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Royal descendants of Queen Victoria and of King Christian IX

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refer to caption
Painting by William Powell Frith depicting the marriage of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), Queen Victoria's son, with Princess Alexandra of Denmark, King Christian IX's daughter

The royal descendants of Queen Victoria (24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901; r. 1837–1901) and of King Christian IX (8 April 1818 – 29 January 1906; r. 1863–1906), monarchs of the United Kingdom and Denmark, respectively, have become members of multiple European royal families. This was partially achieved by the marriage of Victoria's progeny with Christian's (and vice versa). By the time of her Diamond Jubilee in 1897, Victoria was known as the "grandmother of Europe".[1] Also, Christian IX was nicknamed the "father-in-law of Europe".[2]

At the start of the World War I, Victoria and Christian's grandchildren were the monarchs of Denmark, Germany, Greece, Norway, Russia and the United Kingdom. Today, the descendants of Victoria and Christian rule over Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Grandchildren

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refer to caption
Christian IX in 1898 with his and Queen Victoria's mutual great-grandson Prince Edward of York, later Edward VIII[a]

Victoria arranged the marriage of her eldest son and heir, the future King Edward VII, to Princess Alexandra of Denmark, the daughter of Christian IX, which took place on 10 March 1863. Among Edward and Alexandra's six children were King George V and his sister Maud.[1] Maud would later marry her cousin, the future King Haakon VII of Norway, in 1896.[b][6]

A son of Christian and brother of Alexandra, Prince William, became King of the Hellenes as George I in 1863 because of his connection with the British royal family.[7] On 27 October 1889, George's son, later Constantine I of Greece, married Princess Sophia of Prussia.[c][7]

Another daughter of Christian IX, Princess Dagmar of Denmark, married the future Emperor Alexander III of Russia[9] in October 1866,[10] taking the religious name Maria Feodorovna.[9] Between 1881 and 1894, Maria's husband ruled as Russia's sovereign.[10] Her son, Nicholas II, became Emperor of Russia upon Alexander III's death.[9] Nicholas married Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, on 26 November 1894, and Alix became his consort, adopting the name Alexandra Feodorovna.[9]

Other grandchildren of Victoria and/or Christian were sovereigns suo jure or consorts of sovereigns, including:

Family tree of Victoria and Christian IX's sovereign and consort grandchildren[citation needed]
Christian IX
of Denmark		Victoria of the United Kingdom
Dagmar
of Denmark		George I
of the Hellenes		Frederik VIII
of Denmark		Alexandra
of Denmark		Edward VII of the United KingdomVictoria
Princess Royal
Empress of Germany		The Princess
Alice
Grand Duchess of Hesse		Alfred
Duke of Saxe-Coburg
and Gotha		The Princess
Beatrice
Nicholas II
of Russia		Constantine I
of the Hellenes		Christian X
of Denmark		Haakon VII
of Norway		Maud of
Wales
Queen of Norway		George V of the United KingdomWilliam II
German Emperor		Sophia
of Prussia
Queen of the Hellenes		Alix
of Hesse
Empress of all the Russias		Marie
of Edinburgh
Queen of Romania		Victoria
Eugenie
of Battenberg
Queen of Spain

World War I

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See also: Allies of World War I and Central Powers

At the start of World War I, which lasted from 1914 to 1918, six major powers of Europe were divided between two coalitions. On one hand, France, Russia and the United Kingdom formed the Triple Entente. On the other hand, Austria-Hungary, Germany and Italy formed the Triple Alliance.[14] During this conflict, George V was King of the United Kingdom.[1] In addition, during World War I, Nicholas II was Emperor of Russia,[15] and Wilhelm II was the German emperor.[16]

Historian Margaret MacMillan has remarked on the close connection between George, Nicholas and Wilhelm. Namely, George's father and Wilhelm's mother were siblings, making George and Wilhelm first cousins.[e] Additionally, George's mother and Nicholas's mother were sisters from the Danish royal family, making George and Nicholas first cousins.[f][20]

