Figure 1.--George V was related to the Russian royal family. Here he is while still Prince George with his so, the future Edward VIII (wearing his cadet uniform) and Tsar Nicholas II and the Tsaarevitch in 1909. Despite the family ties, King George V refused, to send the fleet into the Baltic to resue the Tsar and his family because the Tsar had such a depotic image. The Tsar's poorly equipped Russian army had made a critical contribution to the War effort. Russian ressistance on the Eastern Front during World War I made it impossible for the Germans to deliver a knock-out blow to the English and French early in the War.

It is of course the Saxe-Coburgs that we are most familar with today. The family name comes from Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort. The name was changed to the British sounding Windsors during the anti-Germam hysteria of World War I. The first Windsor gave him name to an era, the Edwardian age--but as Victoria lived so long, Edward only ruled a few years. While lightly regaded by his mother, Edward played an important role uin European diplomacy. Victoria was the last English monarch who ruled Britain, and only in a limited sence. Befinning with Edward the British soverign was increasingly a figure head in a country ruled by Parliament. George V and George VI saw Britain through th terrible trials of the two World Wars. Their reigns were separated by the short reign of the incrowned Edward VIII who gave up the grown "for the woman I love". George VI's bravery and devotion to duty was much admired during World War II. The royal family refused to leave London during the Blitz. Many wanted the Queen Elizabrth to take the children to saftey, but she explained that her girls would not leave without her and she would not leave wothout the king, adding with emophasis and "the king will never leave". The last Windsor is their daughter Elizabeth II. Her son Charles will begin a new dynasty.

Edward VII (1901-1910)

Victoria's eldest son like his brothers were dressed conventionally in dresses and wore curls. They wore dresses until about 5 years of age. Even after breeching he continued wearing curls for several years. The images of the sweet little boy in curls belies all the develment that the future Prince of Wales got up to as an adult. He was then in the first generation of English royals to be done up in kilts, presumably in deference to her great interest in Scotland. This led to the great popularity of kilt outfits for boys, at least popular with mothers, during the later half of the 19th Century. Edward was also outfitted in a sailor suit at the age of 5 years--which helped to popularize that style. Edward mairred in 1863. He was 21 when he married Alexandra Oldenburg, age 18. He was crowned in 1902 at Victoria's death. While his reign was short, he played an important role in maintaining the peace of Europe. Notably within a few years of his death the cataclysm of World War I erupted.

George V (1910-1936)

Victoria's grandsons were dressed in dresses and kilt skirts that would be thought of as sissy by modern children. Pictures show his older brother, Prince Albert Victoria known to the family as Eddy, in little girl dresses and lacy panteletts and long girlish hair at about 6 years of age. Presumably George the V was dressed the same. By about 7 or 8 years he was wearing sailor suits, with below the knee pants, and a straw boater rather then a proper sailor hat. George mairred Mary of Teck in 1893. He was crowned in 1911, only 3 years before the First World War began. Their children included George Windsor (1st Duke of Kent); Henry Windsor (1st Duke of Gloucester); John Windsor; King Edward VIII; King George VI; and Mary Windsor (Princess Royal).

Edward VIII (1936)

The eldest son of George V and greatgrandson of Victoria as a small boy still wore dresses as that custom persisted until the world War. The subsequent Duke of Windsor and his younger brother (George VI) wore lacy dresses, although not at such advanced ages as there father. One picture shows George the VI in a carriage wearing a long lacy dress at 2 years of age. An older boy (Edward VIII), also in a lacy dress, is standing beside him. By age 5 he was in very smart short panted sailor suits with ankle socks. There are a lot of pictures of Edward VIII and his brother in matching sailor suits and broad-brimmed hats, often with their sister Mary wearing a sailor suit (with skirt) or a smock. He and his brother were done up in kilts a great deal. Sometimes in Scottish kilts, but also when they were younger in white kilts worn with their middy blouses. They were very closely supervised at first by nannies and then governesses. Edward complained that he had a miserable childhood. Edward VIII and his brother were educated at the Royal Naval School at Osborne, the first school they attended. They were not used to dealing with other children and had quite a hard time of it. They were reportedly hazed a good deal by the other cadets. Once they put Edward VIII in a window seal and pretended to guillotine him by closing the window. The letters between the boys and their parents have been saved. They are notable for the complete absence of affection. Their parents letters sounded more like an account of state functions that would seem more suitable for the Times. Their father reportedly berated them both because of their poor academic performance. Edward complained that their tutors had never taught him anything. He hated the constant belittlement by his father and did not grieve when he died. At his investiture as Prince of Wales, he was horrified at the costume he had to wear, knee britches with long white stockings. He complained of what the other cadets would say if they saw him dressed like that. After wearing very traditional sailor suits and kilts as a boy, as a young man he became a real clothes horse, perhaps in reaction to those traditional clothes boyhood clothes. Edward was born and bred to be the King of England. He served in France with the army during World War I (1914-18). The courtly Prince of Wales was in the 1930s the world's most eligible bachelor, attracting adoring females wherever he ventured. But when the princed destined to be crowned Edward VIII came to a decision, it was a great urprise to the British people and rocked the kingdom. It choice of twice-divorced American named Wallis Simpson shocked his sunjects. It was too much for the Government. Edward on December 11, 1936, in a radio broadcast that reached millions, the newly proclaimed King announced his abdication.

George VI (1936-1952)

Albert was never intended to be king. A biographer calls him, the reluctant king. It was his older brother who was to be king. But Albert rose to the occassion and it was his qualities, rather than those of his popular but undiscplined older brother, that reflected the needs of the British people in perhaps their darkest hour. George was born at York Cottage, Sandringham, Norfolk, the son of George V and Mary of Teck (Queen Mary). George VI and his older brother (Edward VIII) wore lacy dresses, although not at such advanced ages as there father. One picture shows George the VI in a carriage wearing a long lacy dress at 2 years of age. An older boy (probably his brother Edward VIII, also in a lacy dress, is standing beside him. A bit older, I'd say 4 or 5, he was in a very smart white sailor suit, but at first wore a kilt instead of the shorts his older brother wore. By about age 5 or 6 he was also wearing shorts with his sailor suit with ankle socks and often Mary Jane strap shoes. There are a lot of pictures of George VI and his brother in matching sailor suits and broad-brimmed hats, often with their sister Mary wearing a sailor suit (with skirt) or a smock. The boys were also done up in kilts a great deal. George VI like his brother was educated at the Royal Naval School and like his brother had a rough time of it. George married Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother) in 1923 at Westminster.

Elizabeth II (1953- )

Queen Elizabeth II's reign began on February 6, 1952 on the death of her father King George VI. Her coronation was one year later on June 2, 1953. The desire to see the cornonation caused a vast expansion of the British TV audidence as many rushed out to buy a set for the first time.

Created: March 3, 2002
Last updated: October 10, 2003