British Royal Family Tree. Royal House of Windsor.

The Royal House of Windsor - the current British Royal Family tree

The Royal House of Windsor was founded in 1917 by royal decree of the Queen's grandfather, King George V. The name was adopted as the new name of the British Royal Family, from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. This was mainly due to the anti-German feelings that were very palpable in Britain during the First World War. Windsor remains as the family name of the current British Royal Family.

The current head of the Windsor dynasty is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who ascended the throne in 1952 and was shown for the first time the coronation in the first televised coronation in 1953. She is married to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and they have four children, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Their son and heir, Prince Charles - Prince of Wales, has two sons from his marriage to Lady Diana Spencer who was killed in a car accident in 1997. Prince William is second in the line of succession, as is Prince Harry. When Prince Charles remarried in 2005, it was his longtime friend Camilla Parker-Bowles, but their union initially met with mixed reactions.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge married Kate Middleton in April 2011 and they had a son, the third heir to the throne, George.

Duchess of Cambridge Catherine

Princess Anne - Princess Anne was married twice, her first husband was Captain Mark Phillips and they produced two children, they are Peter and Zara Phillips. She is now married to Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Lawrence.

Prince Andrew - Duke of York, married Sarah Ferguson, but they later divorced. They have two children: Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

The Prince Edward - Earl of Wessex married Sophie Rhys-Jones and they have two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.

The Windsor Royal Family (family tree below) includes all major members of the royal family from George VI and now includes the expected arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was born July 22, 2013 at 4.24pm and weighed 8lb 6oz. On the 24th he was officially named George Alexander Louis and is the sixth generation of Windsor.

photo showing the prince with his grandson Prince George of Cambridge.

In the latest edition, the royal family now also has additions to the tree. Mia Gracia Tindall is the daughter of Zara Phillips and Michael Tindall James, born on January 17, 2014 at Gloucestershire Royal Infirmary.

It was announced for September 8, as the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting her second child. He or she will be fourth in line to the throne.

Please take a look at the Royal House of Windsor - family tree below - which now includes a new addition.

Royal family Windsor family tree

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British Royal Family: Everything You Wanted to Know

Short

1. Dozens of readers responded to the call of the BBC Russian Service to send questions about the British Royal Family.
2. Queen Elizabeth II has become the first British monarch to celebrate her 65th sapphire jubilee.
3. She succeeded to the British throne in 1952 after the death of her father, King George VI.
4. The Queen has eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
5. BBC Russian Service journalists Yana Litvinova and Roza Kudabayeva answer questions.

Live Stream

This concludes the publication of your questions and our answers about the British Royal Family.

Some of your questions will be the starting point for additional investigation and new articles. Stay tuned for updates on the BBC Russian Service website.

Thank you all and see you soon!

In the 70s, the British monarch had to make 73 visits and visit 48 countries. This photograph is from 1972 of Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to France.Image caption: In the 1970s, the British monarch made 73 visits to 48 countries. This photograph is from 1972 of Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to France.

Dear Lyudmila, as Buckingham Palace officials say, "all overseas travel by members of the royal family is in accordance with the recommendations of the British government."

Of course, a visit to a visit is different - it can be state, official or unofficial, the queen herself and her husband, heirs or other members of the royal family can go, but in any case, politics cannot be dispensed with, so each visit is carefully thought out and planned.

According to one former official, the government sees royal visits as a winning card that can be successfully traded for concessions in business or political deals. "They are a kind of foreign policy currency," said the former official.

In her 65 years on the throne - Elizabeth II recently celebrated the sapphire jubilee of her reign - she has made more than 120 official visits.

The 1970s were the busiest in this regard, when the British monarch had to make 73 visits and visit 48 countries.

Most often, the Queen visited Canada - 27 visits and Australia - 18 visits.

From the countries of the former Soviet Union, she visited Russia, where in October 1994 she was met by President Boris Yeltsin, as well as Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in October 2006.

As for other members of the royal family, they are, of course, more free to choose the direction of their trips.

The Queen's son Prince Andrew has repeatedly visited the countries of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, promoting the interests of British business, for which he was criticized by the British media.

