List of Australian monarchs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of the monarchs of Australia; that is, those monarchs who have reigned over the Commonwealth of Australia since the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 came into force in 1901. Originally, these monarchs reigned in their right as British sovereigns. Australia's status as an independent country developed gradually particularly with the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942 which (retroactively) came into force on 3 September 1939. The sovereign's Australian role is now completely separate from the same person's role as monarch of the other Commonwealth realms.
Contents |
[edit] Monarchs of Australia
[edit] House of Hanover
Victoria became the first monarch to reign over the Commonwealth of Australia since the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 came into force in 1901
| Monarch | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria 20 June 1837–1901 |
 |
24 May 1819 Kensington Palace daughter of Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and Strathearn and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld |
Albert, Prince Consort St James's Palace 10 February 1840 9 children |
22 January 1901 Osbourne House aged 81 |
[edit] House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Although he was the son and heir of Victoria, Edward VII inherited his father's names and is therefore counted as inaugurating a new royal house.
| Monarch | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward VII 22 January 1901–1910[1] |
 |
9 November 1841 Buckingham Palace son of Victoria and Albert, Prince Consort[2] |
Alexandra of Denmark Windsor 10 March 1863 6 children[2] |
6 May 1910 Buckingham Palace aged 68[2] |
[edit] House of Windsor
The house name Windsor was adopted in 1917, during the First World War. It was changed from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha because of wartime anti-German sentiment. The heirs of Elizabeth II, by royal proclamation, will remain part of the House of Windsor (even though their legal surname is Mountbatten-Windsor).
| Monarch | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George V 6 May 1910–1936[3] |
 |
3 June 1865 Marlborough House son of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark[4] |
Mary of Teck 6 July 1893 St James's Palace 6 children[5] |
20 January 1936 Sandringham House aged 70[4] |
| Edward VIII 20 January – 11 December 1936[6] |
 |
23 June 1894 Richmond son of George V and Mary of Teck[6] |
Wallis, The Duchess of Windsor France 3 June 1937 no children[6] |
28 May 1972 Paris aged 77[7] |
| George VI 11 December 1936–6 February 1952[8] |
 |
14 December 1895 Sandringham House son of George V and Mary of Teck[8] |
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon Westminster Abbey 26 April 1923 2 children[9] |
6 February 1952 Sandringham House aged 56[10] |
| Elizabeth II 6 February 1952–present[11] |
 |
21 April 1926 Mayfair daughter of George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon[12] |
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Westminster Abbey 20 November 1947 4 children[13] |
|
[edit] List of Royal Consorts of Australia
A royal consort is the spouse of a ruling king or queen. Consorts of Australian Monarchs have no constitutional status or power, but are members of the Australian Royal Family, and may have significant influence over their husband or wife.
In the United Kingdom, all female consorts have had the right to and have held the title of Queen Consort; as Australia does not have laws laying out the styles of any Royal Family members besides the monarch, they are accorded the same title as they hold in the UK as a courtesy title. Prince Philip, husband of Elizabeth II, does not have the title of Prince Consort. Victoria (a widow) and Edward VIII (a bachelor) reigned without a consort.
As Wallis Warfield Simpson married the Duke of Windsor after his abdication, she was never Queen Consort of Australia. Though Camilla Parker-Bowles will technically become Queen Consort, Clarence House has stated that she will be styled as Princess Consort due to public opinion regarding her relationship with the Prince of Wales.
| Royal Consorts from 1901 to present: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexandra of Denmark (22 January 1901 – 6 May 1910) |
 |
Wife of Edward VII 10 March 1863 – 6 May 1910 |
| 2 | Mary of Teck (6 May 1910 – 20 January 1936) |
 |
Wife of George V 6 July 1893 – 20 January 1936 |
| 3 | Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (11 December 1936 – 6 February 1952) |
 |
Wife of George VI April 26, 1923 – 6 February 1952 |
| 4 | Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (6 February 1952 – Present) |
 |
Husband of Elizabeth II November 20, 1947 – Present |
[edit] See also
- Monarchy of Australia
- History of monarchy in Australia
- History of Australia
- Prince consort
- List of current heads of state and government
[edit] References
- ^ NNDB Profile of Edward VII. URL last accessed on 21 January 2007.
- ^ a b c Royal Genealogies. URL last accessed on 21 January 2007.
- ^ King George V. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
- ^ a b House of Windsor - George V. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
- ^ Mary of Teck. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
- ^ a b c House of Windsor - Edward VIII. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
- ^ Royal Government's The House of Windsor - Edward VIII. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
- ^ a b House of Windsor - George VI. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
- ^ Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon: The Indomitable Queen Mum. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
- ^ King George VI dies in his sleep. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
- ^ BBC Historic Figures - Elizabeth II. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
- ^ House of Windsor - Elizabeth II. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
- ^ BBC Historic Encyclopaedia Britannica Guide to Women's History - Elizabeth II. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