Later descendants

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Contemporary monarchs

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Multiple reigning European monarchs are descended from Victoria and/or Christian IX:

  • The King of Denmark, Frederik X, is the son of Queen Margrethe II.[21] Margrethe II is a descendant of both Victoria[g] and Christian[h].
  • The King of the United Kingdom, Charles III, is a son of Queen Elizabeth II.[25] Elizabeth II is a descendant of both Victoria[i] and Christian[j].
  • King Harald V of Norway and King Felipe VI of Spain are both also descended from both Queen Victoria and King Christian IX.[citation needed] Harald V descendants of the aforementioned union between Alexandra of Denmark (daughter of King Christian IX) and Edward VII (son of Queen Victoria). Harald V of Norway is actually descended from Christian IX three ways, twice through his father and once through his mother. Felipe VI is descended from Victoria three ways and Christian IX twice. His father, King Juan Carlos I, is descended from Victoria, while Juan Carlos' consort, Queen Sofía, is twice a descendant of Victoria and twice a great-great-granddaughter of Christian IX.
  • King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is descended from Victoria twice, his parents being second cousins because they were both great-grandchildren of Victoria. Conversely, Philippe, King of the Belgians is descended from King Christian IX. Philippe's father, King Albert II, who abdicated in the summer of 2013, is a first cousin to Harald V of Norway through their grandfather Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland, married to Princess Ingeborg of Denmark, a granddaughter of Christian IX.

Monarchs descended from Queen Victoria

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Monarchs descended from Queen Victoria
Queen
Victoria
King
Edward VII		Alice
Grand Duchess
of Hesse
and by Rhine		Prince Arthur
Duke of Connaught
and Strathearn		Prince Leopold
Duke of Albany		Princess Beatrice
Princess
of Battenberg		Victoria
German Empress
& Queen of Prussia		Duke
Alfred of
Saxe-Coburg
and Gotha
King
George V		Victoria
Marchioness
of Milford Haven
[k]		Alix
Empress consort of Russia		Maud
Queen consort
of Norway		Margaret
Crown Princess
consort of Sweden		Duke
Charles Edward
of Saxe-Coburg
and Gotha		Victoria Eugenie
Queen consort
of Spain		William II
German Emperor
King of Prussia		Sophia
Queen of the Hellenes		Marie
Queen consort
of Romania
[l]
King
George VI
[m]		Alice
Princess
of Greece
and Denmark		Louise
Queen consort
of Sweden		King
Olav V
of Norway		Ingrid
Queen consort
of Denmark		Prince
Gustaf Adolf
of Sweden		Sibylla
Princess of Sweden		Victoria Louise
Duchess of Brunswick		King
Carol II
of Romania
[n]		Maria
Queen consort
of Yugoslavia
Queen
Elizabeth II		Prince Philip
Duke of Edinburgh		King
Harald V
of Norway		Queen
Margrethe II
of Denmark		King
Carl XVI Gustaf
of Sweden		Infante Juan
Count of
Barcelona		Frederica
Queen consort		King
Paul of
the Hellenes
[o]		King
Michael I
of Romania
[p]
King
Charles III		Crown Prince
Haakon
of Norway		King
Frederik X
of Denmark		Crown Princess
Victoria
of Sweden		King
Juan Carlos I
of Spain		Sophia
Queen consort		King
Constantine II
of the Hellenes
[q]		King
Peter II of
Yugoslavia
[r]
William
Prince of Wales		Princess
Ingrid Alexandra
of Norway		Crown Prince
Christian
of Denmark		Princess
Estelle
of Sweden		King
Felipe VI
of Spain
Prince George of WalesLeonor
Princess of Asturias

