For over a millennium, there has been a British monarchy. Today, the constitutional monarchy is the state system of the United Kingdom. However, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain continues to be considered one of the most respected and influential people on the planet. The reverence that the people of her country give her extends to her family members - the House of the Windsor.
UK: Royal Family
Despite the fact that in England there is no strict definition (neither legal nor formal) of the members of the monarch's family, nevertheless, they are usually considered the following persons: the monarch himself (king and queen), the spouse of the queen (if he is not king ), children of the monarch and their spouses, children of the sons of the monarch (i.e. grandchildren on the male line) and their wives (husbands). The king and queen of Great Britain bear the title Her (His) Royal Majesty, and the rest of the family are their Royal Highnesses. They are considered princes and princesses. In earlier times, each member of the monarchical family represented the king (queen) throughout the country, holding responsible public 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 state affairs. The country is governed by a cabinet responsible for parliament. However, she has a veto power, and she can, at her own discretion, dissolve parliament and call new elections, etc.
All members of the royal family of Great Britain
So, of course, the first on the list are Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Duke Philip of Edinburgh - Prince Consort. This is followed by the heir to the British throne, the eldest son of the queen, Prince Charles of Wales and his wife (second) - Camille Parker-Bowles - Duchess of Cornwall. Next on the list are the newly made parents - the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - Prince William (Queen’s eldest grandson) and Princess Catherine (Middleton’s girl), and, of course, their son - Elizabeth the great-grandson - 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, Princess Diana , Prince Henry of Wales, who is better known in the world as Prince Harry. He is followed by his uncle (the second son of the Queen), Prince Andrew of York and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Eugene, then the family of the third son of Elizabeth II, Earl of Edward Wessex (his wife Sofia, 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 royalty. Further on the list are the cousins of Elizabeth II, etc.
History of the royal family of Great Britain
The Windsor Dynasty is the British branch of the Gothic dynasty of Saxe-Coburg, therefore also the home of the Vettins, from which comes Prince Albert - the husband of Queen Victoria (Hanover). However, during the First World War, when England was in enemy relations with Germany, King George the Fifth renounced Saxon and other German titles, renaming the former dynasty into the House of the Windsor. The monarchs of this dynasty were
George the Fifth, who reigned from 1910 to 1936, Eduard the Eighth, who was immediately succeeded by George Six, the father of the current queen, who ruled the kingdom for 16 years, and Elizabeth II, the now surviving Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The royal family, in spite of occasional minor scandals, nevertheless enjoys great love and respect in the country. Any event concerning them, both joyful and sad, the people accept as their own. In this country, one of the most favorite holidays is the birthday of the beloved queen.