British Royal Family Changes Its Name to Windsor
The British Royal Family officially changed its name to Windsor during World War I, a decision enacted by King George V on July 17, 1917. This change was largely influenced by the strong anti-German sentiment in Britain at the time, as the royal family had German heritage dating back to the ascension of George I of Hanover in 1714. The family had previously been known as the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, a name derived from Queen Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. However, with Germany being a key adversary in the war, the royal family's German roots became a liability. The new name, Windsor, was chosen from Windsor Castle, a significant royal residence. Since then, the family has continued to use Windsor as their royal designation, with subsequent monarchs including Edward VIII, George VI, and Elizabeth II adopting the name. The name change reflects not only a shift in identity but also the evolving relationship between the monarchy and the British public during a tumultuous period in history.
British Royal Family Changes Its Name to Windsor
British Royal Family Changes Its Name to Windsor
During World War I, King George V of England issued a proclamation which changed the name of Great Britain's royal family from Hanover to Windsor, and this decree was effective on July 17, 1917. The British royal family had German roots, dating back to 1714 when George I of Hanover took the throne. George I could barely speak English, and much of his reign was devoted to fighting wars back in his native Germany. The House of Hanover became the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1840, after Queen Victoria married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, who was also a German. However, the royal household's name became something of an embarrassment after the outbreak of World War I, when Great Britain's most formidable enemy was the nation of Germany. The strong anti-German sentiment among the population prompted King George V to change the family's name. The name Windsor was taken from Windsor Castle, one of the royal family's principal residences. George V's successors were Edward VIII, George VI, and then Elizabeth II, who remains Britain's monarch as of the writing of this book. With some modifications, they have retained the name of Windsor ever since.