Monarchs descended from King Christian IX

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Monarchs descended from King Christian IX
King
Christian IX
King
Frederik VIII		Alexandra
Queen consort
of the United Kingdom		King
George I
of the Hellenes		Dagmar
Empress consort
of Russia		Thyra
Crown Princess
of Hanover
King
Christian X		Ingeborg
Princess
of Sweden		King
Haakon VII
of Norway		Maud
Queen consort		King
George V
of the United Kingdom		Prince Andrew
of Greece
and Denmark		King
Constantine I
of the Hellenes		Emperor
Nicholas II
of All Russia
Duke
Ernest Augustus
of Brunswick
[s]
King
Frederik IX		Astrid
Queen consort
of the Belgians		Märtha
Crown Princess		King
Olav V
of Norway		King
George VI
of the United Kingdom
[m]		Helen
Queen consort
of Romania		King
Paul
of the Hellenes
[o]		Frederica
Queen consort
Queen
Margrethe II		Joséphine
Charlotte
Grand Duchess consort
of Luxembourg		King
Albert II of
the Belgians
[t]		King
Harald V
of Norway		Queen
Elizabeth II
of the United Kingdom		Prince Philip
Duke of
Edinburgh		King
Michael I
of Romania
[u]		King
Constantine II
of the Hellenes
[q]		Sophia
Queen consort
of Spain
King
Frederik X		Grand Duke
Henri of
Luxembourg		King
Philippe of
the Belgians		Crown Prince
Haakon
of Norway		King
Charles III
of the United Kingdom		King
Felipe VI
of Spain
Crown Prince
Christian of Denmark		Hereditary
Grand Duke
Guillaume
of Luxembourg		Crown Princess
Elisabeth
of Belgium		Princess
Ingrid Alexandra
of Norway		William
Prince of Wales		Leonor
Princess
of Asturias
Prince
Charles of
Luxembourg		Prince
George of Wales

See also

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Footnotes

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Notes

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  1. ^ Edward VIII's father was George V.[3]
  2. ^ a b Haakon's father, King Frederick VIII of Denmark,[4] was a son of Christian IX.[5]
  3. ^ a b Sophia's mother, Victoria, Princess Royal, was the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria.[8]
  4. ^ Alfred was the second son of Queen Victoria.[12]
  5. ^ Queen Victoria was a mutual parent of George's father and Wilhelm's mother.[17]
  6. ^ George's mother and Nicholas's mother were mutual daughters of Christian IX.[18][19]
  7. ^ Margrethe is descended from Queen Victoria's son Prince Arthur. Arthur's daughter Margaret would herself have a daughter, Ingrid.[22] In turn, Margrethe is Ingrid's daughter.[23]
  8. ^ Margrethe's great-grandfather was King Frederick VIII of Denmark,[24] who was himself a son of Christian IX.[5]
  9. ^ Elizabeth is Queen Victoria's great-great-granddaughter.[26]
  10. ^ Elizabeth's grandfather was King George V of the United Kingdom.[26] In turn, George's mother, Princess Alexandra of Denmark,[27] was a daughter of Christian IX.[18]
  11. ^ Victoria's brother, Ernest Louis was Grand Duke of Hesse.
  12. ^ Marie's sister, Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was formerly Grand Duchess consort of Hesse.
  13. ^ a b George VI had an older brother, Edward VIII, who was king of the United Kingdom as well.
  14. ^ Carol's sister, Elisabeth of Romania, was formerly Queen consort of the Hellenes.
  15. ^ a b Paul, King of the Hellenes, had two elder brothers, George II and Alexander, who were also kings of Greece, the latter of whom was also the father of Alexandra of Greece and Denmark, the queen consort of Peter II of Yugoslavia.
  16. ^ Michael's mother, Helen of Greece and Denmark, was the sister of Paul of Greece.
  17. ^ a b Constantine II's wife, Anne-Marie of Denmark, is Margrethe II's younger sister.
  18. ^ Peter II's wife, Alexandra of Greece and Denmark, was the daughter of Alexander of Greece.
  19. ^ Ernest Augustus' sister Princess Alexandra of Hanover was Grand Duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
  20. ^ Albert II had an older brother, Baudouin, who was King of the Belgians as well.
  21. ^ Michael's wife, Anne of Bourbon-Parma, was also descended from Christian IX as her mother Princess Margaret of Denmark was the daughter of Christian IX's youngest child Prince Valdemar of Denmark.

