Prince William's Fascinating Relatives

Prince William is the firstborn son of Prince Charles Philip Arthur George of the United Kingdom. Baring revolution, William will inherit the English throne from his father and grandmother. Prince William is a member of the royal family of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. His ancestry can be traced back in time for hundreds of years. William’s lineage includes many kings, queens and emperors. His family has governed part of the earth for a long time. A close look at his roots reveals some very fascinating people. He is very closely related to many of the world’s royal families as well as other important historical leaders such as Winston Churchill.

A look at his predecessors reveals some truly interesting people.

Prince William’s father is Prince Charles. As the firstborn son of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles is formally known as the Prince of Wales. This historic title extends back centuries. The title belongs the first male child of the heir to the throne. The firstborn female child of the monarch is traditionally called the Princess Royal.

Prince William’s mother was Diana Spencer. Lady Diana was the third daughter of Earl Spencer. The Spencers are descended from John and Sarah Churchill. John Churchill was a famous hero widely feted for his war victories on continental Europe. Sarah Churchill was the confident of Queen Anne. She supervised the construction of the magnificent English country home known as Blenheim Palace. Blenheim Palace is still owned by their current descendents.

After she married she become known as the Princess of Wales. However, her formal title was Princess Charles because she married Charles and took his title. She was greatly admired because of her commitment to humanitarian causes before her death.

Prince William’s grandmother is Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth will go down in history as one of the world’s longest reigning monarchs. She inherited the throne after the death of her father. Elizabeth is the eldest daughter of King George the Sixth. Elizabeth is the eldest of two daughters. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, as she was christened at birth, ascended the throne at 25. She has four children with her husband. In addition to Prince Charles, she is the mother of Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Elizabeth II's husband is Prince Philip. Prince Philip was born in Greece. He is descended from Princess Alice, Queen Victoria’s third child. He is the youngest of four children. His older sisters married into various continental royal families. His mother was lauded for her humanitarian efforts to save Jews from the holocaust by the Israeli government. His mother suffered from hearing problems much of her life. She founded an order of nuns before she died.

Prince William’s great aunt was Princess Margaret Rose. Margaret was the second daughter of King George the Sixth. The princess wanted to marry an English army officer, Peter Townsend. Townsend was a divorcee and deemed an inappropriate match for her. She waited years for permission to marry from the English government. The government decided that if she wanted to marry she would have to give up her title and move abroad. Ultimately she decided the cost would be too high and ended the love affair. She later married and divorced Anthony Armstrong Jones.

Prince William’s great, great Uncle was Edward the Eighth. Edward the Eighth is known for his decision to abdicate the English throne in order to marry. Edward was the eldest son George the Fifth. After his father died, Edward briefly took the crown. However, his love for twice-married Wallis Simpson was deemed unsuitable. Forbidden to marry her, he left England and followed her into exile in France. His younger brother, Queen Elizabeth’s father, took his place and become king.

Prince William’s great grandmother was Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mum. She was born into one of Scotland’s most historic families. Her father was the Earl of Strathmore. His primary country residence was Glams castle. Glams Castle was the setting for MacBeth, the Shakespearean play. People today swear they can still hear MacBeth's ghost on the staircases in the castle. Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was the ninth child of the family. After she married King George the Sixth, she assumed the title of Queen consort. Elizabeth showed tremendous courage during the Nazi bombing of London. She visited schools and hospitals and joined in relief efforts. Hitler called her, “the most dangerous woman in Europe.” She lived more than a century.

Prince William’s relatives have often lived quite colorful lives. Today we can only read about them and marvel at the common humanity we all share.