When Prince Harry, along with his girlfriend Cressida Bonas, visited Kazakhstan privately in 2014 - skiing at the Chimbulak ski resort there - the British press also expressed their dissatisfaction, recalling human rights violations in this country.

So there is hope that Prince Harry can be told about the ski resorts in Georgia, and in the future he will be able to personally test the slopes of the Caucasus Mountains.

Princess Elizabeth (right) and her younger sister Princess Margaret were homeschooledImage caption: Princess Elizabeth (right) and her younger sister Princess Margaret were homeschooled

Lyudmila, the issue of raising children in the royal family largely depends, probably, on what generation we are talking about.

The British monarchy is based on tradition, but it remains in demand largely due to the ability to constantly update and keep up with the times.

Take, for example, Queen Victoria. She was, by modern standards, a super mother of many children (she had 9 children - 4 boys and 5 girls). They were brought up mainly by nannies, governesses and teachers, and the queen, who had many other things to do, communicated with her children for about an hour a day. And at this time it would hardly have occurred to them to be naughty.

However, we must not forget that in the Victorian era, corporal punishment of children was common, and the children of Queen Victoria were no exception. Prince Albert could personally hit the children on the fingers during music lessons if they suddenly pressed the wrong key. And in this family, the more strict parent was, without a doubt, the father, who organized a very rich educational program for his children.

As for the parents of Princess Elizabeth, they were completely different people. They didn't want to bother their two daughters with many lessons, so the princesses were homeschooled. Classes for the eldest princess lasted an hour and a half - from 9.30 to 11 am, the rest of the time the girls played in the fresh air, danced and sang.

When Elizabeth became heir to the throne, a new subject was added to her lessons - the history of the constitution, which was taught by Vice-Rector of Eton Henry Marten.

Apparently, the childhood of the future queen was happy, and, as many biographers note, relatively normal (if you ignore the fact that when she was born, the Minister of the Interior was in the next room. It can be assumed that in case the royal baby was not at the last moment changed).

For example, before going to bed, little Princess Elizabeth would put all her toys in order, lining up her toy ponies in a row and removing their saddles. So, one must think, there were no special reasons for punishing her parents. And Margaret - her father's favorite - both in childhood and in the years of her youth, got away with a lot.

The queen treated her own children - Princess Anne, Princes Charles, Andrew and Edward with no less love than her parents for her, although evil tongues sometimes claimed that she was more concerned about the condition of her horses and dogs.

Prince Charles complained in one of his autobiographies that she was a "cold" mother and that the nannies, rather than the "emotionally reserved" parents, "played with him, witnessed his first steps, punished and rewarded him, helped him express his first thoughts." ".

The sense of duty that guided Elizabeth II in almost everything left her perhaps not much time to communicate with children, but people who know her closely speak of the great patience she showed in dealing with children, especially when they matured and clashed. with a variety of personal problems.

Elizabeth II had to go through difficult times when, in one year, two of her children announced that they were temporarily not living with their spouses, and the third announced a divorce.

It is also alleged that in relations with her grandchildren, she has become less strict and is not afraid to show her feelings.

The queen's restraint began to be blamed on her, comparing her with the emotional Princess Diana, who could hug and caress her sons, and sometimes slap them. And sometimes it was for what - Prince William, for example, in kindergarten was called "Billy the bully", and at home with the light hand of Princess Diana - "Your royal disobedience."

But William's nanny was in no case allowed to spank him or raise his voice at him when he indulged.

So, at the wedding of his uncle Prince Andrew in 1986, four-year-old William did not behave decorously, as expected, but - scary to think - showed his tongue to his cousin Laura Fellows, spun during the ceremony and left Westminster Abbey in a completely inappropriate form for a prince: his headdress - a straw hat - completely strayed to one side.

But seriously speaking, the tumultuous ups and downs in the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and then her death in a car accident in Paris, had a rather serious impact on Princes William and Henry.

As one of the British newspapers wrote at one time, the little princes grew up in the atmosphere of a “War of the Scarlet and White Roses” between their parents, who used the Mail and Mirror tabloids as bows and arrows.

Therefore, the British are happy to see how the life of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who became the parents of two charming kids, develops quite normally.

