Royalty.nu > World > Europe > UK > British History · British Royal News · Books · DVDs · Royalty Magazines · Articles

The Windsor Dynasty

King George V

Reigned 1910-1936

King Edward VIII

Reigned January-December 1936
Abdicated. Never crowned.

King George VI

Reigned 1936-1952

Queen Elizabeth II

Reigned 1952-Present

Reigned Before the Windsors:

King Edward VII (reigned 1901-1910)
(Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Dynasty)

The Hanoverians (reigned 1714-1901)

Full List of English Royal Dynasties:

British Royal History

More About the Windsors

Prince Charles
Diana, Princess of Wales
Prince William & Prince Harry
Sarah, Duchess of York
The Queen Mother
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor
British Royal News
Royal Marriage Proposals

About the Name Windsor

The royal family has little use for last names - after all, everyone knows who they are. Princess Diana did not take back her maiden name, Spencer, after her divorce; she continued to be known simply as "Diana." The Queen signs official documents "Elizabeth R." The R stands for Regina, which means "queen." (Regina is not one of her given names; she was baptised Elizabeth Alexandra Mary.)

But the royal family does have a last name, and they do use it from time to time. This wasn't always the case. Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, was a member of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, so her descendants were part of that dynasty. This, however, was not the family's last name. They didn't have one, because they didn't need one, so they didn't worry about it. Experts later worried about it for them and decided their name was probably "Witten" (or maybe even Wipper).

The royal family's official name, or lack thereof, became a problem during World War I, when people began to mutter that Saxe-Coburg-Gotha sounded far too German. King George V and his family needed a new, English-sounding name. After considering everything from Plantagenet to Tudor-Stuart to simply England, the king and his advisors chose the name Windsor.

To this day, the British royal family is known as the House of Windsor. When Princess Elizabeth (the current queen) served as a subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II, she was called "Elizabeth Windsor." Elizabeth married Prince Philip of Greece, whose family name was Mountbatten, and eventually she decreed that most of her descendants would be called Mountbatten-Windsor. Princess Anne used this name in 1973 when she married Captain Mark Phillips.

However, according to statements made by the queen, it appears that Windsor is still the official family name for any British royal who is styled "Royal Highness." The queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, has used the name Edward Windsor professionally. His wife, the Countess of Wessex, has been known professionally as Sophie Wessex.

The Order of Succession

The queen has given her approval for Parliament to consider a law that would give royal daughters the right to inherit the throne before their younger brothers. Under current law, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward (and their children) rank ahead of their older sister, Princess Anne, in the line of sucession. If the law changes, Anne will be fourth in line to the throne. Prince Charles, as the queen's eldest child, will remain heir to the throne.

The current order of succession

Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales
Prince William
Prince Harry
Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Princess Beatrice
Princess Eugenie
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
James Windsor, Viscount Severn
Lady Louise Windsor
Princess Anne, the Princess Royal
Peter Phillips
Zara Phillips

Catholics and the Act of Settlement

The 1701 Act of Settlement made it illegal for a Roman Catholic, or anyone married to a Roman Catholic, to inherit the throne. (Note: It has been rumored that Prince Charles's second wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, is Catholic, but this is not true.)

Royal Palaces

The royal family uses, but does not own, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, St James's Palace, Hampton Court, Windsor Castle and other residences. Balmoral and Sandringham are the queen's personal property.

Books About the British Royal Family

Unless otherwise noted, these books are for sale at Amazon.com. Your purchase through these links will help to support the continued operation and improvement of the Royalty.nu site.

Book categories: The Royal Family, Pro & Con, Constitution, Titles and Rites, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince of Wales, Diana, William & Harry, Princess Anne, Zara, Edward & Sophie, Fergie, Princess Margaret, Lord Snowdon, George V, Queen Mother, Edward VII, George VI, Edward VIII, The Kents, Others, Royal Collectibles, Royal Scandal, 20th Century, Media & Monarchy, British History, Genealogy, Royal Travel, Castles & Palaces, Art, Fiction, Would-Be Royals, Miscellaneous, Collectibles, DVDs, Royalty Magazines

The Royal Family

The Firm: The Troubled Life of the House of Windsor by Penny Junor. This book promises an in-depth look at how the royal family really operates and how they behave behind closed doors.

