How German are the British royals?

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King Charles III Come to Germany. The family ties between the European royal houses have been close for centuries. The British Royals have more German roots than you might think.

  • King Charles III. comes to Germany

    Reception in front of the Brandenburg Gate

    Unlike previous visits, the royal couple will be received at the Brandenburg Gate – with military honors. According to the Office of the Federal President, there has never been a state guest welcomed at Berlin's landmark. This is also seen as a sign of the special relationship between Germany and Great Britain. The photo above shows Charles and Camilla in 2019.

  • King Charles III. comes to Germany

    Almost best friends

    A cordial relationship developed between Charles and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier over the course of their numerous meetings. Here the two are standing in May 2019 in front of the entrance to Bellevue Palace, the official residence of the Federal President. Here he and Camilla are invited to the state banquet on the evening of March 29th.

  • King Charles III. comes to Germany

    Speech in the Bundestag

    King Charles will also stop by the Bundestag during this visit to Germany. In November 2020, he gave a speech there on the day of national mourning – entirely in German, but in front of almost empty ranks. The corona pandemic did not allow for a well-filled plenary hall at the time. This time Charles will present a different picture.

  • King Charles III. comes to Germany

    Visit Hamburg

    On the second day of the state visit, King Charles will visit a German-British military unit in Brandenburg that specializes in building bridges. Then it's on to Hamburg, accompanied by the Federal President. Charles is presented with climate-friendly technologies in the port of Hamburg. Protecting the environment is an issue Charles has been committed to for decades.

  • King Charles III. comes to Germany

    Memorial Church St. Nikolai in Hamburg

    Under the code name “Operation Gomorrah”, the British and Americans launched heavy air raids on Hamburg in July 1943. More than 35,000 people died in the so-called Hamburg firestorm, and almost a million people were left homeless. The ruins of the Church of St. Nikolai are a reminder of this. Both Charles and Federal President Steinmeier will lay commemorative wreaths there.

  • King Charles III. comes to Germany

    The City of Hamburg's Golden Book

    Charles and Camilla will sign the city's Golden Book in Hamburg City Hall. It is not the first time that Charles has received this honor: in November 1987 he immortalized himself there – at that time accompanied by his first wife Diana. The couple was invited by the former mayor of Hamburg, Klaus von Dohnanyi (far left in the picture).

  • King Charles III comes to Germany

    Frequently a guest at Bellevue Castle

    The former Federal President Horst Köhler also received Charles at Bellevue Castle. In 2009, then-Prince Charles brought his second wife, Camilla, with him. The marriage of the two four years earlier is considered a triumph of love over protocol in the British royal family.

  • King Charles III comes to Germany

    Frequent guest in Germany

    He has visited the Federal Republic more than 40 times since 1962, says Charles about his particularly warm relationship with Germany. While most of his stays were private, he rarely left without a dip in the crowd. Here he jokes with fans in Munich in 1995 before paying a visit to the famous Viktualienmarkt.

  • King Charles III likes to come to Germany

    Royals, but no German monarchy

    According to a Forsa survey on the occasion of the state visit, Germans find the dazzling world of the royal families exciting. But not in your own country. As much as royal guests like to be received here – only eight percent of Germans would like a monarchy in this country. Most Germans are satisfied with a federal president as state representative.

  • more King Charles III. comes to Germany

    The German roots of the British Royals

    The first English king of German origin was crowned in 1714. King George (picture) comes from the House of Hanover. Over the past 300 years, strong bonds have always been forged between the English throne and German nobility. King Charles also has German roots. He speaks fluent German – with a distinguished British accent.

    Author: Silke Wünsch


  • King Charles III. comes to Germany

    Reception in front of the Brandenburg Gate

    Unlike previous visits, the royal couple will be received at the Brandenburg Gate – with military honors. According to the Office of the Federal President, there has never been a state guest welcomed at Berlin's landmark. This is also seen as a sign of the special relationship between Germany and Great Britain. The photo above shows Charles and Camilla in 2019.

  • King Charles III . comes to Germany

    Almost best friends

    A cordial relationship developed between Charles and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier over the course of their numerous meetings. Here the two are standing in May 2019 in front of the entrance to Bellevue Palace, the official residence of the Federal President. Here he and Camilla are invited to the state banquet on the evening of March 29th.