Fortunately, in conversations about a young family where the heir to the British crown is growing up - little Prince George and his sister Princess Charlotte, positive moments prevail.

Newspapers wrote that the babysitter was strictly forbidden to spank them. The main attention is paid to the education of the word.

Prince William with cousin Laura FellowsImage caption: Prince William with his cousin Laura Fellows

1. The Queen's personal property does not include the Crown Jewels.Image caption: The Queen's personal property does not include the Crown Jewels

   You know, Vladimir, if you call "factories, newspapers, steamships" a business, then no.

   But the royal family does not live solely at the expense of the state either. Please note that they are all .

   Or rather, just the rich. At the same time, we are talking about the so-called "old money" that has accumulated over the centuries (we do not know exactly how they acquired their fortune in the deep Middle Ages, but you can guess), so the royal family does not need to spend money on jewelry, paintings, palaces and villas: they have it all for so long.

   The state pays the Queen and the Prince of Wales to carry out their royal duties, and the Queen pays taxes to the treasury on the income she receives from her personal estates.

   According to Buckingham Palace, in the 2014/2015 financial year, each Briton spent 56 pence (70 cents) on the maintenance of the monarchy.

   35.7 million pounds was allocated from the budget for the maintenance of the royal court. For comparison, (it cost everyone living in Britain 1841 pounds).

   And to the question whether the monarchy is worth the money or not, everyone answers in accordance with their ideology. So far there are far more Royalists in Britain than Republicans.

   The queen prefers spirits to winesImage caption: The queen prefers spirits to wine

   The Queen loves movies. Immediately after the wedding, Prince Philip gave her a movie projector.

   Her Majesty's tastes are very traditional. She loves classics, romantic films, pictures about the war. Avant-garde cinema is not particularly interested.

   The queen's favorite color is also a secret with seven seals. For the same reason as her favorite dish, the queen is in no hurry to share her passions with the whole world.

   After all, then she would be given flowers of the same color and so on. But we know what color she does not like - beige.

   Once she said to one of the employees of her staff: "I can not wear beige clothes, because then no one will understand who I am." Of course, the queen exaggerated - it would not be difficult to recognize her. At least we assume so.

   Why are the Queen's outfits very often in pretty bright colors?

   It turns out that not because she especially likes them, but because in such outfits it is very easy to notice her, especially if a large crowd has gathered around her.

   That is, she wants those who wanted to see her to be able to do this, even from afar.

   As for dessert - again, nothing super complicated. Apple pie, berries, traditional chocolate cake.

   According to Daily Mail journalist Robert Hardman, Buckingham Palace has a very talented chef in charge of desserts. This is taken very seriously at court.

   The season is hard to say, the journalist continues, but most likely it is the end of summer when she leaves for Scotland.

   How does the Queen deal with stress and bad mood? The Queen is a man of the old school, and in public she prefers to keep her emotions to herself.

   It is well known that the Queen does not like wine, preferring strong drinks to them.

   Her favorite cocktail, which she traditionally drinks at dinner, is 1/3 gin and 2/3 Dubonnet French aperitif. Try it, maybe it will help you in difficult moments of your life.

   The Queen's outfits are often brightly colored.Image caption: The Queen's outfits are often brightly colored

2. Dominic, don't be surprised. There is no constitution in Britain, because "everyone, on whom at least something depends, already knows the rules of the game."

   Knowing the British, one can assume that nothing will change until the thunder breaks out.

   Theoretically, the queen has every right to dissolve parliament in Britain, as well as in Canada and Australia. And in Britain, by the way, she does just that, but only after the outgoing prime minister officially asks her about it.

   By the way, about Australia: in 1975, the Governor-General of Australia, Sir John Robert Kerr, dissolved the Australian Parliament, because the country was in a real constitutional crisis, and parliamentarians could not pass a new financial law.

   Since the Governor General is the official representative of the Queen, she can, yes, dissolve the Australian Parliament, and has already done so once.

   This is not known to anyone. And for a fairly simple reason, as Daily Mail journalist Robert Hardman told the BBC Russian Service, who once asked the chef of Buckingham Palace this question.

   "If everyone knew which dish she likes the most, then this dish would always be prepared at receptions in her honor," said the chef.

