The evolution
of monarchy
The British royal family once ruled almost a quarter of the world’s people and places, maintaining power among a small group of Europe’s elite monarchies. 134 of the last 185 years have been ruled by two queens, overseeing vastly different realms
and royal families.
By Jason Treat
Illustrations
By JOE McKendry
Published september 14, 2022
Victoria
born 1819
1820
The “Grandmother
of Europe”
Queen Victoria reigned longer than any British monarch before Elizabeth II and oversaw the expansion and industrialisation of the British Empire. Her children married into multiple European royal families.
1830
Key
Female
Male
Born
Marriage
Accession
Divorce
REIGN
Ascended to
throne, 1837
Died
Monarch
Royal
Victoria marries
Albert, Prince of
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, 1840
children
1840
Edward VII
born 1842
End of First Opium War
Britain takes control of
Hong Kong
Victoria
German Empress
and Queen
of Prussia, mother of Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia
Alice
Mother of Alexandra, Empress of Russia
Alfred
Married Maria, daughter
of Tsar
Alexander II
1850
Crimean War
Beatrice
Mother of Victoria Eugenie, Queen of Spain
British Raj in India established
1860
Edward VII marries
Alexandra, Princess
of Denmark, 1863
Lagos (Nigeria) declared a British colony
George V
born 1865
1870
Rise of empire
Queen Victoria presided over an incredible expansion of the British Empire, controlling India, South Africa, much of Africa, and the Caribbean. After establishing the Raj in India, Queen Victoria adopted the additional title of
Empress of India. Subsequent kings used the title
Emperor in India until
Partition in 1947.
1880
British occupation
of Egypt
1890
George V marries
Mary of Teck,
1893
Edward VIII
born 1894
British
East Africa (Kenya) declared a protectorate
George VI
born 1895
Victoria
dies,
1901
1900
Edward VII
ascends to throne,
1901
Between
two Queens
Only 51 years separated the reigns of Queens Victoria and Elizabeth II. In that time Europe was riven by two World Wars.
Edward
VII dies
1910
George V
ascends
to throne
WorlD War I
In 1917 George V changed the name of the royal house from the German Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the English Windsor because of anti-German sentiment in the United Kingdom during World War I.
1920
Irish War of
Independence
George VI marries
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 1923
A reluctant king
The abdication of Edward VIII in order to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson rocked the House of Windsor, leading to George VI’s ascension to the throne, and later that of his daughter, Elizabeth II, upon
his death.
Elizabeth II
born 1926
1930
George V
dies,
1936
Edward VIII
ascends to throne,
abdicates,
1936
George VI
ascends to throne,
1936
1940
WorlD War II
A great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria, Philip had to formally renounce his Danish and Greek royal titles before marrying his second cousin once removed, Elizabeth II.
Partition of India
Elizabeth II
marries
Philip
Mountbatten,
1947
Charles
born 1946
1950
Anne
16th in line of
succession
Egyptian independence
George VI
dies, 1952
Elizabeth II
ascends to throne,
1952
Suez Crisis
Andrew
8th in line of
succession
1960
Nigerian independence
Edward
13
End of empire
After World War II many British colonies in Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East declared independence, shrinking the British Empire. Between 1945 and 1965 the number of British subjects residing outside of Britain fell from 700 million to 5 million.
1970
17
Charles
marries
Diana
Spenser,
1981
1980
20
Falklands War
William
Heir
apparent
1
Harry
5
9
1990
11
Charles
divorces
Princess
Diana,
1996
Princess
Diana
dies, 1997
Good Friday Agreement
2000
15
Charles
marries
Camilla
Parker
Bowles,
2005
14
2010
18
19
George
2
21
Charlotte
3
22
Louis
4
6
2020
7
23
12
10
Charles III
ascends to
throne, 2022
Elizabeth II
dies, 2022
Modern monarchy
By the 21st century most royal families are ceremonial and imperial colonies are a thing of the past. Many members of the royal family marry outside of royalty.
Research: Scott Elder.
Sources: Official website of the British
Royal Family; Encyclopaedia Britannica;
Oxford Dictionary of National
Biography; Burke’s Peerage; Debrett’s;
The World Factbook
Read more:
Why Elizabeth II was modern Britain’s most unlikely queen
How National Geographic photographed Queen Elizabeth II
The evolution of monarchy
The British royal family once ruled almost a quarter of the world’s people and places, maintaining power among a small group of Europe’s elite monarchies. 134 of the last 185 years have been ruled by two Queens, overseeing vastly different realms and royal families.
By Jason Treat
Illustrations By JOE McKendry
Published September 8, 2022
Key
Victoria
born 1819
Female
1820
Male
Born
Marriage
Accession
Divorce
REIGN
Died
Monarch
Royal
The “Grandmother
of Europe”
Queen Victoria reigned longer than any British monarch before Elizabeth II and oversaw the expansion and industrialisation of the British Empire. Her children married into multiple European royal families.
