The Wessex question: Are Prince Edward’s children... The Wessex question: Are Prince Edward’s children secret HRHs? There is general agreement amongst royal title fans that the children of Prince Edward are legally a Prince and Princess, whatever they are styled currently. However, when you start to delve into the constitutional complexities of titles, do these arguments really stack up? It was a bright August day, the sun was shining and the birds were singing. All over the country, people were heading out to enjoy a rare taste of good British weather. I however – perhaps unusually for a 17 year old – was plonked firmly in front of the TV in eager anticipation. For that day, 19th of June 1999, was not just one of the first really nice days of the year – it was the wedding of Prince Edward, the Queen’s youngest son to the beautiful and charming Sophie Rhys-Jones. Budding royal watcher I may have been, but even I had had second thoughts about exchanging this viewing appointment for a trip to the beach or a walk on the moor. However, within minutes of the television coverage starting, I knew that it was worth the sacrifice.

For not only was the wedding itself a beautiful occasion, with Edward’s subtle wink at Sophie as she walked up the aisle and the heart touching kiss on the cheek after the ceremony - this wedding was the wedding for royal title shockers. First was the announcement that Edward had been created Earl of Wessex – a romantic title for sure, but not the Dukedom that was expected. Then came the news that he would one day succeed to his father’s title of Duke of Edinburgh, something that has caused mental somersaults for title fans ever since. But without a doubt, the most interesting news of the day was the announcement that with the couple’s consent, the Queen had decided that any children of the marriage would be styled as the children of an Earl rather than with the royal titles that they would be eligible for under the 1917 letters patent (hereafter, LP17). And sure enough, within a few years theory became reality as the Countess of Wessex gave birth first to Lady Louise Windsor in 2003 and James, Viscount Severn in 2007.

Even at the tender age of 17, I was not one to question the Queen’s decisions on such matters but I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed. The reason given for the change was that it would mean the Wessex children would be more able to live normal lives away from the public glare. In all fairness, this seems to have happened – Lady Louise and Lord Severn certainly seem to receive less attention than their York cousins did at the same age – but at the time I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was all part of an attempt to scale down the royal family, something that I desperately didn’t want to happen. However, a few years later, I discovered the internet, and a host of like-minded folk who were plagued by this very same concern. Here I learnt, by leaning on their collective wisdom, that all might not be lost. The press release issued at the time of the Wessex wedding, these super-cool royal watchers supposed, was not sufficient an instrument to deprive the children of their rights under LP17. Therefore they might be styled as the children of an Earl, but they are legally HRH Princess Louise of Wessex and HRH Prince James of Wessex.

This argument was not of course without flaw – I’ve never particularly believed that they could be legally ‘of Wessex’ any more than Beatrice is legally ‘of York’; surely this is just custom – but in general, it was good enough for me. As far as I was concerned, the more Princes and Princesses there were kicking around the better and any argument that suggested this was the case was always likely to get my vote. However, more recently a few things have given me pause for thought on the strength of this position and this blog post is an attempt to explore them and invite conversation. Without a doubt, the best source of royal title information on the internet is run by François Velde. Velde opposes the view that a press release was not sufficient to amend LP17 by focusing on the fact that it is the will of the sovereign that matters, not what instrument is used to communicate it: “At the time [of the wedding / Lady Louise’s birth], many people have expressed the notion that a press release was not sufficient to modify the Letters Patent of 1917, and that Louise could not be deprived of her “rights” without letters patent.

The fact is that royal styles and titles are a matter of royal prerogative that does not require the advice of the government (the Letters Patent of 1917 were issued without any such advice). The sovereign’s will and pleasure is all that matters, and she can change styles and titles as she pleases. How that pleasure is publicized, by letters patent, warrant, press release or verbal declaration, is immaterial” This is certainly a compelling argument. By profession I am a PR guy (I’ve got quite a cool job you see, that’s why I’m allowed a geeky hobby like this) so I understand exactly what a press release is intended to do. They are an organisation’s or individual’s way of letting the outside world know about a decision that has been made or an event that is happening. They are not a means of decision making or an instrument of authority – simply a way of communicating that a decision has been made and that authority has been taken. Upon doing a little bit or research, it would seem that historically, letters patent performed much the same function. In the earliest days of their usage, letters patent severed not as an instrument of decision making but as a way of recording a decision and making it known to relevant audiences.

Good old Wikipedia even defines them as a ‘form of open or public proclamation’ which sounds very press release-esq indeed. The oldest peerages in the country were not – as far as we know – created with letters patent. We simply know about them from records that show them being summoned to parliament. In these cases it doesn’t seem to matter how the peerage was bestowed – it only matters that we can prove that bestowing it was the will of the sovereign. When viewed in this light, it is very difficult to see how the argument that the Wessex children are ‘legally HRH’ really stacks up. However, as often with these cases I am still in two minds (I’m quite a strong ‘P’ on the Myers-Briggs scale if anyone’s interested). Although letters patent may at one time have been the medieval equivalent of a press release, rightly or wrongly, they do seem to have acquired more significance. The first thing to flag of course is that when Princess Patricia of Connaught chose to relinquish her style upon marriage in 1919 and become Lady Patricia Ramsay with precedence above Marchionesses of England, her cousin, George V made this official by letters patent.

Times have of course changed since 1919 and one could argue that press releases are now so much more a standard way of doing business that they could be seen to carry greater significance. However, just three year before Prince Edward’s wedding, when wanting to make it crystal clear that the former Princess of Wales and Duchess of York would lose the style of ‘Royal Highness’ upon divorce, the Queen issued letters patent. This was the establishment of a general rule and is of course different to the situation with Lady Louise and Lord Severn. But, nonetheless it is clear that the Queen still uses letters patent to make changes to royal titles. The fact that she didn’t in the case of the Wessexs could be significant. So, in summary, where are we? Well, to start with, various online sources including Wikipedia must be wrong in stating to clearly that the Wessex children are legally a Prince and Princess. It is very difficult to even know what this means. Being a Prince or Princess is not – to the best of my knowledge – a position that conveys any legal right or privilege. This is different to the Camilla situation, whereby she will be legally Queen even if not addressed as such.