   According to Robert Hardman, it is known that she does not like it. She doesn't like spaghetti, for example, and spicy foods.

   She has rather simple tastes, because she grew up in the harsh years of the war.

   And she likes to eat all her own, so to speak. For example, vegetables from your garden. That is nothing exotic.

   We assume that she has enough exotics in this sense - after all, during receptions and visits, she is served dishes prepared by the best chefs in the world. But this is a topic for another discussion.

   Spaghetti and spicy dishes are exactly what Queen Elizabeth doesn't likeImage caption: Spaghetti and spicy dishes are something Queen Elizabeth definitely doesn't like

3. Little Prince George calls his great-grandmother Elizabeth II "Gan-Gan"Image caption: Little Prince George calls his great-grandmother Elizabeth II "Gan-Gan"

   Leonid, this largely depends on who is addressing Her Majesty.

   Grandchildren can call her Granny (grandmother), and great-grandson George, who has not yet learned to speak plainly, calls her "Gan-Gan" / Gan-Gan (that is, his own version of the word "great-grandmother" or Great-Grandmother). This was recently told by the Duchess of Cambridge, dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the British monarch.

   However, even Elizabeth II's own son, Prince Charles, at the first meeting calls her "Your Majesty", and after that Mommy, that is, "mommy."

   The queen's husband calls her, according to a number of sources, Lilibet. That was what little Elizabeth called herself when she couldn't really pronounce her own name.

   This is how the queen signed a congratulatory telegram to her mother when she turned 100 years old. According to tradition, every resident of Britain who is 100 years old receives congratulations from the monarch.

   In the movie "Queen", where the role of Elizabeth II was superbly performed by Helen Mirren, her husband jokingly calls her Cabbage, that is, "Cabbage".

   But knowledgeable people say that this has nothing to do with the truth.

   Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire is the personal property of the QueenImage caption: Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire is the personal property of the Queen

   Marina, good day!

   This post implies a salary of about 40 thousand pounds, but William announced that he would give all this money to charity.

   Now William has completely left his military career and devoted himself to royal duties.

   By virtue of his position, Prince William is a Companion of the Order of the Garter and the Order of the Thistle.

   Now about Prince Harry, who nevertheless managed to serve in the army, especially since a military career has always attracted him too.

   He also graduated from the military academy at Sandhurst and, like his older brother, came out of there as "Lieutenant Wales", after which he joined the same cavalry regiment as his brother.

   For some time we did not know anything about his military career, but on February 28, 2008, the Ministry of Defense confirmed that the prince served in the Afghan province of Helmand, along with other soldiers of the British army.

   Prince Harry has been to Afghanistan twice, the second time as a military helicopter pilot.

   After security concerns forced the command to recall the prince from the active army, he returned to Britain, where he organized special sports competitions for military personnel who were injured during the hostilities.

   Late in his military career, he took part in the Australian Armed Forces' anti-terror exercises.

   He is a holder of the Victorian Order and was awarded a medal for his participation in the hostilities in Afghanistan.

   Just like his brotherImage caption: Just like his brother

4. Prince George can only fly with his dad on the same plane until he is 12 years old. During a visit to CanadaImage caption: Prince George can only fly with his dad on the same plane until the age of 12. During a visit to Canada

   Denis, yes, it is believed that two heirs to the throne cannot fly in the same plane at the same time.

   On the other hand, it is also true that situations when four (!) Direct heirs to the throne and the monarch - the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte - were in good health at the same time - do not seem to have happened in British history at all never.

   However, the following cannot be on the same plane at the same time: The Queen and Prince Charles, The Queen and Prince William, Prince Charles and Prince William. Prince William can only be on the same plane as Prince George until the day he turns 12.

   I emphasize: this applies ONLY to air travel.

   An exception, however, was made in 2002 when Princes Charles, William and Harry were on the same plane, cutting short their skiing holidays due to the death of the Queen Mother. Otherwise, either William would have had to fly alone, or Charles, who was heartbroken after the death of his beloved grandmother.

   It is known that Elizabeth II prefers to drink Earl Gray or English Breakfast tea with milk and without sugar.Image caption: Queen Elizabeth II is known to prefer Earl Gray or English Breakfast tea with milk and no sugar.

