13 British Monarchs: Power, History And Legacy Of Kings And Queens Of Britain

Are you wondering about the British monarchs that ruled Britain? Since I love history and am a British citizen, you’re in for a treat if you’re interested in history or just knowing more about the authority, background, and legacy of the kings and queens who have ruled Britain throughout the ages.

The British Monarchy has a long and complicated history that has affected not only the United Kingdom but also the entire world, from Queen Anne to King Charles III.

In this blog, you may learn about the lives of some of the most important people in British history and how their legacies still have an effect on us today. Review the political and social circumstances surrounding each monarch’s reign, the difficulties they encountered, and the enduring effects they had on British culture, government, and society. Prepare to travel back in time as you learn about the British Monarchy’s influence and mystique!

Read more: British Title of Nobility: Understanding Prestige and the Social Hierarchy in the UK

British monarchs from the unification of England, Wales and Scotland as Great Britain:

1. Queen Anne (House of Stuart)

Queen Anne was the last monarch to rule from the House of Stuart. She was well-known for her ardent support of the Church of England as well as her encouragement of the arts during her reign. In addition to this, she was well-known for her close connection with Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, a friendship that eventually became strained owing to Sarah’s political views.

The passing of the Act of Union in 1707, which merged the kingdoms of England and Scotland into a single entity, is regarded as one of the most significant events of her reign. Yet, her reign is also remembered for the War of Spanish Succession, which pitted England and its allies against France and its allies. This conflict occurred during her time in power.

2. George I (House of Hanover)

George I, the first monarch of the House of Hanover, had his roots in Germany. He was also the first ruler of the House of Hanover. Due to the fact that he was a devout Protestant and had just a tenuous connection to the Stuart line, he was selected to succeed Queen Anne.

His rule was marked by a period of stability and economic progress, although he was unpopular with the people of Britain and spent most of his time in Germany. His reign was nonetheless distinguished by these factors. During his tenure, one of his most significant achievements was the establishment of the role of Prime Minister, which was eventually filled by Sir Robert Walpole.

3. George II (House of Hanover)

From 1727 to 1760, during the Georgian era, George II reigned as king of Great Britain and Ireland. He was born in Hanover, Germany, making him the last British monarch to be born outside of Great Britain and Ireland. With the creation of the current Cabinet system of government, he presided over a period of political stability as well as the growth of Britain into a global power.

The founding of the first political parties, the Whigs and the Conservatives, was one of his administration’s high points. However, George II struggled with his son Frederick, whom he felt had too much sympathy for France. Frederick was banished from the royal court as a result of the quarrel between the two.

4. George III (House of Hanover)

From 1760 to 1801 George III ruled Great Britain and Ireland, and from that year until his death in 1820, he ruled the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. He held the record for the longest reign in British history until Queen Victoria overtook him. During the American Revolution and the Industrial Revolution, he presided over a time of profound political and social change.

His leadership of Britain throughout the American Revolution, which led to the loss of its colonies in North America, as well as his efforts to alleviate the lives of the poor and support religious toleration are some of his reign’s high points. As George III’s mental state deteriorated at the end of his reign, his son was compelled to assume the throne, causing a regency crisis.

5. George IV (House of Hanover)

From 1820 until his passing in 1830, George IV reigned over both the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Hanover in Germany. His reign saw the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the start of the Industrial Revolution in Britain. He was the eldest son of King George III. George IV is noted for his opulent lifestyle, enthusiasm for design and art, and support of the Royal Academy.

Political unrest, such as the Cato Street Plot and the Peterloo Massacre, marked his tenure. His covert union with Roman Catholic widow Maria Fitzherbert, which was against the Royal Marriages Act, was one of the biggest scandals of his reign.

6. William IV (House of Hanover)

From 1830 until his passing in 1837, William IV reigned over both the United Kingdom and Hanover. His reign was marked by social and economic reforms, including the abolition of slavery in the British Empire and the Reform Act of 1832, which opened up the franchise to more middle-class men. He was King George III’s third son. William IV backed the Whigs, who held power during his reign, as well.

