This table lists the Royalty of Great Britain since the joining of the English and Scottish thrones with James I.
James I | 1566- 1625 |
1603- 1625 |
Son of Mary Queen of Scots. Also James VI of Scotland. Took English throne on death of Elizabeth I. Target, with parliament, of Guy Fawkes' "Gunpowder Plot". Natural death. | Stuart |
Charles I | 1600- 1649 |
1625- 1649 |
Tried to rule without the consent or support of parliament, leading to the Civil War. Executed by parliament. | Stuart |
Oliver Cromwell | 1649- 1660 |
Not a King or Queen of course, but the actual ruler of Great Britain over this period, he was appointed as "Lord Protector" after the execution of Charles I. | ||
Charles II | 1630- 1685 |
1660- 1685 |
Son of Charles I. King during the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. A popular king, supporting religious tolerance, secretly pro-Catholic, but failing to overturn laws preventing Catholics from holding office. Natural death. | Stuart |
James II | 1633- 1701 |
1685- 1688 |
Son of Charles I. Openly Catholic in a country in which Catholics were still prevented from holding office, leading to conflict. Exiled to France. | Stuart |
William III & Mary II |
1650- 1702 |
1688- 1702 |
Grandson of Charles I. Died in a riding accident. | Stuart |
1662- 1694 |
1688- 1694 |
Daughter of James II | ||
Anne | 1665- 1704 |
1702- 1714 |
Second daughter of James II. Start of 2-party political system. Union with Scotland 1707. Had 17 children! | Stuart |
George I | 1660- 1727 |
1714- 1724 |
Great grandson of James I. Robert Walpole became Britain's first Prime Minister. | Hanover |
George II | 1683- 1760 |
1727- 1760 |
Son of George I | Hanover |
George III ("Farmer George", "Mad George") |
1738- 1820 |
1760- 1820 |
Grandson of George II.
Went insane in 1810. Country ruled by George IV as regent until his death. |
Hanover |
George IV | 1762- 1830 |
1820- 1830 |
Older son of George III | Hanover |
William IV | 1765- 1837 |
1830- 1837 |
Younger son of George III | Hanover |
Victoria | 1819- 1901 |
1837- 1901 |
Ruler of the largest Empire in the history of the world. Originally a bright and cheerful person, she became dour and reclusive following the death of her husband Albert. | Hanover |
Edward VII | - 1910 |
1901- 1910 |
Edward did not take the throne until he was 59 - he was already a grandfather. Despite having lived under his mother's disapproval with a messy divorce, and a gambling scandal, Edward proved a popular and effective King. | Saxe- Coburg- Gotha |
George V | 1865- 1936 |
1910- 1936 |
Ruled throughout the first world war, | Windsor |
Edward VIII | 1894- 1972 |
1936 | Oldest son of George V. Abdicated in order to marry the American divorcee Wallace Simpson. During the war became governor of Honduras. Never accepted back into Royal society, or forgiven by the British people. Recent revelations have suggested that his "exile" to this post, and indeed even his abdication were to cover his removal for strong sympathy with the Nazis by the Government of the day. | Windsor |
George VI | 1895- 1952 |
1936- 1952 |
Son of George V, George VI took the throne upon the abdication of his elder brother. Ruling though the second world war, he inspired the British people, and did much to make good the damage his elder brother had done to the monarchy. Natural death. | Windsor |
Elizabeth II | 1926- | 1952- | Daughter of George VI, and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Claims direct descent from William I, and descent from most English monarchs since. Ruling over the final dissolution of the British Empire, she has largely been a popular Queen in England. She is however widely believed responsible for a somewhat controlled upbringing for her children, possibly contributing to their widely publicised marital failures. It remains to be seen by how far the monarchy may outlast her, given increasing republican sentiment in the country. | Windsor |
Lexcentrics Ltd specialises in the supply of word games and puzzles - in paper or online - for business use. For more details, see our Business-To-Business site. Copyright (C) 2000-2006 Lexcentrics Ltd