Being Queen (even Queen Consort) is a position that is enshrined in law. I’m not entirely confident that this is true for Princes and Princesses - even the obscure systems of precedence do not explicitly reference the princely style – just relatives of a sovereign. The only privilege of being a Prince and Princess is therefore to be styled as such. The Wessex children clearly aren’t. However, there is an argument to say that upon coming of age they could choose to be so. If this happens there are two scenarios that I can conceive: · The first is that the then sovereign (be it Elizabeth, Charles or William) would approve this change and this would be an implicit endorsement that this title is their birth right. · The second is that the King or Queen does not approve the title. Then, they would have the option of contesting their case in the courts (I should flag, I think this is highly unlikely to happen). Should the courts rule in their favour – which I would argue, they probably would - then the monarch would be forced to issue new letters patent explicitly depriving them of the HRH and Princely style (think Duchess of Windsor).

So, to conclude: my view is that, given the fact that letters patent still seem to be used as the legal instrument for changing titles, the Wessex children could choose to style themselves Prince and Princess if they wanted to. However until they choose to do this and it is sanctioned either by King or courts – and let’s face it, it’s very unlikely to ever happen– we won’t actually be able to say this for sure. It is also, in my view, a nonsense to say that they are ‘legally’ a Prince or Princess rather than just saying that they could legally assume the style. A rose by any other name may still be a rose. I’m not convinced that the same rule applies to Princes. Frequently Asked Questions | Britroyals Frequently Asked Questions When did the last British King fight in a battle? George II was the last British King to lead his army in person, during the War of the Austrian Succession, at the Battle of Dettingen in Bavaria, 27th June, 1743.

The last English King to die in battle was Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in Leicestershire on 22 August 1485 defeated by Henry Tudor who became Henry VII ending the Wars of the Roses between the Houses of York and Lancaster and starting the Tudor dynasty. The last British King to die in battle was James IV of Scotland killed at the Battle of Flodden Field in Northumberland on 9 September 1513 when the Scots invaded England hoping to take advantage of Henry VIII's absence in France, but were defeated by English forces under Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey. How far back can the British Royal Family trace their roots? Is Queen Elizabeth II really directly descended from Alfred the Great? She is the 32nd great granddaughter of King Alfred who 1,140 years ago was the first effective King of England. He ruled from 871 to 899. I thought that American Independence was in 1776. Why is it quoted as 1783? The Continental Congress of the 13 American colonies declared independence in 1776.

However, the war continued and independence from Britain was not achieved until the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Was George III really mad? For most of his reign King George III was an astute king and politician with a strong sense of duty. Later in his reign he suffered from recurrent and eventually permanent mental illness. This baffled medical science at the time, although it is now generally thought that he suffered from the inherited blood disease porphyria. He suffered his first attack in 1788 and by 1810 was unfit to rule. In 1811 his son George, Prince of Wales, became Regent for 9 years until his father died in 1820. Who would now be King or Queen if Edward VIII had not abdicated? Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 less than a year after becoming King to marry Wallis Simpson. His younger brother Bertie became King George VI and was the father of the present Queen Elizabeth II . He died in 1952, and Edward who had no children died in 1972. So even if Edward had not abdicated Elizabeth would now be Queen.

She would have come to the throne in 1972 instead of 1952. Why did Edward VIII have to give up the throne to marry a divorcee but Prince Charles is still in line to the throne? Royals who are divorced or marry divorcees do not lose their position in the line of succession. Edward VIII had a number of affairs with married women including Wallis Simpson who was already divorced and still married to her second husband. His parents King George V and Queen Mary did not approve and refused to meet her. When George V died Prime Minister Baldwin made it clear that the Government, popular opinion in the country and the oversees Dominions (now the Commonwealth nations) did not approve of his plans to marry Wallis. Social attitudes towards divorce and a women looking for a third marriage were considered scandalous at the time, and if Edward married against the advice of his Ministers it would have caused the Government to resign and a constitutional crisis. Edward chose to abdicate. The 1772 Royal Marriages Act requires members of the Royal Family to obtain permission from the Sovereign to marry. Queen Elizabeth II gave her permission for Prince Charles to marry Camilla, and more recently for Prince William to marry Catherine Middleton.

Would Princess Diana have become Queen? If Prince Charles had become King during their marriage then she would have been his consort with the title Queen Diana. They divorced in 1996 and she died in a car crash in Paris on 31st August 1997. Although popularly known as 'Princess Diana' this was not her title - because she became a princess by marrying Prince Charles her title was Princess Charles Philip Arthur George, Princess of Wales, or more simply Diana, Princess of Wales. Who is Prince Henry shown as fourth in line to the Throne? What about Prince Harry? Prince Harry's name is Henry Charles Albert David . Harry is his nickname Is Kate Middleton the first commoner to marry an heir to the throne? The Queen's husband Prince Philip is a direct descendant of Queen Victoria, Diana's family had titled ancestry and Camilla is the granddaughter of a baron. Prince William's wife Catherine (Kate) nee Middleton comes from a middle class background with no aristocratic or titled connections. She is not however the first commoner to marry a future king.

Notably Anne Hyde first wife of King James II, and Elizabeth Woodville, who married King Edward IV in 1464 and became a key figure in the Wars of the Roses were commoners with no direct connections to nobility. Edward VIII married Wallis Simpson but had already abdicated as King. Why are William and Harry referred to as Wales when their name is Windsor? Members of the Royal Family who are titled His (or Her) Royal Highness do not traditionally need or use a surname. Windsor is the name of the Royal House to which they belong. Their titles are HRH Prince William of Wales and HRH Prince Henry of Wales . During their tours of duty with the Armed Forces, the Princes chose to show their surname as Wales. Members of the royal family who are not HRH (for example Prince Edward's children Louise and James) use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor. Why are Prince Andrew's daughters princesses when Prince Edward's daughter is not? Also why do Princess Anne's children Peter and Zara not have titles? You become a prince by being the son of a prince, or princess by being the daughter of a prince or by marrying a prince.

