At this point, we have been introduced to many of the world’s high-profile figures. Although they have undoubtedly made a name for themselves because of their hard work and effort, some of these people are also linked to wealthy families. With that said, one such family that has garnered a skyrocketing degree of recognition through the years is the British royal family. Like many things, there is so much worth learning about them, such as their origins and the principles every member follows. Well, that’s exactly what we’ll be talking about in this article. Now, without further ado, let’s take a look at a few facts regarding this royal family, shall we?
Their Choice Of Surname
During their earlier years, the royal family often had the area they ruled as their surname. Although this seemingly bore no problem to anybody, that notion immediately changed when WWI came. Fearing his surname didn’t sound British, Queen Victoria’s son, King Edward VII – whose full name is Albert Edward Saxe-Coburg-Gotha – decided to change it to something not as wordy: Windsor, a nod to the Windsor Castle. To his credit, it became a given for any of his mother’s descendants to carry the Windsor surname from there on out, though it seems it’s still open for changes. Decades after, Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philipp, added their own personal touch, turning Windsor into Mountbatten-Windsor; and in more recent years, Prince William and Harry chose Wales as their surname of choice when they served in the military. Well, no matter what reason they had, these changes surely make them stand out from the rest of the family.
Who Is Qualified For The Crown?
To inherit another person’s investments is a common occurrence in various settings, such as in a business or a family. With that said, it comes as no surprise the royal family also follows this principle, though it’s gone through a few changes since its inception. Beginning with King William I, the next person qualified for the crown was often the firstborn son. Although the family strictly complied with this, it took hundreds of years before it officially became law: the Act of Settlement of 1701. Despite it stating that daughters also have a chance to be the heir, their brothers would be more prioritized for such an honor. After another several hundred years, however, its conditions were once again modified under the more recent Queen Elizabeth II’s rule. Through the Succession to the Crown Act of 2013, a King and Queen’s firstborn, no matter the gender, will immediately become the heir to the throne.
The First King
Of course, like many things, the royal family had to start somewhere. The eldest son of Edward the Elder, Athelstan, was reportedly born sometime around 894. Through the royal family’s ever-growing family tree, Athelstan eventually became Queen Elizabeth II’s great-granduncle. Often given credit for being England’s first king, he took power when he was already 30 years old and eventually became one of the most significant figures in European politics. Among the things he’s done throughout his tenure, Athelstan was found to have a fondness for founding churches and collecting relics. After his tenure, the throne was passed on to his half-brother, Edmund.
More Than Just The UK
Being the head of the British royal family, it’s a given that Queen Elizabeth II and her family are undoubtedly powerful figures in the UK. What most of us aren’t aware of, however, is that the queen’s power reaches farther than just the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Over the years, the people assigned to the throne also ruled countries that were part of the Commonwealth. After King George VI’s tenure, Queen Elizabeth became the head of state of all 54 Commonwealth countries. In more recent years, though, things were changed, and now she’s only granted power over 16 of them, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, The Bahamas, and Papua New Guinea. Safe to say the next in line will possess the same degree of power as Her Majesty.
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