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c Crofton, Ian (2011). The Kings & Queens of England. Metro Books. ISBN 978-1-4351-2965-8.
  2. ^ "Christian IX". Royal Palaces. National Museum of Denmark. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  3. ^ Crofton 2011, p. 234.
  4. ^ The Royal House of Norway n.d., para. 1.
  5. ^ a b Amalienborg Palace n.d., para. 2.
  6. ^ a b The Royal House of Norway (n.d.). "King Haakon VII (1872-1957)". Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Bence-Jones, Mark; Vickers, Hugo; Williamson, David (1977). Burke's Royal Families of the World Volume I. Burke's Peerage Limited. ISBN 0-85011-023-8. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  8. ^ Bence-Jones, Vickers & Williamson 1977, p. 142.
  9. ^ a b c d Beeche, Art (n.d.). "Dowager Empress Marie". Alexander Palace Time Machine. Bob Atchinson. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  10. ^ a b Malsom, Scott. "Alexander III". Alexander Palace Time Machine. Bob Atchinson. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  11. ^ "DEATH OF EX-KING CONSTANTINE". The Journal. 12 January 1923. p. 2. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  12. ^ Gibbney 1972, para. 1.
  13. ^ Castelló, Elena (n.d.). "Cómo influyó la reina Victoria Eugenia en la corte española de los Borbones: joyas, modernidad y peleas con su suegra" [How Queen Victoria Eugenie influenced the Spanish Bourbon court: jewelry, modernity and quarrels with her mother-in-law]. Mujer Hoy (in Spanish). Vocento. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  14. ^ Wilde, Robert (n.d.). "The Major Alliances of World War I". ThoughtCo. Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  15. ^ Daniels, Patricia E. (n.d.). "Biography of Czar Nicholas II, Last Czar of Russia". ThoughtCo. Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  16. ^ Hickman, Kennedy (n.d.). "Causes of World War I and the Rise of Germany". ThoughtCo. Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  17. ^ Crofton 2011, p. 216.
  18. ^ a b Crofton 2011, p. 224.
  19. ^ Beeche n.d., p. paras. 1 and 4.
  20. ^ Dews, Fred (20 December 2013). "The Family Relationships that Couldn't Stop World War I". Brookings. The Brookings Institution. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  21. ^ "HM The King". Kongehuset. n.d. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  22. ^ Hubbard 2022, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
  23. ^ Kongehuset n.d., para. 1.
  24. ^ Amalienborg Palace n.d., para. 1.
  25. ^ Hubbard, Lauren (16 September 2022). "Queen Victoria's Descendants Still Reign Over Europe". Town & Country. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  26. ^ a b Hubbard 2022, Queen Elizabeth II.
  27. ^ Crofton 2011, p. 228.

References

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Further reading

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  • Aronson, Theo (6 October 2022). Crowns in Conflict: The Triumph and the Tragedy of European Monarchy 1910–1918. Lume Books. ISBN 978-1-83901-409-3.
  • Aronson, Theo (12 November 2020). A Family of Kings. Lume Books. ISBN 978-1-83901-257-0. A book that describes the relationships among the children of King Christian IX.
  • Aronson, Theo (12 November 2020). Grandmama of Europe: The Crowned Descendants of Queen Victoria. Lume Books. ISBN 978-1-83901-258-7.
  • Carter, Miranda (2009). George, Nicholas and Wilhelm. Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 978-1-4000-4363-7. A book on the lives of three sovereign descendants of Queen Victoria and/or King Christian IX during World War I.
  • Gelardi, Julia P. (April 2007). Born to Rule: Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen Victoria. St. Martin's Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-4299-0455-1.
  • Potts, D M; Potts, W T W (21 October 2011). Queen Victoria's Gene: Haemophilia and the Royal Family. History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-7196-9.
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