   She gets up early, around 7:30 am.

   At this time, tea is brought to her on a tray in a porcelain cup and saucer, milk and Mary's biscuits.

   The Queen, by the way, never drinks tea with sugar. As for the types of tea, opinions differ: some say that she prefers Earl Grey, others - English Breakfast.

   According to some reports, the Mary cookies were first baked in 1874 by the baker Peak Frians in honor of the wedding of the Duke of Edinburgh and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna.

   An hour later, at 8.30, the Queen and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh have breakfast together in the dining room, which offers a beautiful view of the gardens of Buckingham Palace.

   Corn flakes, yogurt and maple syrup are served on the table. Her Majesty loves marmalade toast, which she sometimes treats to her corgis.

   During breakfast, the queen has time to look through the morning newspapers, the preference is given to the Daily Telegraph and the Racing Post.

   And now, Victor, to the second part of your question. Now there are about 800 companies that have the right to deliver their goods to the royal court (Royal warrants of appointment). They have their own association.

   The website of this organization says that any companies or individual entrepreneurs whose products have been used by members of the royal family for five years can become suppliers of the court in the UK, and we are talking only about the queen herself, her wife the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales.

   In other words, you can get a Royal warrant by supplying goods and services of the highest quality: from jam to cars.

   Moreover, the royal court does not receive any financial concessions from this, everything is purchased at commercial prices. But companies that have received a Royal warrant, that is, royal permission, have the right to place the coats of arms of these royal persons on their products.

   The site of the Royal Court Suppliers Association says that if you want to be in their ranks, then applications can be submitted from the beginning of May to the end of June by filling out the appropriate forms.

   Each application is considered by a special committee of the royal court, which then submits its recommendations to the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales.

   Both British and foreign companies can become a supplier.

   Vladimir, you probably already know that the first, where little Elizabeth raises her hand in a Nazi salute, was reported by the British Sun newspaper in July 2015.

   How this old recording fell into the hands of journalists is not known.

   These black and white shots last only 17 seconds. They show little Elizabeth, then seven years old, playing with a dog on the lawn at Balmoral Castle.

   Next to her is the Queen Mother, Elizabeth's uncle Prince Edward - the future King Edward VIII and little Margaret, her younger sister.

   At one point, the Queen Mother raises her hand in a Nazi salute; Elizabeth, looking at her mother, repeats her gesture. It can be seen that Prince Edward does the same.

   It is assumed that the footage was taken in 1933 or 1934, when the Fuhrer was becoming a prominent figure in Germany, but the circumstances in which the shooting was made are not clear.

   The queen herself, as usual, did not comment on the publication of the Sun. She never does.

   However, Buckingham Palace: "It's sad that a film made 80 years ago ... fell into someone's hands and someone took advantage of it."

   A source at the palace said that most of those who saw the footage would understand that it needs to be viewed in a historical context. It's a family scene, a moment in the game where a gesture that often appeared on screens at the time was reenacted - perhaps even as a joke.

   "No one at that time foresaw the events that followed. Giving these frames some other meaning would be a distortion of the truth," the source said.

   Buckingham Palace in 2015, when the photo was published, expressed disappointment that the newspaper "received and exploited" an 80-year-old footage.Image caption: At Buckingham Palace in 2015, when the photo was published, they were disappointed that the newspaper had "received and exploited" the 80-year-old footage.

5. The Queen with her son and heir Prince CharlesImage caption: The Queen with her son and heir Prince Charles

   No, he can not. According to the laws of succession, adopted back in the 16th and 17th centuries, there are strict rules.

   For example, now the line of succession is built as follows: the first in line is the Prince of Wales Charles, then his eldest son, the Duke of Cambridge William, then his son Prince George, followed by his sister Princess Charlotte, and only after that comes the second son of Charles, Prince Harry .

   The only changes that have been included in the succession law are that any eldest child can now inherit the throne, regardless of gender.

   Had Princess Charlotte been born before her brother, she would have been the heiress.

   The queen, of course, theoretically can abdicate, but cannot choose an heir.