So Prince Andrew's daughters are Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. The Queen's daughter Princess Anne has the title Princess Royal, but her children Peter and Zara do not have titles. It is traditional that they would have been made a Duke and Duchess or Earl and Countess, but it is understood that Princess Anne asked the Queen not to give her children titles so they could live as private individuals. Prince Edward declined to be made a Duke on his marriage and became Earl of Wessex, so that his wife Sophie is Countess of Wessex. The Royal Family is descended directly from the Anglo-Saxon Kings of Wessex. On their marriage is was anounced that their children would not be titled Prince and Princess but as the children of an Earl, so they are Lady Louise and James Viscount Severn. Why are Roman Catholics excluded from the Line of Succession to the British throne? In 1534 Henry VII I broke with the Church of Rome over his divorce from Catherine of Aragon and made himself Head of the Church of England. Every King or Queen since Elizabeth 1 has held the title 'Supreme Governor of the Church of England' and 'Defender of the Faith'.

As it is a Protestant Church all those in the Royal line of succession and their spouses have to be Protestants. The Act of Settlement (1701) laid down that only Protestant heirs of Princess Sophia, granddaughter of James I, may succeed to the British throne. Neither Catholics, nor those who marry a Catholic, nor those born out of wedlock, may remain in the line of succession. Prince Charles has let it be known that when he becomes King he will take the title 'Defender of Faith' instead of' 'Defender of the Faith' to include faiths other than the established Church of England. In Aprl 2013 the Succession to the Crown Bill 2013 changed the succession laws so that a person is not disqualified from succeeding to the Crown as a result of marrying a Roman Catholic . They will however not be allowed to become a Roman Catholic as the British Monarch is head of the Protestant Church of England. Why are younger brothers higher in the line of succession than their older sisters? The line of succession to the British throne used until recently the system of male primogeniture whereby younger sons have precedence over their older sisters.

So Prince Andrew and Prince Edward are above their older sister Princess Anne in line of succession, and Prince Edward's son James is above his sister Louise. While male precedence may now be considered to be out of line with current 'equal-rights' thinking and is proposed to be changed, it has not prevented some of the most successful and longest reigning British monarchs from being queens including Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II. It does allow the succession to inherit through the female line, so the children of daughters can succeed to the throne as is the case with the current Queen. The French and German monarchies used a system of Salic law whereby females had no right to inherit and could not pass it to their offspring. The last time that the British throne passed to a son in precedence to a first born daughter was when Queen Victoria's son Edward VII inherited the throne over his older sister Princess Victoria. Had she become queen she would have been Queen Victoria II and her son Kaiser Wilhelm II would have also been King William V and ruled over a huge combined British and German Empire.

This could have significantly changed 20th century European history with the 1st World War unlikely to have happened as it did but replaced with other nationalist, republican and fascist struggles leading possibly to the downfall of both monarchies and a changed map of Europe. In Aprl 2013 the Succession to the Crown Bill 2013 changed the succession laws so that a person is able to marry a Roman Catholic and remain in the line of successsion, and the right of male primogeniture no longer applies to children born after 28 October 2011. It meant that if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first child had been a girl and their second a boy, male primogenture would no longer have applied and he would not have had precedence over his older sister. However, their first child born on 22 July 2013 was a boy Prince George so it did not apply. Their second child Princess Charlotte will not lose her place even if she has a younger brother. This current line of succession is shown at Line of Succession. King William IV was 64 years old when he became king in 1830 and succeeded his elder brother George IV.

Prince Charles the current heir to the throne became 68 on 14th November 2016 and is now the longest waiting heir to the throne. Edward VII became king after the death of his mother Queen Victoria in 1901 when he was 59 years and 2 months old. Kings & Queens by age of accession to the throne . Could the Queen choose to pass the throne directly to Prince William? The Queen cannot choose. Prince Charles as her eldest son and Prince of Wales is next in line to the throne and will become King as long as he is living when the Queen dies or should she abdicate. It would require a change to British constitutional law for this not to happen. Will Charles become King George VII? Charles can choose to rule as King Charles III or take another name. Kings often take a different regnal (ruling) name from their first given name. Charles' grandfather George VI was Prince Albert ("Bertie") before he became king, and his great great grandfather Edward VII was also Prince Albert.

King Charles I was beheaded in 1649 after the English Civil War, and Charles II was popularly known as the 'merrie' monarch as he had so many mistresses. Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) the Stuart pretender to the throne styled himself Charles III before he was defeated at Culloden in 1746. It is thought possible that Prince Charles may choose to become King George VII after his grandfather. Will Camilla become Queen? Prince Charles and Camilla were married on 9th April 2005. She was given the title Duchess of Cornwall because of sensitivity following the death of Diana. As the wife of the Prince of Wales her title should be Princess of Wales and, although before the marriage it was announced that she would take the title Princess consort, she is expected to become Queen consort when Charles becomes King. Is there a royal connection between Camilla's family and the royal family? In 1889 Camilla's great-grandmother Alice Keppel was the mistress of Edward VII when he was Prince of Wales. Edward VII was the great-great-grandfather of Prince Charles the current Prince of Wales. Why is the Queen's husband Prince Philip not King Philip?

The husband of a queen is known as a Prince consort and does not become King. Queen Victoria's husband was Prince Albert, and Queen Elizabeth's husband is Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh . The wife of a king is a Queen consort and does take the title Queen although she does not rule as the monarch. The only exceptions were William III and Mary II who ruled jointly from 1689 until Mary's death in 1694. Were Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip related before their marriage? The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are both great great grandchildren of Queen Victoria . The Queen is a direct descendant of Queen Victoria’s eldest son King Edward VII and the Duke of Edinburgh is a direct descendant of Queen Victoria’s daughter Princess Alice. What relation is Queen Elizabeth II to King George III ? George III was her 3rd great grandfather. If you you follow the line of succession on her grandfather's side - George VI (father), George V (grandfather), Edward VII (great grandfather), Victoria (2nd great grandmother) , Edward Duke of Kent (3rd great grandfather), George III (4th great grandfather) - then he was her 4th great grandfather.

