The House Of Windsor: A Royal Dynasty

George V and his queen Mary were a deeply conservative couple who were slow to embrace the new. Edward’s womanising and “calling in sick” for really boring assignments gave George V cause for worry. Edward VIII abdicated after a ten-month reign.

Bertie, Duke of York, was the most unlikely man to become King. He was shy, he stammered and he hated public occasions. He was compelled to step up and do his royal duty when his brother abdicated. He steered Britain though the Abdication crisis, the devastation of World War II and he restored stability to the monarchy. His daughter, Princess Elizabeth, was perfectly prepared for her future role when he died from cancer in 1952.

Elizabeth II was only 25 when she became Queen. She was also a wife and mother, as she married Prince Philip in a lavish ceremony in November 1947. She saw many changes, including the Swinging Sixties, four failed marriages, Diana’s death in 1997, and the loss of her sister and mother. She ruled with calm authority, even in incredibly difficult situations. Elizabeth II was hailed as a great survivor—she celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 2002, and her 80th birthday in 2006

Royal portraits of Queen Victoria, King Edward IV, Queen Mary, King George V, King Edward XIII, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II, The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William, Prince Charles and Prince Philip