   Prince Harry with brother Prince WilliamImage caption: Prince Harry with his brother Prince William

   Dear Andrey, they are, of course, relatives on both sides.

   Don't forget that World War I was called the "Cousins' War".

   If you seriously study their genealogical forest, then your head is spinning.

   In short, something like this: Kaiser Wilhelm and George V were cousins. Georg and Nikolai are also cousins, and Wilhelm and Nikolai are second cousins.

   Wilhelm's mother was the eldest daughter of Victoria and the sister of father George V. This is what is on the line of Victoria, but there was also a second line of kinship: Alexandra and Dagmar were sisters and daughters of the Danish king Christian. Alexandra became the wife of Victoria's heir, Edward, and Dagmar married Nicholas II's father, Alexander III.

   Therefore, Prince Harry, of course, is related to Nicholas II, but honestly, I simply can’t imagine how to call him correctly.

   Maybe: "Fourth cousin great-nephew on the female side"?

   David, thanks, very interesting question. Hemophilia in general is an extremely curious disease, because women carry the defective gene, and men suffer from it.

   Hemophilia is a hereditary disease, but sometimes unexplained mutations occur.

   Modern scholars believe that Queen Victoria was just such a case. However, she was lucky, and her heir to the British throne, the Prince of Wales, did not suffer from hemophilia. So the British monarchy almost completely avoided this disaster.

   I say "practically" because, although the heir to the throne was spared this trouble, two daughters of Victoria, Alice and Beatrice, turned out to be carriers of the hemophilia gene, and his son Leopold suffered from it and died very young.

   It is believed that the last carrier of the hemophilia gene inherited from Queen Victoria died in 1940, so this attack no longer threatens the modern monarchies of Europe.

   Queen Victoria was a carrier of hemophiliaImage caption: Queen Victoria was a carrier of hemophilia

6. Anastasia, great privileges come with great responsibilities.

   Of course, they have holidays at Christmas and in the summer, but in general they - and especially the queen - do what they have to, regardless of the day of the week or time of day.

   "Her Majesty is the most hardworking and obliging monarch in 1000 years."

7. Pearl necklace - favorite jewelry of Elizabeth IIImage caption: A pearl necklace was a favorite piece of jewelry for Queen Elizabeth II

   Elena Vladimirovna, you quite rightly noted that Queen Elizabeth II clearly prefers this piece of jewelry - a three-strand pearl necklace.

   It was a gift from her grandfather George V. True, the reason for this was his own anniversary - 25 years from the date of ascension to the throne.

   The monarch gave nine-year-old Elizabeth a three-strand necklace, and five-year-old Margaret a two-strand necklace.

   There are two more magnificent pearl necklaces in the Queen's collection - Queen Anne (XVIII century) and Queen Caroline - from 50 pearls. Both were given to her by her father, King George VI.

   Another favorite piece of jewelry for the British Queen is pearl earrings, given to her by her grandmother, Queen Mary in 1947.

   From a simple tweed skirt in a photo with little Prince Edward in 1965 to a full dress on Edward's wedding day by Sophie Rhys-Jones 34 years later, they go with any outfit.

   As for the rings, the queen does not like them. Pay attention - in almost all the photographs, Her Majesty flaunts in gloves. It is said that from a young age, Elizabeth II believed that her hands were not very beautifully shaped, so she did not like to draw attention to them.

   It should be added that when Elizabeth II ascended the throne, she inherited the royal collection of jewelry, which is passed from monarch to monarch.

   They should not be confused with the British Crown Jewels displayed in the Tower of London.

   Jewels from this unique collection adorn the Queen when she participates in various important ceremonies, such as the official opening of Parliament.

   Queen Elizabeth at the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones (note - favorite earrings and necklace).Image caption: Queen Elizabeth at the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones (note her favorite earrings and necklace)

Today the government of the United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. However, Elizabeth II continues to be considered one of the most respected and influential people on the planet. The reverence shown to her by the people of her country extends to members of her family, the House of Windsor.