However her grandmother Queen Mary of Teck was also descended from George III - she and George V were 2nd cousins once removed. If you follow Queen Elizabeth's line through her grandmother - George VI (father), Queen Mary (grandmother), Mary Adelaide (great grandmother), Adolphus of Hanover (2nd great grandfather), George III (3rd great-grandfather) - he is more closely related as her 3rd great grandfather. You can see this on the Royal Family tree . How rich is Queen Elizabeth? Her estimated personal fortune is around £350 million (US $435M). The Duchy of Lancaster estate, a portfolio of land, property and assets, is held in trust for the monarch and worth around £348 million. She also owns properties privately that have never been valued, including Sandringham House, Balmoral Castle reputedly worth £160 million and the Castle of Mey. Her investment portfolio in blue-chip British companies is around £110 million, her personal art collection is worth at least £2 million, and she owns personal jewellery and a large stamp collection built up by her grandfather George V.

Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, the Crown Jewels and the Royal Art Collection are held in trust for the nation. The Crown Estate, which manages on behalf of the monarch the property and land owned by the Crown, including properties in Regent Street and St James in London, offshore wind farms around Britain's coast and rural estates in Scotland, is worth around £11 billion and generates £285 million (2014/15) income a year. This income is given to the national Treasury for use in public finances, in return for a grant (£38 million in 2012) for the cost of running the monarchy. This arrangement dated from 1760 when George III gave up the right to the income from the Crown's estates in return for a Civil List paid to members of the Royal Family. In 2013 this changed to a Sovereign Support Grant based on 15% of the income from the Crown Estate.

This means that for the year from April 2016 the nation will keep £242.2 million of the Crown Estates income, and the monarchy will receive £42.7 miilion towards the cost of the Royal household, their travel, attending formal functions and repairs to buildings including Kensington Palace which is the home of Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Does the Queen pay taxes? Yes, in 1992 The Queen offered to pay income tax and capital gains tax on a voluntary basis. Since 1993, her personal income has been taxable as for any other UK taxpayer. Does the Queen rule or does Parliament? The British Monarchy is a constitutional monarchy in which the King or Queen reigns as Head of State but with limits to their power, and the day-to-day government is carried out by Parliament. The political party with the most elected seats in the House of Commons elects a Prime Minister who is invited by the monarch to form a government. A new Parliament is opened by the monarch in an official ceremony, and the Prime Minister during his or her term in office regularly meets with the King or Queen to discuss political matters and events.

How many British Prime Ministers and US Presidents have there been during the Queen's reign? Queen Elizabeth II has worked with 13 different Prime Ministers since she became Queen: Winston Churchill (1951-55), Anthony Eden (1955-59), Harold Macmillan (1959-63), Alec Douglas-Home (1963-64), Harold Wilson (1964-70 & 1974-76), Edward Heath (1970-74), James Callaghan (1976-79), Margaret Thatcher (1979-90), John Major (1990-97), Tony Blair (1997-2007), Gordon Brown (2007-2010), David Cameron (2010-2016) and Theresa May (2016 - present).

There have been 12 US Presidents during her reign: Harry Truman (1945-1953), Dwight Eisenhower (1953-61), John Kennedy (1961-63), Lyndon Johnson (1963-69), Richard Nixon (1969-74), Gerald Ford, (1974-77), James Carter (1977-81), Ronald Reagan (1981-89), George Bush (1989-93), William Clinton (1993-2001), George W Bush (2001-09), Barack Obama, (2009-present). There have been 7 Archbishops of Canterbury and 7 Popes during her reign. Which King or Queen reigned for the longest time? The longest reigning British monarch is Queen Elizabeth II who including today has reigned for 64 years, 11 months, and 13 days which is the longest reign in over 1,200 years of British History.

On 10th September 2015 she surpassed her great great grandmother Queen Victoria who reigned for 63 years, 7 months and 2 days from 1837-1901. See Kings and Queens by length of reign . Which King or Queen reigned for the shortest time? Edward VI named his cousin Lady Jane Grey as his successor and she was proclaimed queen on July 10, 1553 by her father-in-law the Duke of Northumberland. She was 16 years old. Meanwhile Edward's half sister Mary eldest daughter of Henry VIII was also proclaimed queen. The situation was resolved 9 days later on July 19 1553 when Mary arrived in London and was proclaimed as the rightful queen. Mary was crowned Queen on Oct 1, 1553. Lady Jane Grey was executed on February 12, 1554. Another who was not crowned was Edward V . His father Edward IV died on April 9, 1483, but he was usurped by his uncle Richard III who proclaimed himself king 2 months later on June 26 and crowned on July 6, 1483.

The date that Edward died is unknown - he was presumed murdered with his brother in the Tower of London at sometime in September that year. The shortest reigning crowned king was Edmund II for 7 months from 25 April - 30 November 1016. Kings and Queens by length of reign . Which King had the most illegitimate children? Henry I is purported to have had 20-25 illegitimate children by at least six women, but few details are known. Charles II famously fathered numerous illegitimate children, of whom he acknowledged fourteen. His mistresses included Lucy Walter (2 children), Moll Davis (1) , Nell Gwyne (2), Louise de Keroualle (1), Barbara Villiers (6), Elizabeth Killigrew (1), Catherine Pegg (1), Frances Stuart (became the face of Britannia on coins), and at least five others. William IV had 10 illegitimate children born between 1794 and 1807 by his mistress actress Dorothea Bland (known as Mrs Jordan). Is David Cameron descended from royalty? How close would he be in line to the throne?

David Cameron, the previous British Prime Minister, is the great, great, great grandson of Elizabeth Fitzclarence (Jan 17, 1801 - Jan 16, 1856) who was an illegitimate daughter of William IV and his mistress Irish actress Dorothea Bland who was known by her stage name as 'Mrs Jordan'. They lived together for 20 years when he was Duke of Clarence and had 5 sons and 5 daughters. When he became heir to the throne William married Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen but they had no surviving children so when he died having no legitimate children his niece Victoria became Queen. David Cameron is the 5th cousin, twice removed of Queen Elizabeth II, but illegitimate lines have no claim to the throne. The Royal Marriage act of 1772, instigated by William IV's father George III, requires members of the royal family to obtain permission from the monarch to marry. So William and Dorothea would have had to get permission from his brother George IV to marry and it would also have required ratification by Parliament.

