The Unofficial British Royal Family Pages

Sunday 18 September 2005

The House and Family of Windsor

One of the older volumes in my personal collection of royal books � older to me, that is � is Elizabeth Longford�s 1974 book, The Royal House of Windsor.  The poor old thing was purchased new, and now has a rather worn binding and some book tape holding it together.  It also contains many of the first magazine clippings that I took and pasted into blank spots, before I began keeping the scrapbooks that I have now maintained for over two decades.  One of the pictures in Lady Longford�s book is the 1972 group photo of the extended royal family taken at Windsor to mark the Silver Wedding of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.  I clearly remember when that shot was first published in LIFE Magazine.  It is when I began to be aware of the actual size of the British royal family. 

The House and family of Windsor was created on July 17, 1917 by royal decree.  On that day the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha morphed into the House of Windsor.  The change was a strategic move on the part of King George V, who was concerned to distance himself and his family from their Germanic roots in the midst of the dark days of World War I, and in the face of a rising tide of anti-German sentiment among the general population.  Two other prominent and closely related families also changed their names as part of this effort.  Queen Mary�s brothers ceased to be members of the House of Teck and took the surname �Cambridge,� drawing on their descent from George III�s son, the Duke of Cambridge.  The other major change was for the Battenburgs, descended from Queen Victoria�s daughter Alice, who simply Anglicized their name into the less German-sounding �Mountbatten.� 

The name change became one of those milestones that pop into history, defining the make-up of a dynasty for the generations that follow.  For the preceding century and a half the extended royal family had consisted of the descendants of George III.  And though Victoria�s descendants, like the family of her youngest son Arthur of Connaught, would figure prominently up into the 1940s, the principal focus after 1917 came to rest on George V and his offspring.  In a very real sense that focus has remained to the present day, eighty-eight years later.  But it is fairly clear that as the Queen�s generation begins to pass away (Princess Margaret, Sir Angus Ogilvy, etc.) there will be a regrouping, probably centered on her descendants. 

And so, ere this era pass, I thought it worthwhile to do a quick review of who has comprised the constellation of Windsor over the last several generations.  And it seems the most logical to present them according to the order of the line of succession to the throne: 

King George V & Queen Mary:  The gruff sailor and grandson of Queen Victoria reigned from 1910 to 1936; and his stately widow survived to pay homage to her beloved granddaughter, dying in 1953. 

King Edward VIII / the Duke of Windsor:  Personally unsuited for his destined role, the eldest son of George V abdicated after less than a year as king in order to marry his mistress, the twice-divorced American, Wallis Simpson.  He survived until 1972.  They had no children, but published accounts and photos strongly suggest that actor Tim Seeley may be the Duke�s son, the result of a brief affair with Vera Seeley in 1934.  Vera was the married younger sister of Edward�s former mistress, Freda Dudley Ward. 

King George VI & Queen Elizabeth:  The shy second son of George V took the throne in December 1936, and bore the burden of monarchy through World War II, dying too young in 1952.  His Scots wife continued on to become the iconic �Queen Mum� until her death at 101 years in March, 2002. 

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh:  The elder daughter of George VI, and the adored granddaughter of George V.  She married Prince Philip of Greece in 1947, at which time he assumed the Mountbatten name of his mother�s family even though he was actually a descendant of the Danish royal family in the male line.  Queen Elizabeth succeeded to the throne in 1952 and will soon mark 54 years as sovereign.  She will turn 80 in April, 2006. 

Shortly after the Queen�s accession it was decided that the royal house would continue to be the House and family of Windsor, but this was later modified so that the descendants of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip not bearing the royal style and title will bear the surname of Mountbatten-Windsor. 

Charles, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, etc. & Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall:  The heir to the throne turns 57 this November.  The troubled history of his marriage to the late Princess Diana, and his eclectic interests in a variety of areas, continue to make him a rather controversial figure.  There is also longstanding speculation as to whether his new wife might actually be semi-royal herself, since her great-grandmother was the mistress of Edward VII around the time Camilla�s grandmother was born. 