The Women of Windsor: Their Power, Privilege & Passions by Catherine Whitney. Examines the lives of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne.

Wives of the Kings of England: From Hanover to Windsor by Mark Hichens. Discusses Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, the Duchess of Windsor, the Queen Mother, and others.

The British Monarchy for Dummies by Philip Wilkinson. Explains the origins of the monarchy, how it works, what the royals do all day, and more.

The House of Windsor by Andrew Roberts, edited by Antonia Fraser. The history of the royal family, including the death of Princess Diana and that tragedy's aftermath.

On Royalty: A Very Polite Inquiry Into Some Strangely Related Families by Jeremy Paxman. With a mixture of popular history, direct reportage, and funny anecdotes, the author examines how the role of Britain's head of state has changed over the years.

The Decline and Fall of the House of Windsor by Donald Spoto. Excellent introduction to the personalities and events that shaped the Windsor dynasty, from the days of Queen Victoria to the 1990s. Despite the title, the author is not unsympathetic to his subjects. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

The Royal Scrapbook by Robert Opie. Over 1,000 images illustrating more than 100 years of royal events, beginning with Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and ending with Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee.

Magic Moments: The Greatest Royal Photographs of All Time by Arthur Edwards. For thirty years, photographer Edwards has captured memorable royal moments. This book contains his best color pictures and unique stories.

Confessions of a Fake Sheik: "The King of the Sting" Reveals All by Mazher Mahmood. A journalist who poses as a wealthy sheikh talks about his encounters with famous people, including royals.

Living Off the State: A Critical Guide to Royal Finance by Jon Temple. A detailed examination of the official finances of the British monarch and leading members of the royal family. Examines the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster; the Civil List; housing for leading royals; the Royal Collection; and more. Available from Alibris.

Pros & Cons of Monarchy

Crowning Glory: The Merits of Monarchy by Charles Neilson-Gattey. Argues that monarchy is a stabilizing force, and explains how the concept of a constitutional monarch emerged and how monarchs since Queen Victoria have played that role.

The End of the House of Windsor: Birth of a British Republic by Stephen Haseler. Is the British monarchy an absurd anachronism or the lynchpin of the nation state? This controversial book argues that, as a result of recent scandals, a British republic is now inevitable.

War of the Windsors: A Century of Unconstitutional Monarchy by Lynn Picknett, Clive Prince, and Stephen Prior. Examines the battle for power in the modern British royal family. Topics include the abdication of Edward VIII, the cover-up of royal financial scandals, and the use of euthanasia on royals.

God Save the Queen? Monarchy and the Truth About the Windsors by Johann Hari. The author says the royal family's members have been broken and destroyed by the institution they were born into.

God Save the Queen: The Spiritual Dimension of Monarchy by Ian Bradley. Explores the spiritual dimension of monarchy in historical and contemporary times, and the debate on the future of the British monarchy. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

Monarchy, Constitution & Politics

Down With the Crown by Antony Taylor. British anti-monarchism and debates about royalty since 1790.

The Monarchy and the Constitution by Vernon Bogdanor. English constitutional history and theory. The author makes a case for the positive role that monarchy plays in modern democratic politics.

King and Country: Monarchy and the Future of King Charles III by Robert Blackburn. Unravels the tangled relationship between crown and state in Great Britain, examining how a monarchy can work in a democracy, the political powers of a British monarch and the nature of the royal prerogative, the case for republicanism, and the future of the monarchy.

The Nature of the Crown: A Legal and Political Analysis edited by Maurice Sunkin and Sebastian Payne. Essays about the monarchy and constitutional law in Great Britain.

The Constitutional History of England by Henry Hallam. From the accession of Henry VII to the death of George II.

The Executive in the Constitution: Structure, Autonomy, and Internal Control by Alan Page and Terence Daintith.

Titles, Rites, and Ceremonies

Honours and Rewards in the British Empire and Commonwealth (2 Volume Set) by Anthony N. Pamm.