Despite the fact that in England there is no strict definition (neither legal nor formal) of the members of the monarch's family, nevertheless, as a rule, the following persons are considered to be: the monarch himself (king and queen), the queen's spouse (if he is not a king ), children of the monarch and their spouses, children of the sons of the monarch (i.e. grandchildren in the male line) and their wives (husbands). The King and Queen of Great Britain bear the title of Her (His) Royal Majesty, and the rest of the family - Their Royal Highnesses. They are considered princes and princesses. In the old days, each of the members of the monarchical family represented the king (queen) throughout the country, holding responsible government posts. The transition to a constitutional monarchy has changed a lot in the kingdom of Great Britain: the royal family has lost many of its powers, and today its members perform only social and ceremonial functions both within the kingdom and abroad. The same applies to the role of the queen in the affairs of the state. The country is governed by a cabinet of ministers, which is responsible to parliament. However, she has and can, at her own discretion, dissolve parliament and call new elections, etc.

All members of the British Royal Family

So, first on the list, of course, are Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the Prince Consort. Then follow the heir to the British throne, the eldest son of the queen, and his wife (second) - Camilla Parker-Bowles - Duchess of Cornwall. Next on the list are the newly-made parents - the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - Prince William (the Queen's eldest grandson) and Princess Catherine (nee Middleton), and, of course, their son - the great-grandson of Elizabeth II - Prince John of Cambridge - the youngest member of the royal family . Next on the list is the second son of Prince Charles and his first wife, Prince Henry of Wales, better known around the world as Prince Harry. He is followed by his uncle (the second son of the Queen) Prince Andrew of York and his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, then the family of the third son of Elizabeth II, Earl of Wessex (his wife Sophia, son Viscount James Severen, daughter Louise Windsor), and the only daughter of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh - Anna - Princess of the Kingdom of Great Britain. The royal family is not limited to so many royals. Next on the list are cousins ​​of Elizabeth II, etc.

The Windsor dynasty is a British branch of the Goth dynasty of Saxe-Coburg, hence also the House of Wettin, from which Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria (Hanover), descends. However, during the First World War, when England was in hostile relations with Germany, King George the Fifth abandoned the Saxon and other German titles, renaming the former dynasty the House of Windsor. The monarchs of this dynasty were who ruled from 1910 to 1936, Edward the Eighth, who was immediately replaced on the throne by George the Sixth - the father of the current queen, who ruled the kingdom for 16 years, well, and Elizabeth II, the now living Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The royal family, despite minor scandals that arise from time to time, nevertheless enjoys great love and respect in the country. Any event that concerns them, both joyful and sad, the people accept as their own. In this country, one of the most beloved holidays is the birthday of the beloved queen.

The British Royal Family is considered one of the most famous in the world. She has countless admirers who are well versed in the names and faces of all members, know their order of succession to the throne. But do fans know about the scope of their employment? Just one thought that the representatives of the royal family are working, plunges many into shock.

So what do the Queen and her family do on a daily basis?

Queen Elizabeth II

The calendar of the crowned person is scheduled by day. There are certain dates on which she must perform her public duties. Responsibilities is a broad concept that includes a wide range of different activities. These include numerous high-level meetings with heads of other states, parties in palaces, diplomatic receptions and the preparation of a business report.

The English newspaper The Telegraph published statistics that show that Elizabeth II fulfilled 341 obligations in 2015 at the age of 89. In sum, her actions amounted to more than anything that Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate Middleton did together.

It is also the duty of the Queen to approve the laws passed by the English Parliament. It should be noted that no English monarch has long been involved in this matter since 1707 and the duty is purely formal.

The official royal website also notes that the queen has the honorary right to reward people. She is the official spokesperson for OBEs, MBEs and CBEs, among many others.

Oh, we forgot to mention that Elizabeth II is the Honorary Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces. Such a title implies her presence at all military ceremonies. The Queen also governs the Church of England. Her duties include appointing new bishops, archbishops and deans.

You can't call this lady unemployed!

The Queen's faithful assistant in many endeavors is her husband Prince Philip, the patron of about 800 organizations. He is best known as the founder of the Duke of Edinburgh Honorary Scheme, which was founded in 1956.

The official website testifies that His Royal Highness takes an active part in many charitable programs and organizations that relate to such areas as culture, sports, and the creation of innovative developments in the field of weapons.

