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Queen Victoria and Prince Albert: Queen Victoria, known as the "Grandmother of Europe," married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a German princely house. Their marriage solidified many connections between British and German royalty.
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King George I: Born in Germany, George I became the first monarch of the House of Hanover to rule over Britain in 1714, after the death of Queen Anne. His accession marked the beginning of the Hanoverian dynasty's rule in the United Kingdom.
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King George III: Another member of the House of Hanover, George III faced the American Revolutionary War during his reign. He was a native German speaker due to his Hanoverian origins and maintained strong connections to Germany.
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Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale: Also known as "Eddy," he was the eldest son of Edward VII. He was rumored to have been engaged to Princess Victoria Mary of Teck (later Queen Mary), which could have united the British and German royal families, but Eddy's death at a young age ended those plans.
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Queen Mary: Born Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, she married George V and became Queen Mary. Her German ancestry further intertwined the British and German royal bloodlines.
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King George V: Born George Frederick Ernest Albert, he was the first monarch from the House of Windsor, a name change from the previously German-sounding House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, prompted by anti-German sentiment during World War I.
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Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh: Born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, he was a member of the Greek and Danish royal families with German heritage. He renounced these titles and became a naturalized British subject upon his marriage to Queen Elizabeth II.
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Queen Elizabeth II: Queen Elizabeth II's lineage can be traced back to German royalty through both her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later known as the Queen Mother), who were both descendants of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
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King Charles III: As the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles is directly connected to German royalty through his lineage. He holds various German titles through his ancestors.
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Prince William and Prince Harry: The current generation of British royals, including Prince William and Prince Harry, share German ancestry through their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, whose family had connections to German nobility.
The British royals have intricate German ancestry that goes beyond initial assumptions. Through intermarriages and alliances, ties between the British and German royal families have deep historical roots, shaping both nations' histories and monarchies.
Click through to find out the connections that have left a lasting legacy on the British royal lineage.