Symbol and Privilege: The Ritual Context of British Royalty by Ilse Hayden. Customs, rites and ceremonies of British royalty. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip

Books About Queen Elizabeth & Prince Philip

The Princess Royal

The Princess Royal by John Parker. A 1989 biography of Queen Elizabeth II's only daughter. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

Riding Through My Life by HRH The Princess Royal. Princess Anne's own account of how riding has benefited her life, from her first tiny pony through becoming European Champion in the dangerous sport of Three-Day Eventing, and representing Britain in the Olympic Games. From Alibris.

Anne: Portrait of a Princess by Judith Campbell. About the events, joys, and sorrows of childhood and life at school which formed Princess Anne's strong character. Published in 1970. From Alibris.

Anne and the Princesses Royal by Helen Cathcart. A book about the position of Princess Royal through the ages as well as about Princess Anne. From Alibris.

More Books About Princess Anne

Zara Phillips

Zara Phillips: A Revealing Portrait of a World Champion by Brian Hoey. The only daughter of Princess Anne, Zara Phillips is known as a royal rebel. This book looks beyond the public image to reveal the real Zara with anecdotes and quotes from those who know her.

Out of the Shadows: The Richard Johnson Story by Richard Johnson and Alan Lee. Autobiography of Richard Johnson, one of Britain's leading National Hunt jockeys and the former boyfriend of Princess Anne's daughter, Zara Phillips. Available from AbeBooks.

Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex

Edward Windsor, Royal Enigma by Wendy Leigh. What is Prince Edward really like? Find out! This biography is out of print, but available from Alibris.

Sophie's Kiss: The True Love Story of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones by Garth Gibbs and Sean M. Smith. The little-known details of the romance between Queen Elizabeth's youngest son and the woman he eventually married. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

Edward Wessex's Crown and Country: A Personal Guide to Royal London by Prince Edward. The prince takes the reader on a tour through the history of London's royal palaces. This is the companion book to the PBS series (for which scroll down to the video section).

Princess Margaret

Princess Margaret: A Life Unravelled by Tim Heald. A biography based on unprecedented access to the Royal Archives and those closest to Princess Margaret, including her ex-husband, Lord Snowdon, and her son, Lord Linley.

Margaret: The Last Real Princess by Noel Botham. Biography of Queen Elizabeth II's unconventional younger sister.

Princess Margaret: A Life of Contrasts by Christopher Warwick. Authorized biography. Available from Alibris.

More Books About Princess Margaret

Lord Snowdon

Snowdon: Public Figure, Private Man by Brian Hoey. When photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones married Princess Margaret in 1960, he became a member of the royal family -- and the "first royal rebel." The author talked to Snowdon's son and others to create a "full and frank portrait of this fascinating man."

Snowdon: The Biography by Anne de Courcy. Antony Armstrong-Jones married Britain's Princess Margaret in 1960. They divorced in 1978 -- the first royal divorce since Henry VIII. Available from AbeBooks.

Snowdon: A Photographic Autobiography by Lord Snowdon. A selection of Lord Snowdon's best photographs. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

Once Upon a Time: The Story of Antony Armstrong Jones by Robert Glenton and Stella King. Biography published at the time of Princess Margaret's marriage to Lord Snowdon. From Alibris.

Tony's Room: The Secret Love Story of Princess Margaret by William Glenton. Published in 1965. From Alibris.

Lord Snowdon by Helen Cathcart. Biography, published in 1968. From Alibris.

A Family Affair: The Margaret and Tony Story by Robert Hutchinson and Gary Khan. Published in 1977, this book explores the reasons for the couple's separation (they later divorced). Sometimes available from Alibris.

George V and Queen Mary

George V by Kenneth Rose. Biography of the British king, who lived 1865-1936. This book, winner of the Whitbread Prize, draws on letters and diaries of the royal family, intimates, and social observers of the time. Available from Alibris.

Darling Georgie; The Enigma of King George V by Dennis Friedman. The author of this biography suggests that George V's troubled relationship with his parents caused him to suffer extreme separation anxiety. His time in the Navy, sexual development, and years on the throne are also scrutinized.

Queen Mary by James Pope-Hennessy. Official biography of May of Teck, wife of King George V. Tells the story of her impoverished childhood, her very significant reign, and her old age as the much-admired Queen Dowager.