Compared to his predecessors, his reign was rather uneventful, and he is frequently eclipsed by the more well-known and contentious individuals who came before and after him. The Bedchamber Crisis, in which the Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, resigned after the King refused to fire some of his Whig ladies-in-waiting, was one incident that took place during his reign.

7. Queen Victoria (House of Hanover)

Queen Victoria ruled the United Kingdom for the greatest period of time—from 1837 until her passing in 1901. She ascended to the throne when she was only 18 years old, and throughout her reign, the British Empire expanded, Britain became more industrialized, and the middle class expanded.

Queen Victoria earned the nickname the “Grandmother of Europe” since most of her 9 children were married into other Royal families in Europe. Making the next generations of Royal families were pretty much interrelated, just one big European Royal family.

The Victorian era, which was marked by a rigid moral code and a concentration on family values, is also linked to Victoria’s rule. The relationship between her son, Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward VII), and the actress Nellie Clifden, was one of the major scandals of her reign.

After Prince Albert died in 1861, Queen Victoria permanently wore black dresses as a symbol of mourning for the rest of her days.

8. Edward VII (House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha)

From 1901 until his death in 1910, Edward VII reigned as Emperor of India, King of the British Dominions, and King of the United Kingdom. The Edwardian era, which was defined by a more laid-back and international culture, rose under his reign as the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

The first Labour administration was established under Edward VII’s reign, and the Entente Cordiale with France was signed. Edward VII was well renowned for his love of travel, fine cuisine, and fashion. The affair between his son Prince George (later King George V) and married socialite Alice Keppel was one of the biggest scandals of his reign.

9. George V (House of Windsor)

From 1910 until his death in 1936, George V reigned as Emperor of India, King of the British Dominions, and King of the United Kingdom. His reign saw tremendous political and social transformation, including World War I, the Irish War of Independence, and the development of the Labour Party. He was the second son of King Edward VII. George V was renowned for his unwavering sense of responsibility and dedication to the British Empire.

The present British monarchy was established during his reign, and the royal family adopted the surname Windsor in 1917. The “Crawfie Affair” was one scandal that surfaced during his rule when his daughter’s governess, Marion Crawford, published a book detailing her time spent working for the royal family.

In 1917, the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha name of the British Royal Family was changed to Windsor in response to the anti-German feeling that had grown in Britain during World War I. The House of Hanover has controlled Britain since 1714, and the Royal Family is of German descent. Yet, tensions between Britain and Germany quickly increased as World War I broke out in 1914, and anti-German sentiment grew widely.

The British Royal Family’s German heritage became problematic in this situation. The adoption of the name Hanover raised concerns that it might inflame anti-German sentiment and harm the Royal Family’s prestige. King George V, who was of German heritage, consequently made the decision to give the royal family a more British-sounding name. The King decided on Windsor after weighing a number of choices, including Tudor-Stuart and Plantagenet, in honour of the Royal Family’s home at Windsor Castle.

On July 17, 1917, the name change was formally proclaimed. It was viewed as a patriotic act that would enable the Royal Family to separate itself from its German ancestry. The Royal Family’s status and power were unaffected by the name change, although it did assist allay popular fears about their allegiance and affiliations. Since then, the British Royal Family has used the name Windsor, which has come to be associated with British royalty.

10. Edward VIII (House of Windsor)

For less than a year in 1936, Edward VIII reigned as King of the United Kingdom, the British Dominions, and Emperor of India until he abdicated the throne to wed American socialite Wallis Simpson. He was King George V’s oldest son, and during his short reign, intrigue and controversy abounded.

Due to Wallis Simpson’s prior divorces and Edward VIII’s reputation for mingling and partying, his relationship with her was at the time viewed as scandalous. He gave up his crown in order to wed Wallis Simpson, an American socialite who had been divorced twice. The British monarchy was facing a serious constitutional crisis at the time.