Prince William of Wales: Just emerging as an adult, the elder son of Charles and Diana seems to be a responsible young man who is beginning to take up the role of being heir to the heir of the throne.  Through Princess Diana�s lineage, William will eventually be the first descendant of Charles I and his sons to sit on the throne since the death of Queen Anne in 1714.  In fact, the only British monarch that left progeny from whom William is not descended is the last King William (IV). 

Prince Harry:  The second son of Charles and Diana just turned 21 (this last week), and will soon emerge from Sandhurst to enter a military career, probably with the Horse Guards.  Time will tell how the self-confessed �wild child� settles out. 

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York: The second son of Elizabeth II, formerly married to Sarah Fergusson, Duchess of York.  Trade representative, and avid golfer.

Princess Beatrice of York

Princess Eugenie of York 

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, & Sophie, Countess of Wessex (who are eventually to succeed as Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh):  The third son of Elizabeth II.

Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor 

Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, & Rear Admiral Timothy Laurence:  The only daughter of Elizabeth II, she was formerly married to Mark Phillips.

Peter Phillips

Zara Phillips 

Princess Margaret:  The younger daughter of George VI, she was formerly married to Anthony Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon.  She died in 2002.

David, Viscount Linley & Serena, Viscountess Linley:  Princess Margaret�s son.  Their children are Charles and Margarita.

Lady Sarah & Mr. Daniel Chatto:  Princess Margaret�s daughter.  Their children are Samuel and Arthur. 

Up to this point the list consists of the immediate  families of the four monarchs, to date, of the House of Windsor.  Other descendants of George V & Queen Mary are: 

Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester & Princess Alice:  The third son of George V, a quiet but serviceable member of the royal family.  Princess Alice, another Scotswoman, surpassed the Queen Mother�s by living to be 102, becoming the oldest ever British Royal.  She died in 2004. 

Prince William of Gloucester:  Died 1972, unmarried.

Richard, Duke of Gloucester & Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester:  He succeeded his father as Duke in 1974.  Their children:

Alexander, Earl of Ulster, & Claire, Countess of Ulster

Lady Davina & Mr. Gary Lewis

Lady Rose Windsor 

Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Marina, Duchess of Kent:  The fourth son of George V, a dashing bi-sexual in the roaring 20s, he married the beautiful Princess Marina of Greece.  He was killed in an air crash during WWII, shortly after the birth of Prince Michael. 

Edward, Duke of Kent, & Katherine, Duchess of Kent:  The elder son of Prince George.  They have been solid and dependable members of the royal family.  He is the Master Freemason of England, among other things.  The Duchess has long been known for her patronage of tennis at Wimbledon.  Some years ago she converted to Roman Catholicism, and has more recently withdrawn from most royal duties, preferring to give private music lessons instead.  Their children: 

George, Earl of St. Andrews, & Sylvana, Countess of St. Andrews:  Their children are Edward, Marina, and Amelia.

Lord Nicholas Windsor:  Unmarried.  He, too, converted to Roman Catholicism several years ago.

Lady Helen & Mr. Timothy Taylor:  Their children are Columbus, Cassius, Eloise and Estella. 

Prince Michael of Kent & Marie-Christine, Princess Michael of Kent:  The second son of Prince George and brother of the current Duke of Kent.  Prince and Princess Michael are on the periphery of the active royal family, but make a splash in society.  He is particularly interested in the continental and Russian Imperial family ties of his mother, Princess Marina.  Their children: 

Lord Frederick (Freddy) Windsor

Lady Gabriella Windsor 

Princess Alexandra & the Hon. Sir Angus Ogilvy:  The daughter of Prince George and Princess Marina, and sister to the Duke of Kent and Prince Michael.  Sir Angus Ogilvy was the younger brother of the Earl of Airlie.  He died on 26 December 2004.  Their children: 

James & Julia Ogilvy:  Their children are Alexander and Flora.

Marina Mowatt: Formerly married to Paul Mowatt.  Their children are Christian and Zenouska.  Comments made to the press by the pregnant Marina during the lead-in to her marriage caused a rift for a time, but she subsequently reconciled to her parents and the rest of the family. 

Prince John:  The fifth son of George V.  The so-called �Forgotten Prince� died at age 14 in 1919. 

