If your knowledge of who’s who in Britain’s leading family is a little bit thin on the ground, you might be missing out. There’s a whole host of names and faces involved with, i.e., a royal wedding or any royal event, and it can all get a little confusing.
Have no fear, however. Here’s some research to make sure you know exactly who you’re looking at. With this short guide, you’ll gain essential insight into the lasting impact of those special moments that will go down in history for generations.
Queen Elizabeth II
Born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor on 21 April 1926, Elizabeth became queen on 6 February 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI. Her coronation took place on 2 June 1953. She served as Head of State of the United Kingdom and as Head of the Commonwealth during a reign of more than 70 years, making her the longest-reigning British monarch in history.
In 1947, she married Prince Philip (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark), who became Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; together they had four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward. Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022, after which her eldest son succeeded as King Charles III.
His Majesty King Charles III
Born Charles Philip Arthur George on 14 November 1948, King Charles III acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022. Before becoming king he held titles including Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, and Duke of Rothesay.
He first married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981; their marriage produced two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, and ended in divorce in 1996. Diana died in 1997. In 2005 Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles (now Queen Camilla), who became queen consort on his accession.
The Prince and Princess of Wales
Charlesโ elder son, Prince William (b. 1982), is the current Prince of Wales and heir apparent. He is married to Catherine, Princess of Wales (nรฉe Catherine Middleton); they married in 2011 and have three children: Prince George (b. 2013), Princess Charlotte (b. 2015), and Prince Louis (b. 2018).
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex
Charlesโ younger son, Prince Harry (b. 1984), is the Duke of Sussex. He married Meghan Markle in 2018; they have two children, Archie (b. 2019) and Lilibet (b. 2021). Harry and Meghan stepped back from senior royal duties in 2020 and now live primarily in the United States.
We hope that’s given you a little more clarity on who’s who in the Royal Family. If you’d like to get up close and personal with the history of the British Royal Family, we highly recommend our Historic Royal Palace tours.