She was Catholic and would have had to renounce her Catholic faith for William to remain in the line of succession to the throne. In the very unlikely event that they had been allowed to marry and had done so before their children were born then their eldest son George Augustus would have had a claim to the throne. His great grandson Geoffrey Fitzclarence, 5th Earl of Munster, was a Conservative politician in Winston Churchill's government. David Cameron's line through their 3rd daughter Elizabeth would have had only a very remote claim. How big was Henry VIII? When Henry VII I came to the throne in April 1509 he was 17 years old, 6ft 2in tall, and had pale skin, blue eyes and auburn hair. He was physically active and enjoyed sport, hunting and jousting. A Venetian visitor described him as 'His Majesty is the handsomest potentate I ever set eyes on, a vigorous player of tennis, rider of horses, and skilled wrestler'. However he became fatter with age and gluttony.

His suits of armour show that in 1512 he had a 32 inch waist , which increased to 35 inch by 1520s, and then grew to an enormous 54 inch by 1545. He suffered increasingly of ill health, swelling of the joints and an ulcerated leg claimed to have been caused by a jousting accident. His pain added to his mood swings and unpredictable temper. In 1544 his portrait shows him puffy and bloated. By 1546 he could hardly walk and was carried around on a wooden chair . He had to be winched on to his horse and his armour cut open to accommodate his swollen legs. He is estimated to have weighed 25 stone (350 lbs or 158kg) when he died in January 1547 Why was Queen Mary I known as Bloody Mary? Queen Mary's father Henry VIII split with Rome over his divorce from her mother Catherine of Aragon and made himself head of the Protestant Church of England. When she became queen, Mary sought to re-establish Roman Catholicism as the official religion and carried out persecution of Protestant clergy and followers.

Over 200 died including Thomas Cranmer and several bishops who were burnt at the stake between 1555 and Mary's death in 1558. She was succeeded by her half sister Elizabeth I , daughter of Ann Boleyn, who re-established Protestantism as the official Church of England. How many British monarchs have been killed while they were king or queen? - King Edmund I was killed in 946 during a feast at Pucklechurch, Gloucestershire, by an outlawed robber. - King Edward The Martyr was murdered by members of Aethelred's household at Corfe Castle in 978 - King Edmund II Ironside was assassinated in London in 1016 - King Harold II was killed by an arrow in his eye at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. - King William I The Conqueror suffered a fatal internal injury in 1087 after being thrown against the pommel of his saddle near Nantes in France. - King William II Rufus was killed in 1100 with an arrow while hunting in the New Forest.

Supposedly an accident, it has been suggested that he was shot deliberately on the instructions of his brother Henry. - Richard I The Lion Heart was killed by a crossbow bolt while besieging Châlus-Chabrol in France in 1199. - Edward II was murdered in 1327 at Berkeley Castle on the orders of his wife, Isabella - Richard II was starved to death in 1400 while imprisioned in Pontefract castle. He had been forced to abdicate in 1399 by his cousin Henry IV Bolingbroke. - Henry VI was murdered in the Tower of London in 1471 during the 'Wars of the Roses' between the Lancastrians and Yorkists. - Edward V and his younger brother were imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1483 and never seen again. Their fate remains a mystery but the two princes are believed to have been murdered on orders from their uncle Richard III. - Richard III was killed in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth Field. - Henry VIII executed two of his six wives, Anne Boleyn in 1536 and Catherine Howard in 1542.

- Charles I was executed by Parliament in 1649 following the Civil War. Scottish Kings killed include James II at Roxburgh in 1460 when a cannon exploded, James III in battle near Stirling in 1488 by supporters of his son, James IV by Henry VIII's forces at Flodden in 1513, and Mary Queen of Scots executed in 1587 on orders from her cousin Elizabeth I. Why was Edward I not Edward IV as he followed Edward the Elder, Edward the Martyr & Edward the Confessor? The practice of using Roman numerals to distinguish kings and queens started only after there had been several with the same name, and particularly when there was a succession of father, son, grandson like Edward I, Edward II, and Edward III. Before then it was common for chroniclers and historians to use sobriquets such as Edward the Elder, Edward the Martyr, Edward the Confessor, Edmund Ironside, Aethelred the Unready, Alfred the Great, Harold Harefoot etc before this became impractical. It would be interesting to consider how the present Queen would be known if she were to be referred to in this way.

'Elizabeth the Great', 'Elizabeth the Steadfast ', 'Elizabeth the Dutiful', have been suggested, as well as 'Elizabeth the Diplomat' for her work and visits to so many countries, 'Elizabeth the Survivor' referring to her reign as the longest in British history,'Elizabeth the Wise', 'Elizabeth the Magnificent', 'Elizabeth the Supreme', 'Elizabeth the Faithful' for her untiring service over 60 years to her people and the Commonweatlh, 'Elizabeth the Enduring', 'Elizabeth the Correct', 'Elizabeth,the Benevolent', 'Elizabeth,the Tolerant', 'Elizabeth the Stalwart', 'Elizabeth the Beloved' and 'Elizabeth Britannia'. If you have a suggestion please contact us . What about King Arthur of the knights of the round table and Camelot? King Arthur is a legend and folklore of a Celtic king who fought to defend Britain from Saxon invaders in the 6th century. There is no historical evidence that he existed. Interestingly, Henry VII sought to revive the legend naming his eldest son Arthur. Unfortunately Prince Arthur died in 1502 aged 15 before he became King. His younger brother Henry followed his father instead and became Henry VIII .

Why was there no king or queen between 1649 and 1660? The English Civil War (1642-1649) was fought between the royalist forces loyal to King Charles I and the parliamentarians led by Oliver Cromwell. The Royalist were defeated at the Battle of Naseby in 1645 and following attempts to organize a Scottish invasion, Charles was caught and executed on January 30, 1649. It was the first time a British monarch had ever been publicly executed in recorded history. After the execution of the King, a republic was declared known as the Commonwealth of England (1649-1653) and then the Protectorate (1653-1658) with rule by parliament under Cromwell. Following his death in 1658, Cromwell was succeeded briefly by his son Richard before the monarchy was restored and Charles II became king in 1660. What is the Stone of Destiny? The Stone of Destiny is a symbolic stone that was used in the crowning of Kings of Scotland at the Palace of Scone in Perthshire, Scotland.

