Queen Victoria's Crowned Descendants
The Many European Royal Houses This Monarch's Family Joined
Sep 9, 2009
Queen Victoria was Great Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, ruling from 1837 until her death in 1901. Since then, her royal descendants have ruled not only Great Britain but also many other countries in Europe, and at one point members of her family ruled ten countries as well as other smaller duchies and principalities. Many of these monarchies have since been deposed, but Queen Victoria’s descendants still rule over five European countries.
Great Britain
Queen Victoria’s descendants have ruled Great Britain for over 100 years, with the throne passing from father to son to brother and eventually to daughter. After Queen Victoria’s eldest son King Edward VII, who ruled from 1901 to 1910, came his son King George V (1910–1936), George’s son King Edward VIII (1936), Edward’s brother King George VI (1936–1952), and George’s daughter Queen Elizabeth II.
Germany
Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Princess Victoria, married Prince Frederick of Prussia in 1858. He ascended the throne as Emperor Frederick III of Germany in 1888, making his wife Empress Victoria of Germany during his short ninety-nine-day reign. After his death, their son became Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, ruling until the monarchy was deposed in 1918.
Greece
When Sophie of Prussia married Prince Constantine of the Hellenes in 1889, she brought her grandmother’s genes to Greece. Her husband became King Constantine I in 1913, and Queen Victoria’s descendants ruled Greece through their three sons King George II (broken reigns in the 1920s through the 1940s), King Alexander I (1917–1920), and King Paul I (1947–1964), and through their grandson King Constantine II (1964–1973), under whom the Greek monarchy was deposed.
Norway
When King Edward VII’s daughter Maud married Prince Carl of Denmark in 1896, she did not know that she would later become queen when her husband would be elected King Haakon VII of Norway (1905–1957). He was succeeded by his son King Olav V (1957–1991), who was succeeded by his son King Harald V.
Russia
Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine, Queen Victoria’s granddaughter through her daughter Alice, married Tsar Nicholas II of Russia in 1894 and became Tsarina Alexandra. They reigned over Russia until the monarchy was overthrown in 1917.
Romania
Princess of Marie of Great Britain, Queen Victoria’s granddaughter through her son Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, married Prince Ferdinand of Romania in 1893. He ruled as King Ferdinand I from 1917 to 1927, and was succeeded by their son King Carol II (1930–1940), and grandson King Michael I (1927–1930 and 1940–1947), under whom the monarchy was deposed.
Yugoslavia
Princess Marie of Romania, daughter of King Ferdinand I and Queen Marie, married King Alexander I of Yugoslavia (r. 1921–1934) in 1922. Their son followed his father as King Peter II until the monarchy was deposed in 1945.
Sweden
Princess Margaret of Great Britain, Queen Victoria’s granddaughter through her son Arthur, Duke of Connaught, married Crown Prince Gustaf of Sweden in 1905. She died before her husband ascended the throne as King Gustaf VI Adolf (r. 1950–1973), but her legacy lives on in her grandson King Carl XVI Gustaf, who succeeded his grandfather in 1973.
Denmark
Princess Ingrid of Sweden, Margaret and Gustaf’s daughter, married the future King Frederik IX of Denmark in 1935. He reigned from 1947 to 1972, when he was succeeded by their daughter Queen Margrethe II.
Spain
Princess Victoria Eugenie (Ena) of Battenberg, Queen Victoria’s granddaughter through her youngest daughter Beatrice, married King Alfonso XIII of Spain in 1906. She was queen until her husband was deposed in 1931. The Spanish monarchy was then brought back in Spain under their grandson King Juan Carlos I in 1975.
Queen Victoria’s Descendants Ruled Throughout Europe
Queen Victoria’s descendants have ruled Europe from Norway in the north to Yugoslavia in the south, from Spain in the west to Russia in the east. They have sat on thrones as monarchs and consorts, and at one time ruled ten countries as well as other smaller monarchies. Today, Queen Victoria’s descendants still rule five countries, including, of course, Great Britain.
Sources:
Eilers, Marlene A. Queen Victoria’s Descendants. Falkoping, Sweden: Rosvall Royal Books, 1997.
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