The Windsor family tree is the royal lineage of the British monarchy, formally established in 1917 when King George V changed the royal house name from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to Windsor. It traces descent from Queen Victoria through the present monarch, King Charles III, and includes the main line of succession and its cadet branches.
Origins of the House of Windsor
The House of Windsor began on 17 July 1917, when King George V issued a royal proclamation renaming the royal house and family from the German-sounding Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to Windsor, after Windsor Castle. This was a wartime measure during World War I, driven by anti-German sentiment in Britain. The name change applied to all descendants of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who were British subjects, except for female descendants who married into other families.
The dynasty itself is a branch of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, which descended from the German House of Wettin. Queen Victoria’s marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha brought that line into the British monarchy. The current monarch, King Charles III, is a direct male-line descendant of King George V, and the family continues to use the name Windsor for the royal house.
Key Generations: From George V to Elizabeth II
The Windsor family tree begins with King George V (1865–1936) and his wife, Queen Mary (1867–1953). They had six children: Edward VIII, George VI, Mary (Princess Royal), Prince Henry (Duke of Gloucester), Prince George (Duke of Kent), and Prince John.
- Edward VIII (1894–1972) became king in January 1936 but abdicated in December of the same year to marry Wallis Simpson. He was never crowned and was given the title Duke of Windsor.
- George VI (1895–1952) succeeded his brother and reigned through World War II. He married Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later the Queen Mother), and they had two daughters: Elizabeth and Margaret.
- Princess Mary (1897–1965) was the only daughter, known as the Princess Royal.
- Prince Henry (1900–1974) was Duke of Gloucester; his descendants form the Gloucester line.
- Prince George (1902–1942) was Duke of Kent; his descendants form the Kent line.
- Prince John (1905–1919) had epilepsy and lived privately at Sandringham, where he died young.
The Current Monarch: Charles III and His Line
Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022) was the longest-reigning British monarch, ascending the throne in 1952. She married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and they had four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward.
- Charles III (born 1948) became king on 8 September 2022. His first wife was Lady Diana Spencer (1961–1997), with whom he had two sons: Prince William and Prince Harry. He later married Camilla Parker Bowles, now Queen Camilla.
- Princess Anne (born 1950) is the Princess Royal. Her children are Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall.
- Prince Andrew (born 1960), Duke of York, has two daughters: Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
- Prince Edward (born 1964), Duke of Edinburgh, has two children: Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex.
King Charles III’s elder son, Prince William (born 1982), is the heir apparent. William married Catherine Middleton in 2011, and they have three children: Prince George (born 2013), Princess Charlotte (born 2015), and Prince Louis (born 2018). Prince Harry (born 1984) married Meghan Markle in 2018; they have two children: Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.
Line of Succession and How It Works
The line of succession to the British throne follows male-preference primogeniture, which was changed to absolute primogeniture by the Succession to the Crown Act 2013. This act ended the system where younger sons outranked older daughters and also removed the disqualification for marrying a Roman Catholic.
The current order of succession begins with Prince William, then his children George, Charlotte, and Louis, followed by Prince Harry and his children. After that come Prince Andrew and his daughters, then Prince Edward and his children, and so on through the descendants of Queen Elizabeth II’s siblings. The line continues through the descendants of King George V’s other children, such as the Dukes of Gloucester and Kent.
Succession is determined by descent, legitimacy, and the Protestant faith. The monarch must be in communion with the Church of England, as established by the Act of Settlement 1701. Anyone who converts to Roman Catholicism or marries a Catholic is excluded from the line of succession.
Cadet Branches: Gloucester and Kent
The Windsor family includes several cadet branches, which are lines descended from younger sons of a monarch. The two main ones today are the Dukes of Gloucester and the Dukes of Kent.
- The Gloucester line descends from Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1900–1974), the third son of George V. His son, Prince Richard, is the current Duke of Gloucester. The line continues with his son, Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster.
- The Kent line descends from Prince George, Duke of Kent (1902–1942), the fourth son of George V. His son, Prince Edward, is the current Duke of Kent. The line includes his siblings, Princess Alexandra and Prince Michael of Kent.
These branches are not in the immediate line of succession but remain part of the extended royal family, often undertaking official duties.
Common Misconceptions About the Windsor Name
One common misconception is that the surname Windsor applies to all descendants of Queen Elizabeth II. In 1960, the Queen declared that her descendants, other than those styled as Royal Highness and titled Prince/Princess, would use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor, combining her husband’s name and the royal house name. This is why Prince Harry’s children, Archie and Lilibet, use Mountbatten-Windsor as their surname. However, the royal house itself remains Windsor.
Another misconception is that the Windsors are purely British. The family is of German descent through the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha line, and also has Danish, Greek, and other European ancestry through Prince Philip. The name change in 1917 did not alter the family’s genetic heritage, only its official name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first Windsor monarch?
King George V was the first Windsor monarch. He changed the family name from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to Windsor in 1917, and he reigned from 1910 until his death in 1936.
Why did the family change its name to Windsor?
The name was changed during World War I because of strong anti-German sentiment in Britain. The royal family’s German name, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was seen as a liability, so George V chose the quintessentially English name Windsor, after Windsor Castle.
What is the difference between Windsor and Mountbatten-Windsor?
Windsor is the name of the royal house and dynasty. Mountbatten-Windsor is the personal surname used by descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, as declared in 1960. It applies to those who do not hold the style of Royal Highness or the title of Prince/Princess.
Who is next in line after King Charles III?
Prince William, the Prince of Wales, is the heir apparent. After him, his eldest son Prince George is second in line, followed by Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Are there any Windsor relatives who are not in the line of succession?
Yes, many descendants of Queen Victoria are not in the line of succession, either because they are too far down the line or because they were excluded due to marriage to a Catholic or other disqualifying factors. For example, the descendants of Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II’s sister, are in the line but far down it.
Does the Windsor family tree include the Greek royal family?
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born into the Greek and Danish royal families, but he renounced his Greek and Danish titles to marry Princess Elizabeth. His descendants are part of the Windsor family tree through their mother, Queen Elizabeth II, but they are not part of the Greek royal house.
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