1830
Ascended to
throne, 1837
Victoria marries
Albert, Prince of Saxe-
Coburg-Gotha, 1840
children
1840
Edward VII
born 1842
End of First Opium War
Britain takes control
of Hong Kong
Victoria
German Empress
and Queen of Prussia, mother of Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia
Alice
Mother of Alexandra, Empress of Russia
Alfred
Married Maria, daughter of
Tsar Alexander II
1850
Crimean War
Beatrice
Mother of Victoria Eugenie, Queen of Spain
Government of India Act
Britain takes direct control of the British East India Company, the British Raj begins
1860
Edward VII marries
Alexandra, Princess
of Denmark, 1863
Lagos (Nigeria) declared a British colony
George V
born 1865
1870
Rise of empire
Queen Victoria presided over an incredible expansion of the British Empire, controlling India, South Africa and much of Africa, and the Caribbean. After establishing the Raj in India, Queen Victoria adopted the additional title of Empress of India. Subsequent kings used the title Emperor in India until Partition in 1947.
1880
British occupation
of Egypt
British South Africa Company chartered
Extends control into south-central Africa
1890
George V marries
Mary of Teck, 1893
Edward VIII
born 1894
George VI
born 1895
British East Africa (Kenya) declared a protectorate
1900
Victoria
dies, 1901
Edward VII
ascends to throne, 1901
Between two Queens
Only 51 years separated the reigns of Queens Victoria and Elizabeth II. In that time Europe was riven by two World Wars.
Edward VII dies, 1910
1910
George V
ascends to throne, 1910
In 1917 George V changed the name of the royal house from the German Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the English Windsor because of anti-German sentiment in the United Kingdom during World War I.
WorlD War I
1920
Irish War of Independence
George VI marries
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 1923
Elizabeth II
born 1926
1930
A reluctant king
The abdication of Edward VIII in order to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson rocked the House of Windsor, leading to George VI’s ascension to the throne, and later that of his daughter, Elizabeth II, upon his death.
George V dies, 1936
George VI
ascends to throne, 1936
Edward VIII
ascends to throne,
abdicates, 1936
1940
WorlD War II
A great-great-
grandchild of Queen Victoria, Philip had to formally renounce his Danish and Greek royal titles before marrying his second cousin once removed, Queen Elizabeth II.
Elizabeth II marries
Philip Mountbatten, 1947
Partition of India
Charles
born 1946
1950
Anne
16th in line of succession
George VI
dies, 1952
Egyptian independence
Elizabeth II
ascends to throne,
1952
Suez Crisis
Andrew
8th in line of succession
Nigerian independence
1960
Jamaican independence
Edward
13
Kenyan independence
End of empire
After World War II many British colonies in Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East declared independence, shrinking the British Empire. Between 1945 and 1965 the number of British subjects residing outside of Britain fell from 700 million to 5 million.
1970
Edward VIII
dies, 1972
17
Charles
marries
Diana
Spencer,
1981
1980
20
Falklands War
William
Heir
apparent
1
Harry
5
9
1990
11
Charles
divorces
Princess
Diana,
1996
Hong Kong returned
to China
Princess
Diana
dies, 1997
Good Friday Agreement
2000
Modern monarchy
By the 21st century most royal families are ceremonial and imperial colonies are a thing of the past. Many members of the royal family marry outside of royalty.
15
Charles
marries
Camilla
Parker
Bowles,
2005
14
2010
18
19
George
2
21
Charlotte
3
Louis
4
22
6
2020
23
7
12
10
Elizabeth II
dies, 2022
Charles III
ascends to
throne, 2022
Research: Scott Elder.
Sources: Official website of the British Royal Family; Encyclopaedia Britannica;
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography; Burke’s Peerage; Debrett’s; The World Factbook
Read more:
Why Elizabeth II was modern Britain’s most unlikely queen
How National Geographic photographed Queen Elizabeth II
The evolution of monarchy
The British royal family once ruled almost a quarter of the world’s people and places, maintaining power among a small group of Europe’s elite monarchies. 134 of the last 185 years have been ruled by two Queens, overseeing vastly different realms and royal families.
Key
Victoria
born 1819
Albert
Prince
of Saxe-
Coburg-
Gotha
Female
1820
Male
Born
Marriage
Accession
Divorce
REIGN
Died
Monarch
Royal
Foreign royal
Non-royal
By Jason Treat
Illustrations By JOE McKendry
Published September 8, 2022
1830
Frederick III
Emperor of Germany
and King of Prussia
Victoria
ascends to throne, 1837
End of First Opium War
Britain takes control of Hong Kong
Louis IV
Grand Duke
of Hesse
Victoria
Princess Royal
Victoria marries Albert,
Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, 1840
1840
Alice
Grand Duchess of Hesse
Mother of Alexandra, Empress of Russia
Edward VII
born 1842
Alexandra
Princess of Denmark
Alfred
Duke of Edinburgh and of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Helena
Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein
The “Grandmother
of Europe”
Queen Victoria reigned longer than any British monarch before Elizabeth II and oversaw the expansion and industrialisation of the British Empire. Her children married into multiple European royal families.