It is a block of sandstone which measures approximately 26 inches long x 16 wide x 11 high which rested beneath the throne. According to legend it was brought to Scotland by Fergus Mor from Ireland, where it had reached by way of Spain and Egypt from the Holy Land. It was used in the crowning of kings from Kenneth MacAlpin in 841 to John Balliol in 1292. In 1296 King Edward I of England took the stone to London where it was kept in Westminster Abbey for use in coronations. In 1950 a group of students stole the stone and took it back to Scotland in two pieces which were repaired by a Glasgow stone mason. They left it at Arbroath Abbey from where it was returned to Westminster Abbey. In 1996 the British Government decided in response to calls by Scottish nationalists to return it to Scotland. It arrived back on St Andrews Day 30 November 1996, almost exactly 700 years after it had been removed by Edward, and is now in Edinburgh Castle. When did Wales become part of the United Kingdom?

Wales became incorporated into England under the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284, after it had been annexed by Edward I of England in 1282. Edward dubbed his eldest son Edward Prince of Wales, since which time the eldest son of each English monarch has borne the same title. In the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542, Wales became legally part of the Kingdom of England, and subsequently part of the United Kingdom. When did Scotland become part of the United Kingdom? The Crowns of England and Scotland were united in 1603 when James VI King of Scotland became James I King of England. In October 1604, one year later , he decreed that the Royal Title would use the term Great Brittaine to refer to the "one Imperiall Crowne" made up of England and Scotland. However despite James' wishes political union between Scotland and England did not take place until 1707 in the reign of Queen Anne. See union of the United Kingdom . When did Ireland become part of the United Kingdom?

Ireland became part of the United Kingdom in 1800 when the Act of Union with Ireland was passed by both the Irish and British parliaments Why is Northern Ireland part of the United Kingdom when Southern Ireland is a different country? Northern Ireland, predominantly Protestant, and Southern Ireland, Catholic, split in 1920 with 6 of the 9 counties of Ulster remaining within the United Kingdom, and the remaining 26 counties being given home rule under the Government of Ireland Act. In 1922 the Southern counties became the Irish Free State and then since 1949 the Republic of Ireland. Happy birthday, Prince Edward! Royal celebrates half a century alongside Sophie Wessex with walkabout | Daily Mail Online comments He celebrated his half century yesterday with a party attended by the Queen and other ROyals. But today Prince Edward showed no signs of heavy night as he arrived bright and early at a primary school today.

The Queen's youngest son and his wife, Countess of Wessex, paid a visit to Robert Browning primary school in Walworth, London to see work carried out by Kidscape, one of the charities to receive money from the Wessex Youth Trust, the charity the couple set up shortly before their marriage in 1999. The Earl and Countess of Wessex arrive for a visit to Robert Browning Primary School in Walworth, London Happy birthday, Edward!

The Earl of Wessex visited Robert Browning primary school on his 50th birthday today where he was presented with a card by pupils John Lieu, nine, left, and Pharez Billy, seven Edward and Sophie set up the Wessex Youth Trust in 1999 before they got married Pupils at the school presented Edward with a cake during the visit Sofia Jardine-Kerr, five, presents the Countess of Wessex with flowers during the visit The Earl and Countess of Wessex with two of the children from Robert Browning school n 2013 Prince Edward conducted 87 engagement overseas, bettered only by Sophie - who carried out 95.The couple were in Barbados and Jamaica last week Sophie Wessex looked chic as ever, wearing slim-fitted tailoring and the leg-lengthening nude heels that have become standard issue for the wives of Windsor Birthday boy Prince Edward spent the morning at the school to see the work of youth charity Kidscape, which receives grants from the Wessex Youth Trust The Wessexes received a warm welcome from locals who lined the streets outside the school and gave the couple a round of applause as they arrived.

Inside the school, a group of excited children presented Edward with a large card they had made and signed themselves. Yesterday, to mark the occasion of Edward's birthday, Buckingham Palace yesterday issued a charming new portrait of the Earl of Wessex, the title he was granted on his marriage, his wife, Sophie, the Countess of Wessex and their two children The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James, Viscount Severn. Taken in in the panelled dining room in their Berkshire home, Bagshot Park, by photographer Millie Pilkington, who also took the private photographs at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding, it is a particularly relaxed family portrait. To mark Prince Edward's 50th birthday, Buckingham Palace have issued a charming new portrait of the Earl of Wessex, the title he was granted on his marriage, his wife, Sophie, the Countess of Wessex and their two children The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James, Viscount Severn Edward, dressed in a lilac shirt unbuttoned at the neck to display a hint of hairy chest, and bottle green trousers sits holding his giggling son, six, on the arm of his chair.

His daughter, ten, wearing a grey pinafore and white jumper clutches his arm affectionately, while his wife of almost 15 years, Sophie, smiles broadly as she crouches behind. Aside from the release of the official portrait, the prince has determinedly refused to make a big deal of out his landmark birthday, granting a single interview to a children’s news programme. The couple will later accompany the Queen and other senior royals to the Commonwealth Observance Service at Westminster Abbey. TEN THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT THE QUEEN'S YOUNGEST SON The Queen’s youngest child, Prince Edward, turns 50 today. In honour of his birthday FEMAIL round up ten facts you may not know about Prince Charles’ little brother... 1. Edward was born on 10 March 1964 and is the third son and youngest child of The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. 2. The prince completed his A-Levels in History, English Literature and Economic and Political Studies in 1982, and then decided to take a gap year. During his time abroad, he worked as a house tutor teaching English and History at the Collegiate School in Wanganui, New Zealand. 3.

