The Royal House of Windsor in Britain

Rebranding the Crown - From Saxe-Coburg to Windsor

Illustration

Simeon Netchev
by
published on 23 August 2023
Subscribe to author
The Royal House of Windsor in Britain Download Full Size Image

This infographic illustrates the history and transformation of the British royal family's dynastic lineage, culminating in the modern House of Windsor. It highlights the monarchy’s evolution from its German roots to a distinctly British identity, shaped by political pressures and national sentiment during the upheavals of the early 20th century.

The royal house originally descended from the House of Hanover, with Queen Victoria as its final monarch. Her son Edward VII inherited the crown in 1901 and, through his father Prince Albert, introduced the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. However, during World War I, widespread anti-German sentiment made the German-sounding name politically untenable. Despite family ties between the British, German, and Russian monarchies, King George V issued a Royal Proclamation on July 17, 1917, renaming the dynasty the House of Windsor—a symbolic step toward aligning the monarchy with British national identity during wartime.

Remove Ads
Advertisement
Subscribe to this author

About the Author

Simeon Netchev
Simeon is a freelance visual designer and history teacher, passionate about the human stories that shape the past. He believes every image should tell a story and invite interaction, while every map should lead on a journey — blending imagination with e

Cite This Work

APA Style

Netchev, S. (2023, August 23). The Royal House of Windsor in Britain. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17770/the-royal-house-of-windsor-in-britain/

Chicago Style

Netchev, Simeon. "The Royal House of Windsor in Britain." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified August 23, 2023. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17770/the-royal-house-of-windsor-in-britain/.

MLA Style

Netchev, Simeon. "The Royal House of Windsor in Britain." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 23 Aug 2023, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17770/the-royal-house-of-windsor-in-britain/. Web. 26 Jun 2025.

Membership