the Church of England and not Roman Catholic. This means some family members, like the descendants of Princess Margaret, are in the tree but not in the line of succession.
What happens to the family tree after Charles III?
The tree continues through William and his children. If William becomes king, George will become heir apparent, and Charlotte will be second in line. The line will then pass to Louis, then Harry and his children. The tree will expand as new generations are born, but the core structure remains the same.
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