Prince Edward currently holds 4 degrees: his BA in History from Cambridge, and 2 honorary degrees. He has also been awarded The Earl of Wessex a degree by both The University of Victoria awarded and the University of Prince Edward Island. As Chancellor of the University of Bath, he holds an honorary doctorate in Law. 4. In 1986, after graduating, Prince Edward decided to embark on a career in theatrical productions. He has a successful run working at two companies, including Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatre Company. In 1993, Edward formed his own company Ardent Productions. Prince Edward also tried his hand at a military role and started training as an Officer Cadet in the Royal Marines in 1986. He didn’t take to military life and left the Marines in January 1987. 5. Prince Edward met his wife, Sophie Rhys-Jones at a tennis event in 1993. Sophie was standing in for sports personality, Sue Barker, and had to pose for promotional photos with Edward for the event, leading to the start of their relationship. 6. In June 1999, the couple of six years were married at Windsor Castle.

The couple requested that guests didn’t wear evening dress or hats as they wanted a low key affair. However, the Queen Mother did wear a lavender hat. Princes William and Harry, and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie attended, but the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, was not invited. 7. Edward’s full title is ‘HRH, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Viscount Severn’. The title of Earl of Wessex was given to him by The Queen, on his wedding day. The last person to hold that title was Harold II, who died at the Battle of Hastings, 1066. Prince Edward is now 7th in line to the throne. 8. In 2002, Edward and his wife both quit their private jobs in order to support The Queen during her jubilee. The Prince is currently involved with over 79 organisations, many in aid of charities that provide opportunities for young people. 9. Edward has become heavily involved with the Duke of Edinburgh Award ever since achieving the Gold Award himself in 1986. After the passing of both his parents, it is intended that Prince Edward will be granted the title of Duke of Edinburgh. 10.

The Prince became a father for the first time in November 2003. Despite birth complications, the Prince and his wife welcomed Lady Windsor into their family. The couple had their second child a year later, a boy, James, Viscount Severn. In recent years Edward, often cited as the Queen’s favoured son, has become something of the quiet man of the British monarchy, conducting 258 engagements last year with little fanfare. He is also considered the successor to his father’s Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme and been handed the plum role of International Trustee and Chairman of the International Council. This has resulted in him becoming one of the most well-travelled members of the royal family last year. In 2013 he conducted 87 engagement overseas, bettered only by his wife - who carried out 95 - and Prince Charles, who also clocked up 95 jobs but undertook two lengthy foreign tours on behalf of the British government. The couple were in Barbados and Jamaica only last week. It is, perhaps, seen as a reward for years of quiet service after being forced to give up his chosen career.

The Royal couple dressed smartly to celebrate their youngest son's half century birthday The Queen wore a pearl necklace and matching earrings and a bright red lipstick to go with her cream coat The Queen and The Duke Of Edinburgh arrive at Bagshot Park, Surrey for Prince Edwards 50th Lord Linley arrives at Bagshot Park, Surrey for Prince Edwards 50th Birthday Party Tim and Lady Helen Taylor, first cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth II, arrive at Bagshot Park After leaving university, Edward famously joined the Royal Marines but dropped out of training within months. He decided to pursue a career in entertainment, starting off as a production assistant for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Theatre Company but also produced the ill-fate It’s A Royal Knockout in 1987. In 1993 he formed his own company, Ardent Productions, but was accused of profiting out of his position by making a series of royal documentaries The company made a series of losses until, in 2001, one of his own film crews invaded his nephew, Prince William’s privacy, while he was studying in Scotland by secretly filming him, causing a public – and private – furore.

The following year it was announced that he and his wife, whose own PR business had been similarly dogged by controversy, would give up their business interests to concentrate on their royal duties. Friends, however, say Edward, who is now eighth-in-line to the throne, is happy and relaxed in his new role as a dutiful son and now father. He and his wife tried for several years to start a family and suffered the devastating loss of an ectopic pregnancy. One friend said: ‘It really is lovely to see Edward and Sophie sitting down on the floor playing with their children. They are such hand-on parents and totally unstuffy. Louise and James were much longed-for children and are the centre of their world.’ Earlier this year it was revealed that Louise, the Queen’s youngest grand-daughter, had undergone surgery to correct a severe squint she had since birth. This latest portrait shows the surgery appears to have been successful.

Bagshot Park, Surrey, the home of the Earl and Countess of Wessex Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, turns 50 tomorrow and celebrations are being held today at his home Prince Edward and wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, were on tour in Barbados last week Prince Edward | Britroyals Title: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex Full Name: Edward Antony Richard Louis Father: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Mother: Queen Elizabeth II Relation to Elizabeth II: Son Born: March 10, 1964 at Buckingham Palace, London Current Age: 52 years, 9 months, and 30 days Married: Sophie Rhys-Jones on June 19, 1999 at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Children: Lady Louise Windsor, Viscount Severn Prince Edward is the third son and youngest child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. He was born at Buckingham Palace on 10 March 1964, and christened at Windsor Castle on 2 May 1964.

He was educated at Heatherdown Preparatory School, Ascot, and like his father and two brothers went on to Gordonstoun School in Scotland where he was head boy in his last term. In 1982 he spent a gap year as a house tutor at the Collegiate School, Wanganui, in New Zealand. On his return he attended Jesus College, University of Cambridge and graduated in 1986 with a degree in History. His interests included theatrical productions. On leaving Cambridge he joined the Royal Marines but did not take to the army life. He resigned his army commission in 1987, and joined Andrew Lloyd Weber�s Really Useful theatrical company. In 1993 he formed the Ardent Television company and was involved in documentaries about the Royal Family, but in 2002 stepped down to concentrate on his royal duties in support of the Queen. He met Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1993 while she was working in public relations, and they were married at St George�s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on 19 June 1999. On their wedding Edward was created Earl of Wessex, and Sophie became Countess of Wessex.

They have two children Lady Louise Windsor born 8 November 2003, and James Viscount Severn born 17 December 2007. Edward has taken over several of the public roles of his father including President of the Commonwealth games, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme founded by his father Prince Philip. It is believed that Prince Edward will eventually inherit the title Duke of Edinburgh Royal wedding: What title will Kate Middleton take? - Telegraph Royal wedding: What title will Kate Middleton take? When she marries Prince William, Kate Middleton will take on a royal title. Kate Middleton could become HRH Princess William of Wales when she weds the future king Photo: PA 2:51AM BST 05 Apr 2011 All titles are in the gift of the Queen and it is up to the monarch to choose which one to bestow on her grandson and his new wife. Tradition dictates that royal men receive a title on their wedding - and often more than one. When Prince Andrew married, he became the Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh. Prince Edward became the Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn on his wedding day in 1999.