The Lost Prince by Stephen Poliakoff. Screenplay of a British TV movie about Prince John, the epileptic son of King George V, who was shut away at age 12 to save the royal family from embarrassment. Includes a 70-page factual introduction.

King, Kaiser, Tsar: Three Royal Cousins Who Led the World to War by Catrine Clay. The story of Britain's George V, Germany's Wilhelm II, and Russia's Nicholas II. They were tied to one another by history, and history would ultimately tear them apart.

Books About Queen Mary's Doll's House
Books About George V's Father, Edward VII

The Kents

The Kents: A Royal Family by Audrey Whiting. Out of print, but sometimes available at Alibris.

Princess Alexandra by Paul James. Biography of a classic beauty who started life as something of an ugly duckling. From Alibris.

Princess Alexandra by Helen Cathcart. A lively and revealing biography written from personal knowledge. From Alibris.

Princess Michael of Kent by Peter Lane. About the wife of Queen Elizabeth's cousin Prince Michael of Kent. Out of print, but available at Alibris.

The Serpent and the Moon: Two Rivals for the Love of a Renaissance King by Princess Michael of Kent. About French king Henry II.

Crowned in a Far Country: Portraits of Eight Royal Brides by Princess Michael of Kent. The stories behind the dynastic and political marriages of 18th and 19th century European princesses.

Cupid and the King by Princess Michael of Kent. Looks at the lives of five royal mistresses: Diane De Poitiers, Nell Gwyn, Madame de Pompadour, Marie Walewska, and Lola Montez.

Katharine: A Biography of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent by Valerie Garner. The Duke of Kent is a grandson of King George V. This is a biography of his wife, who is said to have been coldly treated by the royal family. Sometimes available from AbeBooks.

Princess Marina: Her Life and Times by Stella King. Biography of the Greek princess who married George V's son Prince George, Duke of Kent. She was the mother of the present Duke of Kent. From Alibris.

More Books About Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent

Others

Alice: Princess Andrew of Greece by Hugo Vickers. About the mother of Queen Elizabeth II's husband, Prince Philip. Born deaf, Princess Alice led a dramatic, often tragic life, and ended her days as a nun.

Royal Subjects: A Biographer's Encounters by Theo Aronson. The author, who has written many royal biographies, shares the details of his interviews with members of the British royal family, including the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, and Prince Charles. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

Books About Prince Charles
Books About Princess Diana
Books About Prince William and Prince Harry
Books About Queen Victoria
Books About Edward VII
Books About the Queen Mother and George VI
Books About Sarah Ferguson

Royal Collectibles and Commemoratives

Books About Royal Collectibles
Royal Autographs

Scandal in the House of Windsor

Buckingham Babylon: The Rise and Fall of the House of Windsor by Peter Fearon reveals the secrets of the Windsor family, past and present. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

The Royals by Kitty Kelley. An unflattering but very interesting look at the current royal family. From Alibris.

Books About European Royal Scandals
Books About International Royal Scandals

The 20th Century

Dignified & Efficient: The British Monarchy in the Twentieth Century by Charles Douglas-Home and Saul Kelly. In moving portraits of the monarchs and their advisers, the authors examine the tasks of recent crowned heads and the virtues that enabled them to act for the common good.

The BBC Book of Royal Memories: 1947-1990 edited by Caroline Elliot. Look behind the scenes at how such historic royal events as Prince Charles's wedding were stage-managed. Large print.

Media and Monarchy

Media and Monarchy by Mallory Wober. Discusses monarchs' uses of media and monarchy as the message through which the history of a nation is conveyed. Focuses mainly on the British monarchy.

Books About Princess Diana and the Media

The Royal Art Collection

Royal Treasures: A Golden Jubilee Celebration edited by Jane Roberts. Specially commissioned photographs and detailed histories of the very best items in Britain's Royal Collection, including paintings and drawings by great masters; works of art by Fabergé and others; fine furniture, ceramics, sculpture, armor, and more. 450 color illustrations and photographs.

The Quest for Albion: Monarchy and the Patronage of British Painting by Christopher Lloyd is an anthology of British paintings in the Royal Collection.