Duke of Cambridge

Prince William was employed part-time and was officially listed as a pilot in the British Air Medical Force. In March 2015, it was hinted in an interview with the BBC that he was likely to leave his 60-hour week as his contract with the organization expired and he should focus on his royal duties and take an active part in education of heirs.

According to the prince, he must concentrate on the role of a father and fulfill his duties to the family to the fullest. Its main goal at the moment is to educate worthy successors of the royal family, who should be instilled with a sense of dignity and duty to the fatherland and other people, which is very important.

The prince believes that work in the field of air ambulance was extremely important for him, as it involved serving the motherland and its citizens. He worked with true professionals in the field of medicine, but it became difficult to combine his profession with royal duties. After Elizabeth II announced that she was going to remove some of the state functions from herself, Prince William became the person who first took them from her.

The Duchess of Cambridge is an exemplary mother who has devoted herself to raising children. Her son George is 3 and her daughter Charlotte is 1. Kate Middleton is present at all official events with Prince William. In recent years, the couple have made many joint trips to different countries of the world. In 2016, the young couple visited Canada.

The function of the royal family (this includes all royal children, grandchildren and their spouses) is to carry out 2,000 duties that involve entertaining 70,000 people and giving 100,000 written answers a year.

Also, Kate Middleton devotes a lot of time to work in various charitable institutions. For example, she is an active supporter of an organization whose activities are aimed at helping children with mental and emotional problems, as well as a participant in the fight against bad habits in children in orphanages in East Anglia. The Duchess of Cambridge patronizes eight organizations.

William is an active companion of his wife. Working in the air medical service gave him a wealth of experience in dealing with people. According to the prince, he had a chance to work with rescuers and he understands how important it is for a person who finds himself in a difficult situation to receive moral support. Often such assistance becomes paramount, and without it, all other measures simply do not make sense.

Prince Harry (brother of Prince William) was a member of the British Armed Forces for ten years. He was listed as a trainee in two military operations that took place in Afghanistan. The prince retired in 2015 and, according to the official royal website, has devoted himself entirely to his new job. He is also an active supporter of many philanthropic programs and an executor of royal duties. The prince lives in Kensington Palace.

Prince Harry's charitable activities can include the organization of the Invictus Games competition. They are complex sports competitions of international level Paralympic athletes. Tournaments are held every two years.

He also became the official co-founder of a charity program aimed at helping the orphans of Lesotho in South Africa. For months he worked on projects that involve various social programs, as well as the preservation of the flora and fauna of this area.

Prince Harry supports the wheelchair community. He advocates for increased accessibility and quality of sport in the UK and is a proponent of mentoring schemes. The prince is also an active participant in a program to support youth who have experienced violence.

Prince of Wales

Prince Charles performs many royal functions. He actively supports the civil and charitable initiatives of his mother, which contributes to positive results in the social and environmental spheres, makes a huge contribution to the preservation and development of national traditions.

Prince Charles is a member of many foreign trips, the purpose of which is to protect the diplomatic interests of Great Britain.

Prince Charles' wife Camilla Parker-Bowles

As for his wife Camilla, the royal website mentions her in general terms and notes that she has become the patroness and president of many charitable organizations and regularly attends all events associated with them. She also became an active companion of her husband in all his endeavors.

What do independent sources testify?

Independent sources testify that many members of the royal family have been formally employed over the years. The youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II, Edward, was an employee of the Lloyd Webber theater company, and his wife was the head of her own PR agency.

Another of the Queen's sons, Andrew, served as the UK government's special representative for international trade and investment. The only daughter of Queen Anne became a professional sports equestrian and joined the British national equestrian team.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie

Harper's Bazaar, a fashionable women's magazine, writes that Princesses Beatrice and Eugene, granddaughters of Elizabeth II, also have an official job. Beatrice is the deputy director of an art gallery, while the princess's official website writes that her main area of ​​\u200b\u200bactivity is business.

Prince Michael of Kent and his wife

The Queen's cousin Prince Michael of Kent owns a consulting business, while his wife, Marie Christine von Reibnitz, Princess of Kent, is an interior designer.

Well, do you now have a clear idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwhat the Krolev family is doing?