11. George VI (House of Windsor)

From 1936 until his passing in 1952, George VI reigned as king of the United Kingdom. His accession to the throne occurred amid a turbulent period in British history, which was defined by the threat of World War II and the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII. This made his reign notable.

In addition to his efforts to unite the British people during some of their worst moments, George VI is renowned for his unwavering leadership during the war. Significant social and cultural changes during his administration included the fall of the British Empire and the emergence of the welfare state.

One of the high points of George VI’s reign was his well-known address to the country on September 3, 1939, in which he declared war on Germany. This speech is regarded as a potent call to arms and a memorable moment in British history. The King’s journey to London’s bombed-out neighborhoods during the Blitz, where he provided solace and support to the bombing victims, was another noteworthy event.

Although there were few scandals during George VI’s reign, he did come under fire for how he handled the abdication crisis and his initial hesitation to become king.

12. Elizabeth II (House of Windsor)

The twelfth monarch of the United Kingdom is Queen Elizabeth II, who has held the throne continuously since 1952, making her the longest-reigning queen in British history. Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Platinum Jubilee in Feb – June 2022, just a few months before she passed away.

Significant social and cultural transformations, including the emergence of the feminist and civil rights movements, the decline of the British Empire, and the start of the digital age, occurred during her reign. Also, she oversaw a number of important royal occasions, such as her Jubilee festivities and the weddings of her children and grandchildren.

Elizabeth II’s reaction to Princess Diana’s passing in 1997 was one of its high points. The Queen initially came under fire for not publicly mourning Diana’s passing, but she eventually gave a speech and led the country in doing so. The Queen’s 2011 visit to Ireland, when she was the first reigning British monarch to go there in more than a century, was another significant event.

She became a symbol of the modernisation of the British monarchy and a steadfast figure of grace, beauty and influence of the 20th – 21st centuries.

It was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II I became a British citizen, hence I feel my utmost gratitude for becoming an adopted child of the UK.

13. Charles III (House of Windsor)

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II last September 2022, the British crown has been proclaimed and passed down to her son, Prince Charles of Wales.

King Charles III will formally ascend to the throne in May 2023 and will reign as Charles III. He would be crowned as king not only of Britain but also of other Commonwealth realms, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. However, some of the countries within the Commonwealth, such as Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, and the Bahamas, have expressed their desire to remove the monarch as their head of state.

While he has not yet been formally coronated, there is already a great deal of speculation and discussion about his reign as monarch.

Charles has a long history of being a contentious figure; both his private life and his public pronouncements frequently make news. Significant social and cultural shifts, including a renewed emphasis on environmentalism and sustainable living, are anticipated to occur under his rule.

Charles III’s commitment to charitable causes, especially the Prince’s Trust, which aids young people in the UK, has been one of his life’s high points. Also, he has been an outspoken supporter of environmental concerns and has advocated for stronger action against climate change.

Charles’ personal life, particularly his marriage to Camilla Parker-Bowles, with whom he had an affair while still married to Princess Diana, has come under intense scrutiny. Although Charles’s reign has not yet started, it is anticipated that his private and public utterances will continue to spark scepticism and disagreement.

I hope that sparks of your interest and appreciation for the lives of the British monarchs. Each monarch has their own style and legacies for future generations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Everything Zany

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Everything Zany Travel Blog exploring the UK and beyond. Sharing travel guides, tips, history, and culture. Our travel media brand is founded by travel and hotel industry expert – Ryazan Tristram, a Dual Citizen (British – Filipina) based in Birmingham, UK. Everything Zany is a reputable and award-winning travel blog. Our work and contributions have been featured in Huffington Post, CNBC, Discovery Channel, GMA, Readers Digest, and Lonely Planet. Our missions are to build a great travel community and resource of travel tips, visas, and travel guides for travelers. Join us as we travel around the UK and beyond with a mission to share the best of the world.