The House of Windsor Name changed in 1917
King George V 1910 – 1936 Second son of Edward VII Ruled Britain during First World War 1914 - 1918. During his reign women were allowed to vote for the first time. Sinn Fein Easter Rising in 1916 led to independent Parliament in Ireland in 1918. King Edward VIII June 1936 - abdicated December 1936 Eldest son of George V. Ruled for just 325 days. Abdicated to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson, as he was not able to marry a divorced woman and become King. Mrs. Simpson was an American, a divorcee and had two husbands still living. King George VI 1 936 – 1952 Second son of George V and the shy brother of Edward VIII. He didn't expect to become King. Ruled during World War Two and refused to leave London during the blitz. The two Princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, spent the war years at Windsor Castle. The post-war years of his reign were ones of great social change and saw the start of the National Health Service. The whole country flocked to the Festival of Britain held in London in 1951 Queen Elizabeth II 1952 - present day Elder daughter of George VI. On Nov. 20, 1947, she married Philip Mountbatten, duke of Edinburgh. They were in Kenya (en route for a tour of Australia and New Zealand) when the king died (Feb. 6, 1952) and Elizabeth succeeded to the throne. Her coronation, on June 2, 1953, was the first to be televised. Queen Elizabeth II is the 40th monarch (King or Queen) since William the Conqueror obtained the crown of England in 1066. | |