Princess Mary, the Princess Royal & Henry, Earl of Harewood:  The only daughter of George V & Queen Mary, married the Earl (15 years her senior) in 1922.  Their country home at Harewood was designed by the 18^th century architect Robert Adam, and is furnished with original Chippendale furniture.  Princess Mary was a quiet but hardworking member of the royal family throughout her life.  She died in 1965. 

George, Earl of Harewood, & Patricia, Countess of Harewood:  The eldest grandchild of George V and Queen Mary is three years older than Queen Elizabeth II.  Formerly married to Marion Stein, the Earl divorced her and married his current wife in 1967.  He pursued a career in the arts serving at various times as administrator for the Edinburgh Festival, English National Opera, and of Covent Garden.  The Earl had three children from his first marriage and a son born prior to his marriage to the current countess.  The first Windsor descendant to be divorced, the Earl was publicly shunned by the Court for a number of years, but as social attitudes shifted over time he has re-emerged in the family circle. 

David, Viscount Lascelles, & Diane, Viscountess Lascelles:   Viscount Lascelles was formerly married to Margaret Messenger.  They had two children before their marriage, Emily and Benjamin, who are not in the line of succession.  The children born subsequent to their marriage are Alexander and Edward.  He married Diane Howse in Australia in 1990. 

The Hon. James Lascelles:  The second son of the Earl of Harewood was a hippy in the 1970s, a rock musician, and lived in New Mexico in the 1980s.  At his first wedding in 1973 he wore a Tibetan wool jerkin and leather jeans, while the bride wore Princess Mary�s satin and lace gown from 1922.   He has two children from his first marriage to Fredricka Duhrrsen, a son Rowan and a daughter Sophie.  His children with Lori (Shadow) Lee, who became his second wife in 1985 are a son Tewa, and (daughter?) Tanit.  This second marriage ended in 1996. 

The Hon. Jeremy & Julie Lascelles:  The third son of the Earl of Harewood, and an executive in the rock music industry.  Their children are Thomas, Ellen, and Amy. 

The Hon. Mark & Andrea Lascelles:  The son born out of wedlock to the Earl of Harewood and Patricia Tuckwell, subsequently legitimized but not in the line of succession.  They have a daughter, Charlotte. 

The Hon. Gerald Lascelles:  Younger son of the late Princess Royal and brother of the Earl of Harewood.  He was twice married, first to Angela Dowding and later to Elizabeth Colvin (or Collingwood?).  He died some years ago.  Gerald Lascelles was a businessman, and served for a time as President of the British Racing Drivers Club. 

Henry & Alexandra Lascelles:  Gerald Lascelles� son by his first marriage.  He and his wife have a son, Maximillian. 

Martin Lascelles:  The son of Gerald Lascelles by Elizabeth Colvin, born some fifteen years prior to their marriage.  He is not in the line of succession. 

Such are the descendants of the Windsor dynasty, spanning five generations from the grandparents to the grandchildren of the Queen and her cousins.  I might have missed one or two among the more obscure members of the family along the way.  Information on the Lascelles family, in particular, is somewhat hard to track down.  Thus far I am not aware of any births in the sixth generation, but they can�t be too far off. 

Obviously many of these folks have no pretensions to being royal, and several have actively distanced themselves from any royal connection.  The Lascelles family have long since fallen off the royal radar screen, though the Earl of Harewood � looking remarkably like George V � does still show up to occasions like the Golden Jubilee.  The younger Gloucesters and Kents are also quickly retreating from the limelight, though some like Lady Helen Taylor turn up regularly in magazines covering society events.  Princess Margaret�s children have opted for lower profiles, though they can�t quite escape the notoriety of having the Queen as their Aunt.  The current Princess Royal long ago declared her hope for her children to be as free as possible from the royal limelight, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex have expressed similar intentions.  It seems likely that Andrew�s daughters will be the last grandchildren of a sovereign, except for children of the heir to the throne, to be royal from birth.  Hence it seems that not only public pressure but personal choice will do much to scale back the size of Britain�s Royal Family in the coming years.  But even if the extended family isn�t �Royal,� they are still the family of the working royals and share a unique heritage.  I must admit that I would dearly love it if on July 17, 2017, as many of the folks in the foregoing list as are living and able could come together for a grand family reunion at Windsor and, of course, pose for a group photo.

Yours aye,

- Ken Cuthbertson