What is the German Surname of the British Royal Family?
Discover the origins of the British royal family's German surname and its historical context.
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Windsor. The German surname of the British royal family was originally Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. It was changed to Windsor in 1917 by King George V due to anti-German sentiment during World War I.
FAQs & Answers
- Why did the royal family change their name? The name change from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to Windsor occurred in 1917 due to anti-German sentiment during World War I.
- What does the name Windsor signify? The name Windsor was chosen to reflect a more British identity and to symbolize strength and national unity.
- What other surnames have British royals had? Before Windsor, the British royal family was known as Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, originating from German ancestry.
- Who was King George V? King George V was the British monarch who reigned from 1910 to 1936 and changed the family's surname during World War I.