Yet William could request that he remains simply HRH Prince William of Wales instead. Related Articles Royal wedding parties and events 06 Apr 2011 According to royal protocol, Kate Middleton would not become HRH Princess Catherine of Wales, as she is not a Princess in her own right. Instead, she would become HRH Princess William of Wales, in the same vein as Princess Michael of Kent. However, in recent years, there has been much adaptation of traditional royal titles, meaning Kate could become Princess Catherine of Wales after all if the Queen approved. When Camilla Parker Bowles married the Prince of Wales in 2005, she became the Duchess of Cornwall, rather than the Princess of Wales. She is technically the Princess of Wales, but chose not to use this title given its associations with Diana. Clarence House also said that when Charles becomes King, the Duchess wished to take on the unusual title of ''Princess Consort'', instead of Queen Consort which the wives of previous kings have taken throughout the ages. If William does accept a dukedom making Kate a duchess, possible titles suggested include the Duke and Duchess of Clarence, Cambridge, Connaught or Sussex.

Other options include Kendal, Avondale, Strathearn and Teviotdale. It is thought the Queen would not be keen on the Duke of Windsor, given the associations with the abdicated Edward VIII. If William receives more than one title, it is likely one could reflect his associations with Scotland - having met his future wife at St Andrews University in Fife. 20 facts about the Countess of Wessex 20 facts about the Countess of Wessex January 20, 2014 by hellomagazine.com Fun facts about birthday girl Sophie Wessex, including her friendship with Kate Middleton and her strong bond with the Queen The Countess of Wessex, who is married to the Queen’s youngest son Prince Edward , celebrates her 49th birthday on Monday 20 January. Sophie is expected to mark her birthday privately before continuing with her official engagements in London on Wednesday. To honour the Countess’ birthday, HELLO! Online has compiled a list of 20 facts about the popular royal. 1. Sophie met Prince Edward during a charity event in 1993 and the couple dated for six years before announcing their engagement on 6 January 1999. 2.

Sophie and Edward’s wedding took place on 19 June 1999 at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Royalty from around the world, including Queen Anne-Marie of Greece and Prince Joachim of Denmark, attended the wedding ceremony, which was watched by an estimated 200 million people worldwide. 3. In recent years, Sophie has been praised for her elegant sense of style and in 2013 she became the first royal patron of the London College of Fashion. 4. Married to the Queen’s youngest son, Sophie is known to have a strong bond with her mother-in-law. They are often spotted riding together at weekends in the magnificent grounds of Windsor Park, and the Queen has been known to turn up unannounced at Edward and Sophie’s Surrey home for afternoon tea. 5. The Countess is a self-confessed Doctor Who fan, and last year held a reception at Buckingham Palace to honour the Time Lord’s 50th anniversary where she met former Doctors including Tom Baker, Peter Davison, John Hurt and Matt Smith. 6. Sophie once revealed that she couldn’t find her seat at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace minutes before the Queen was due to speak.

“I shan’t forget the look I got when I couldn’t find my chair and she was looking to do her speech,” the Countess joked during ITV’s documentary Our Queen. “I decided I might study the notes a little more carefully next time.” 7. Sophie is a friend of Monaco’s Princess Charlene. The royal wives were spotted catching up at Princess Madeleine of Sweden’s wedding in 2013 and the Monaco Grand Prix in 2012. 8. Her full royal title is Her Royal Highness The Princess Edward, Countess of Wessex, Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Dame of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. She will eventually become the Duchess of Edinburgh when Edward inherits the title Duke of Edinburgh. 9. Like the Duchess of Cambridge, Sophie’s first overseas tour was to Canada. Sophie and her husband appropriately visited Prince Edward Island in 2000. 10. Sophie often represents the Queen at foreign royal events with the Earl of Wessex.

Notably she and Edward have attended the weddings of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden as well as Prince Albert of Monaco’s wedding to Princess Charlene. 11. In 2013, the Countess carried out 228 official royal engagements. 12. Sophie currently supports over 70 organisations and takes a particular interest in supporting children and young people who suffer from sensory, learning and communication disabilities. 13. She is known for her compassion. During an official visit to a hospital in Leeds in October 2013, the Countess took time to surprise 15-year-old Nikita Chadwick, who was being prepared for surgery for the spinal condition Scoliosis. “The Countess was lovely,” said Nikita’s mother, Maria after the visit. 14. Like many royals, Sophie is a keen sportswoman and she enjoys walking, running, sailing and riding. 15. Prince Edward’s wife often travels overseas solo and in 2013 visited Hong Kong, India and Qatar to carry out official duties. 16.

Sophie has struck up a good friendship with the Duchess of Cambridge since her wedding to Prince William in 2011. Speaking after the birth of Prince George, the Countess spoke about her joy for the new parents. “I’m so excited for them both,” said Sophie. “I never expected to feel quite this happy but I’ve had a big smile on my face ever since the news broke.” 17. On 8 November 2003, Sophie gave birth to her and Edward’s first child, Lady Louise, at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey. The Countess had to undergo an emergency caesarean after a placental abruption put her and Louise in danger. Four years later, in December 2007, Sophie returned to the same hospital where she and Edward welcomed James, Viscount Severn. 18. In October 2013, the Countess was named as the first Global Ambassador for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, which encourages personal development in 14-24 year olds. The role has already seen Sophie travel to South Africa, and later this year both she and Edward will visit the United States and Barbados to visit participants of the scheme. 19.

Sophie has been known to show her sensitive side and during the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall last year to mark Remembrance Sunday, the royal was moved to tears as family members of fallen soldiers were introduced on stage. 20. In 2014, Sophie will mark her 15th wedding anniversary to Prince Edward and the couple will celebrate Edward’s 50th birthday.

Question: Which royal title is held by Prince Edward?
Answer: Earl of Wessex