List of British monarchs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- See also: List of British consorts.
This is a list of the monarchs of Great Britain and the United Kingdom. The Kingdom of Great Britain was formed on 1 May 1707 with the merger of the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland, which had been in personal union under the House of Stuart since 24 March 1603. On 1 January 1801 Great Britain merged with the Kingdom of Ireland to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. After most of Ireland left the union on 6 December 1922, on 12 April 1927 its name was amended to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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[edit] British monarchs
[edit] House of Stuart
England and Scotland entered into legislative and governmental union on 1 May 1707 under the Acts of Union 1707. English officers of state and organs of government continued as the British ones.[citation needed]
| Monarch | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anne 1 May 1707–1714 England and Scotland 8 March 1702-1707 |
 |
6 February 1665 St James's Palace daughter of James II and Anne Hyde |
George of Denmark St James's Palace 28 July 1683 17 children |
1 August 1714 Kensington aged 49 |
[edit] House of Hanover
The Hanoverian succession came about as a result of the Act of Settlement 1701, passed by the English Parliament. In return for access to the English plantations in North America, the Hanoverian succession and the Union were ratified by the Scottish Parliament in 1707.
[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[2] |
 |
9 November 1841 Buckingham Palace son of Victoria and Albert, Prince Consort[3] |
Alexandra of Denmark Windsor Castle 10 March 1863 6 children[3] |
6 May 1910 Buckingham Palace aged 68[3] |
[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.
| Monarch | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George V 6 May 1910–1936[4] |
 |
3 June 1865 Marlborough House son of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark[5] |
Mary of Teck 6 July 1893 St James's Palace 6 children[6] |
20 January 1936 Sandringham House aged 70[5] |
| Edward VIII 20 January – 11 December 1936[7] |
 |
23 June 1894 Richmond son of George V and Mary of Teck[7] |
Wallis Warfield Simpson France 3 June 1937 no children[7] |
28 May 1972 Paris aged 77[8] |
| George VI 11 December 1936–6 February 1952[9] |
 |
14 December 1895 Sandringham House son of George V and Mary of Teck[9] |
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon Westminster Abbey 26 April 1923 2 children[10] |
6 February 1952 Sandringham House aged 56[11] |
| Elizabeth II 6 February 1952–present[12] |
 |
21 April 1926 Mayfair daughter of George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon[13] |
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Westminster Abbey 20 November 1947 4 children[14] |
[edit] Regnal numbering
Following the Acts of Union, regnal numbering of subsequent monarchs followed on from those of England. William IV, Edward VII, Edward VIII and Elizabeth II all taking the next number in the English sequence. As a result of Scottish opposition to the use of the style Elizabeth II, it was announced that all future monarchs would take the next number from either the English or Scottish sequence, whichever was higher. This new rule was consistent, in that had it been applied since the Union, it would not have changed the regnal numbers of any previous post-union monarch. For the future (for example), should any King James come to the throne, he would be styled James VIII.
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ George IV first married Maria Anne Fitzherbert on 15 September 1785, but the marriage was void.
- ^ 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 23 March 2008.
- ^ 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.
[edit] See also
- List of monarchs in the British Isles
- Line of Succession to the British Throne (a list of people)
- Succession to the British Throne (historical overview and current rules)
- Alternate Successions of the English Crown
- List of monarchs of the British Isles by cause of death
- Demise of the Crown
- Mnemonic verse of monarchs in England
[edit] External links
- English Monarchs - A complete history of the Kings and Queens of England
- Britannia: Monarchs of Britain
- Archontology
- Kings of England
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