Key facts to know about the House of Windsor

Facts about the history of the House of Windsor, which is celebrating its centenary:

The House of Windsor has seen four monarchs – George V, Edward VIII, George VI and the nation’s longest reigning sovereign, Elizabeth II.

But it also experienced the abdication crisis in 1936 when Edward VIII gave up the throne to marry Wallis Simpson.

Edward VIII’s reign lasted just 326 days – less than 11 months. He was never crowned.

Elizabeth II’s reign has lasted more than 65 years. In 2015 she overtook Victoria to become the longest serving British monarch.

The German name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha came to the family in 1840 with the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert. Albert was the younger son of the duke of SaxeCoburg-Gotha.

Because of anti-German feeling during the First World War, George V – who was Albert’s grandson and Elizabeth II’s grandfather – issued a royal proclamation on July 17 1917, ditching Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and making the royal family “the House and Family of Windsor”.

Windsor – after the 11th Century castle – was the final choice, but other suggestions included Tudor-Stuart and Guelph – the Hanoverian name.

After Elizabeth II’s accession in 1952, the Queen declared that the royal family’s surname would still be Windsor and not Mountbatten, much to the Duke of Edinburgh’s annoyance.

He won a concession in 1960 when it was announced that the Queen’s direct descendants – other than those with the style of Royal Highness and the title of Prince or Princess – when they needed a surname would use Mountbatten–Windsor.

The Royal Mint of coins featuring portraits of monarchs of the House of Windsor along with the 2017 House of Windsor £5 coin.