Unfolding Pictures: Fans in the Royal Collection by Jane Roberts, Prudence Sutcliffe, Susan Mayor. This lavishly illustrated book presents the most beautiful and historically interesting fans in the Royal Collection, along with the stories of their creation and biographical information on their owners.

Faberge in the Royal Collection by Caroline De Guitaut. A definitive guide to the British royal family's Faberge collection. Explains in detail the formation of the collection and the tastes of the principal royal collectors. 220 illustrations, 200 in color.

More Books About the Royal Collection
More Books About Faberge

Royal Travel & Tourism

Royal Transport: An Inside Look at the History of British Royal Travel by Peter Pigott. Who was the first monarch to drive a motorcar? The first to fly in an aircraft? Find out in this illustrated look at how British royalty has travelled since the invention of steam.

The Royal Train: The Inside Story by Brian Hoey. Examines every aspect of the royals' favorite form of transport, including the costs, refreshments, and the décor in the Queen's personal saloon.

Royal Tourism: Excursions Around Monarchy edited by Philip Long and Nicola J. Palmer. Explores the relationship between royalty and tourism past, present and future. (Not a travel guide.)

Royal London by Jacqui Bailey, illustrated by Matthew Lilly. This travel guide takes the reader on a tour through London's royal history, and is intended to educate children between the ages of 9 and 12. It includes quizzes, photographs, maps, and places to visit.

Books About Royal Trains

Fiction

Royal Escape by Susan Froetschel. Mystery thriller about a fictional Princess of Wales who wants to end her marriage but faces opposition from her mother-in-law, Queen Catherine II.

Freddy and Fredericka by Mark Helprin. Humorous story about a fictional Prince and Princess of Wales who travel across the United States: riding freight trains, washing dishes, stealing art, fighting forest fires, and becoming enmeshed in a presidential campaign.

Blood Royal by Harold Robbins. Novel about a (fictional) modern Princess of Wales who shoots and kills her husband.

The Queen and I by Sue Townsend. Humorous novel in which the Windsors lose their royal status and are forced to move into an ordinary English community. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

Queen Camilla by Sue Townsend. Charles and Camilla's "secret love child" tries to claim the British throne. Available from Alibris.

Royal Flush by Leslie Weller. Screenplay. The Queen schemes to take back the American colonies -- without anyone noticing.

Novels About Princess Diana
More Fiction & Poetry About British Royalty

Would-Be Royalty

Someday My Prince Will Come: True Adventures of a Wannabe Princess by Jerramy Fine. The author spent her childhood writing love-letters to Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips. Years later she moved to London, but life there wasn't the Hugh Grant movie she hoped it would be.

King Nicholas and the Copeman Empire by Nicholas Copeman. True story of a 25-year-old British man who changed his name by deed poll to "His Majesty King Nicholas I," sold peerages over the Internet, received corporate sponsorship, and became a local celebrity.

Movies & Documentaries

These DVDs are formatted for North American audiences.

Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work. 2007 television series follows the royals through a year that includes over 4,000 official engagements, including the State Opening of Parliament and the Queen's tour of the United States. The two-DVD set includes 30 minutes of previously unseen footage.

Windsor Castle: A Royal Year. TV series produced for the BBC. For the first time ever, cameras go behind the scenes at Windsor Castle for a glimpse at life above and below stairs. Meet the Queen's housekeeper, grooms, fendersmiths, and military knights. Accompany Prince Philip as he tours the grounds. Includes over two hours not seen on the PBS broadcast, including exclusive new footage of the wedding of Charles and Camilla.

The Last Royals. Can kings and queens survive the challenges of the 21st century? This television documentary from National Geographic compares the British royal family with three other current royal families.

The Queen's Sister. This 2006 TV movie stars Lucy Cohu as the scandalous Princess Margaret, sister of Queen Elizabeth II.

Prince Edward Documentaries

Crown and Country, Season I. Prince Edward's documentary series, focusing on royal residences. Three VHS tapes. There is a companion book.

Edward and Sophie: A Royal Celebration. This 1999 BBC-produced video features a half hour interview with the royal couple, followed by over an hour of wedding coverage. Sometimes available at Amazon.