  • King Charles III. comes to Germany

    Speech in the Bundestag

    King Charles will also stop by the Bundestag during this visit to Germany. In November 2020, he gave a speech there on the day of national mourning – entirely in German, but in front of almost empty ranks. The corona pandemic did not allow for a well-filled plenary hall at the time. This time Charles will offer a different picture.

  • King Charles III . comes to Germany

    Visit Hamburg

    On the second day of the state visit, King Charles will visit a German-British military unit in Brandenburg that specializes in building bridges. Then it's on to Hamburg, accompanied by the Federal President. Charles is presented with climate-friendly technologies in the port of Hamburg. Protecting the environment is an issue Charles has been committed to for decades.

  • King Charles III. comes to Germany

    Memorial Church St. Nikolai in Hamburg

    Under the code name “Operation Gomorrah”, the British and Americans launched heavy air raids on Hamburg in July 1943. More than 35,000 people died in the so-called Hamburg firestorm, and almost a million people were left homeless. The ruins of the Church of St. Nikolai are a reminder of this. Both Charles and Federal President Steinmeier will lay commemorative wreaths there.

  • King Charles III. comes to Germany

    The Golden Book of the City of Hamburg

    Charles and Camilla will sign the city's golden book in Hamburg City Hall. It is not the first time that Charles has received this honor: in November 1987 he immortalized himself there – at that time accompanied by his first wife Diana. The couple was invited by the former mayor of Hamburg, Klaus von Dohnanyi (far left in the picture).

  • King Charles III. comes to Germany

    Have often been guests at Bellevue Castle

    Former Federal President Horst Köhler also received Charles at Bellevue Palace. In 2009, then-Prince Charles brought his second wife, Camilla, with him. The marriage of the two four years earlier is considered a triumph of love over protocol in the British royal family.

  • King Charles III. comes to Germany

    Frequent guest in Germany

    He has visited the Federal Republic more than 40 times since 1962, says Charles about his particularly warm relationship with Germany. While most of his stays were private, he rarely left without a dip in the crowd. Here he jokes with fans in Munich in 1995 before paying a visit to the famous Viktualienmarkt.

  • King Charles III. likes to come to Germany

    Royals, but not a German monarchy

    According to a Forsa survey on the occasion of the state visit, Germans find the dazzling world of royal houses exciting. But not in your own country. As much as royal guests like to be received here – only eight percent of Germans would like a monarchy in this country. Most Germans are satisfied with a federal president as state representative.

  • more King Charles III comes to Germany

    The German roots of British royals

    The first English king of German origin was crowned in 1714. King George (picture) comes from the House of Hanover. Over the past 300 years, strong bonds have always been forged between the English throne and German nobility. King Charles also has German roots. He speaks fluent German – with a distinguished British accent.

    Author: Silke Wünsch


A good 300 years ago – on August 1, 1714 – the English Queen Anne died. As a result, the German Elector Georg Ludwig von Hanover is proclaimed King of Great Britain in his absence. He is the only possible heir to the throne and thus the first German to ascend the English throne.

No manners

His British subjects are initially not amused. The German king did not set foot on English soil until two months after his proclamation and was crowned King George I on October 20, 1714. He is divorced and publicly flirts with two mistresses. George hardly speaks English – and he has no manners. So little that there is said to have been a protocol instruction not to throw roast meat at the servants at banquets.

King George I.

But the British also realize that George I achieved a lot for his kingdom during his tenure. So defeats one of the Jacobite uprisings in Scotland, establishes the two-party system that is still in force today, builds up a well-functioning navy and expands the British Empire.

George II. and George III.

His son George II bequeathed the British their national anthem “God Save The King” – or later “God Save The Queen”. His grandson George III. is the first in the line of German-born kings who was born in England and also speaks English as his mother tongue. He marries the German Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. With her he fathered 15 children.

George III. suffers from a metabolic disorder that leads to severe mental disorders in him and makes him increasingly unable to govern. His “mental illness” earns him the nickname “The Madman”.

Often a target of the caricaturists: King George III. leads an army of clay jars – the enemy French on the bridge react accordingly

George IV – low point for the reputation of the royal family

His eldest son, the dandy-like Georg August Friedrich, is already taking over during his lifetime, and in 1820 became George IV, the next king with a predominantly German family tree.

His extravagant life does not make him particularly popular with his subjects. He is also called “The Fat One”. After his death, no Briton mourns his loss – because George IV has badly damaged the reputation of the royal family with his extravagance and eccentricity. He leaves no particular political legacy – but a cultural one: Buckingham House is expanded into a palace and in the seaside resort of Brighton a building is erected that is still unique in Europe in terms of exoticism and opulence: the Royal Pavilion.