Louise
Duchess of Argyll
1850
Maria
Grand Duchess of Russia, daughter of Tsar Alexander II
Arthur
Duke of Connaught
Government
of India Act
Britain takes direct control of the British East India Company,
the British
Raj begins
Leopold
Duke of Albany
Louis of Battenberg
Marquess of Milford Haven
Crimean War
Reign of Victoria
Beatrice
Mother of Victoria Eugenie, Queen of Spain
Wilhelm II
Emperor of
Germany
and King
of Prussia
Lagos (Nigeria) declared a British colony
1860
Edward VII marries Alexandra,
Princess of Denmark, 1863
Victoria of Hesse
Marchioness of Milford Haven
Albert Victor
Duke of Clarence and Avondale
George V
born 1865
Victoria
Mary Queen consort
Rise of empire
Queen Victoria presided over an incredible expansion of the British Empire, controlling India, South Africa and much of Africa, and the Caribbean. After establishing the Raj in India, Queen Victoria adopted the additional title of Empress of India. Subsequent kings used the title Emperor
in India until Partition in 1947.
Louise Princess
Royal
Maud
Queen of
Norway
1870
Alexander
John
Haakon VII
King of Norway
Andrew
Prince of Greece and Denmark
British occupation of Egypt
1880
British South Africa Company chartered
Extends control into south-
central Africa
Alice of
Battenberg
1890
British
East Africa (Kenya) declared a protectorate
George V marries
Mary of Teck, 1893
Edward VIII born 1894
George VI born 1895
Mary
Princess Royal
1900
Victoria
dies, 1901
Henry
Duke of Gloucester
Queen Elizabeth
Queen Mother
Edward VII
ascends to
throne, 1901
George
Duke of Kent
John
Between two Queens
Only 51 years separated the reigns of Queens Victoria and Elizabeth II. In that time Europe was riven by two World Wars.
Edward VII
dies, 1910
1910
George V
ascends to
throne, 1910
In 1917 George V changed the name of the royal house from the German Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
to the English Windsor because of anti-German sentiment in the United Kingdom during World War I.
World War I
1920
Irish War of Independence
Philip
Duke of Edinburgh
George VI marries
Elizabeth Bowes-
Lyon, 1923
Elizabeth II
born 1926
Margaret
Countess of
Snowdon
1930
A reluctant king
The abdication of Edward VIII in order to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson rocked the House of Windsor, leading to George VI’s ascension to the throne, and later that of his daughter, Elizabeth II, upon his death.
George V
dies, 1936
George VI
ascends to
throne, 1936
Edward VIII
ascends to throne,
abdicates, 1936
1940
World War II
A great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria, Philip had to formally renounce his Danish and Greek royal titles before marrying his second cousin once removed, Queen Elizabeth II.
Elizabeth II marries
Philip Mountbatten, 1947
Partition of India
Charles born 1948
Mark
Phillips
Camilla Parker
Bowles
Duchess of Cornwall
1950
Anne
The Princess Royal
16th in line of succesion
Egyptian independence
George VI
dies, 1952
Elizabeth II
ascends to throne, 1952
Timothy
Laurence
Suez Crisis
Sarah Ferguson
Duchess of York
Nigerian independence
1960
Diana Spencer
Princess of Wales
Andrew
Duke of York
8th in line of succesion
Jamaican independence
Edward
Earl of Wessex
13th
Kenyan independence
Sophie Rhys-Jones Countess of Wessex
End of empire
After World War II many
British colonies in Africa,
the Caribbean and the Middle East declared independence, shrinking the British Empire. Between 1945 and 1965 the number of British subjects residing outside of Britain fell from 700 million to 5 million.
1970
Peter
Phillips
17th
Rachel Meghan Markle
Duchess of Sussex
Autumn
Phillips
(née Kelly)
Mike Tindall
Catherine Middleton
Duchess of Cambridge
1980
Charles marries
Diana Spencer, 1981
Zara
Tindall
(née Phillips)
20th
Reign of Elizabeth II
Falklands War
William
Duke of Cambridge
Heir apparent
1st in line of succession
Edoardo
Mapelli
Mozzi
Harry
Duke of Sussex
5th
Jack Brooksbank
Beatrice
9th
1990
Eugenie
11th
Charles divorces
Princess Diana, 1996
Hong Kong returned to China
Princess Diana dies, 1997
Good Friday Agreement
2000
Modern monarchy
By the 21st century most royal families are ceremonial and imperial colonies are a thing of the past. Many members of the royal family marry outside of royalty.
Louise
15th
Charles marries
Camilla Parker Bowles, 2005
James Viscount Severn
14th
2010
Savannah Phillips
18th
Isla
Phillips
19th
George
2nd
Mia
Tindall
21st
Charlotte
3rd
Sienna
Mapelli
Mozzi
10th
Lena Tindall
22nd
Louis
4th
Archie
6th
2020
Elizabeth II
dies,2022
August
Brooksbank
12th
Lillibet
7th
Lucas
Tindall
23rd
Charles III
ascends to throne, 2022
Research: Scott Elder.
Sources: Official website of the British Royal Family; Encyclopaedia Britannica;
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography; Burke’s Peerage; Debrett’s; The World Factbook
Read more:
Why Elizabeth II was modern Britain’s most unlikely queen
How National Geographic photographed Queen Elizabeth II