What Is The Family Name Of The Royal Family

Alright, gather 'round, folks. Let's talk about the royal family, their name, and why it's not as simple as you'd think. You might be wondering, "Isn't it just Windsor? Like the castle?" Well, hold onto your crowns, because it's time to dive into a world of history, intrigue, and a whole lot of name changes.

Let's Start at the Beginning

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, there was a guy named George I. Now, George wasn't just any Joe, he was the King of Great Britain and Ireland. But here's the thing, folks, George was a bit of a foreigner. He was born in Germany, and his name was actually Georg August of Hanover. Quite a mouthful, right?

So, when he became king in 1714, he decided to anglicize his name to George I. But he didn't stop there. Oh no, he had a whole family to think about. His family name was Hanover, but he didn't want his kids running around with a name that sounded like a sausage. So, he decided to change it to Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Fancy, huh?

Enter Queen Victoria

Now, fast forward a few decades, and we've got Queen Victoria sitting pretty on the throne. She was married to Prince Albert, who, you guessed it, was a Saxe-Coburg and Gotha too. But here's where things get interesting. Victoria and Albert had a whole bunch of kids, and they were pretty popular. Like, really popular. They were the original royal influencers, if you will.

But here's the problem: the British public wasn't too keen on the German-sounding name. They were still a bit salty about that whole War of 1812 thing with the Americans. You know, the one that started with a certain song about burning the White House? Yeah, that one.

Time for a Change

So, in 1917, along comes King George V. He's Victoria and Albert's great-grandson, and he's got a bit of a dilemma. World War I is raging, and the British public is none too pleased about their king having a German name. So, George decides it's time for a change.

King Charles III Takes The Throne A Look at Succession to Britains New

He sits down, has a good think, and comes up with a brilliant idea. He decides to change the family name to... wait for it... Windsor. As in, the castle. Genius, right? I mean, it's not like they were going to run out of places to live or anything.

But here's the kicker, folks. George didn't just change his name and call it a day. Oh no, he went one step further. He de-Germanized the family. He changed the names of all his German cousins, he banned the use of German in the royal household, and he even changed the names of his racehorses. Talk about a clean sweep!

But Wait, There's More

Now, you might be thinking, "Okay, so the royal family's name is Windsor. Case closed." Well, hold your horses, because it's not quite that simple. You see, when Queen Elizabeth II's mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, married King George VI, she took on the name Mountbatten. That's right, folks. The queen's last name isn't actually Windsor.

Current British Royal Family Tree - Images | Picstank.com

But here's where it gets a bit tricky. When Queen Elizabeth II married Prince Philip, she didn't take on his last name. Instead, they both decided to use the name Mountbatten-Windsor for their children. Confused yet? Don't worry, you're not alone.

So, technically, the queen's last name is Mountbatten-Windsor. But for the most part, the royal family goes by Windsor. It's a bit like when you have a really long name, so you just use a nickname. Except in this case, the nickname is the name of a castle.

And That, Folks, Is the Royal Name Saga

So there you have it. The royal family's name is a bit of a rollercoaster ride, isn't it? From Hanover to Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, to Windsor, and finally to Mountbatten-Windsor, it's a name that's seen more changes than a chameleon at a rave.

But hey, at least it's not as confusing as trying to figure out who's who in the royal family tree. That's a whole other can of worms, folks. But that's a story for another time.