Modest summer residence of George IV: The Royal Pavilion in Brighton

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

In 1837, George IV's niece, Victoria, who was predominantly of German origin, was crowned. Victoria marries her cousin, the German Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. At first he was smiled at by the British – what does our queen want with a German provincial prince? You will soon change your mind. Albert stands up for his subjects and is said to have established the German custom of putting up a Christmas tree in England. He brought the first world exhibition to London in 1851 and reformed administration and building in the kingdom. With Albert, the British royal family regains its prestige. In the center of London there is a magnificent statue of the German prince consort, the Albert Bridge in London was named after him, as was the famous concert venue Royal Albert Hall.

The “Grandmother of Europe”

Meanwhile, alongside her role as a mother of nine, Queen Victoria is taking on more representative functions. Their influence on foreign policy consists above all in their family ties to all the important ruling houses in Europe.

Queen Victoria

She cleverly married off her children to other European princely courts. And so it is no wonder that descendants of Victoria sit on the throne in many European royal houses: Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Kings Harald of Norway and Carl Gustav of Sweden, the former Spanish royal couple Juan Carlos and Sophia – up to Elizabeth II .. Victoria gets the nickname “Grandmother of Europe” and is the longest-serving monarch in Great Britain with 64 years on the throne. She is surpassed 120 years later by her great-great-granddaughter Elizabeth II.

From Saxe-Coburg to Windsor

In 1901 she dies. Her eldest son Edward VII succeeds her to the throne and is the first English king from the German dynasty of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. To make this name more palatable to British hearing, it is being renamed “Saxe-Coburg and Gotha”. In 1910 his son George V became king. He is married to the German-born Maria von Teck – “Queen Mary”.

Queen Mary and George V .visiting Northern Ireland in May 1921

The First World War fell during his reign. England declares war on the German Emperor Wilhelm II – Georges V's cousin. In England, the mood is shifting towards everything German – after all, the German Reich is viewed as the main aggressor. In 1917, George V decides to change the German name of the royal family to Windsor. It has remained so to this day. George also renounced all German titles, his cousin Ludwig von Battenberg did the same: From then on his family was called Mountbatten – Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth's husband, came from this family.

The Royals and the Nazis

George's son Edward VIII becomes king in 1936. He resigns for love and marries the divorced American Wallis Simpson. His brother Albert takes over and boards as George VI. the British throne. At that time, the Nazis and Adolf Hitler had long since had a firm grip on Germany, and the Third Reich was also viewed with skepticism and interest abroad. Eduard and Albert's mother, Queen Mary, insists that her sons don't forget their German roots – and there are plenty of relatives in Hitler's Germany. Eduard openly shows his sympathy for the German Nazis, including a photo in which he and his wife shake hands with the “Führer” with a heartbreaking smile.

At first, the British nobility was very attached to Hitler's Germany. The Second World War ended the friendly relationship

Only a few years ago, a video snippet appeared in which Eduard and his sister-in-law practice the Nazi salute with two little girls. The little girls are Margaret and Elizabeth, the future Queen of England, the cameraman is Elizabeth's father, George VI. To this day, the British do not like to see the sometimes cordial relations between the British nobility and the German Nazis – and as far as possible, evidence of such connections is still kept under wraps.

And how German is King Charles III .?

Queen Elizabeth's mother was British, and so the English queen was only partly of German descent – although she showed extremely German virtues throughout her life: discipline and a sense of duty. Her husband Philip, on the other hand, had mostly German ancestors and also spoke fluent German. In 1947 he became a British citizen, gave up his German aristocratic title “von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg” shortly before his marriage to Elizabeth and only called himself “Mountbatten”. The eldest son from this union, the current King Charles III, has roughly half German ancestors in his pedigree.

King Charles III. has many German ancestors, but is British through and through.

He fathered two sons, William and Harry, with his first wife, the British Diana Spencer. Prince William's wife Kate has no German ancestors at all; Meghan, Harry's wife, is the daughter of an American with Irish roots and is said to even have German ancestors. 

It is extremely unlikely that a person of German origin will ever ascend the English throne again. In fact, there is a direct German descendant of English monarchs: Her name is Karin Vogel. She's at 4973. Position at the end of the British list of successors. In her pedigree one finds George I, the first British king who came from Germany.