The House of Windsor
On the 17th July 1917 during the First World War, a Royal Proclaimation decreed by George V declared that the Royal House and Family will cease to be Saxe-Coburg Gotha and that all members will be styled Windsor.
"Now, therefore, We, out of Our Royal Will and Authority, do hereby declare and announce that as from the date of this Our Royal Proclamation Our House and Family shall be styled and known as the House and Family of Windsor, and that all the descendants in the male line of Our said Grandmother Queen Victoria who are subjects of these Realms, other than female descendants who may marry or may have married, shall bear the said Name of Windsor...." (London Gazette, July 17th 1917). This proclamation was the official beginning of the House of Windsor and the British Royal House which we have all become accustomed to. Named after the castle built by William the Conqueror, the name gives the British Royal Family a feeling of patriotism and appeal to the nation during times of hardship. |