How did the Royal Family start?

The late Queen alongside King Charles III, Queen Consort Camilla, The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children (Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

For many people, Queen Elizabeth II was the monarch for most of their lives.

Now, King Charles III is head of the Royal Family – with Queen Consort Camilla and The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, among the country’s senior royals.

We often see the royals visiting charities and championing causes, hosting world leaders at Buckingham Palace, or appearing on its balcony during events such as Trooping the Colour.

But have you ever wondered when, exactly, the House of Windsor – and the Royal Family generally – begun?

After all, there’s been a King or Queen of the United Kingdom for hundreds of years…

How did the Royal Family start?

The Royal Family as we know it today began in 1917.

King George V created the House of Windsor (Picture: Universal History Archive/Getty Images)

This was when the House of Windsor was created by King George V, King Charles’ great-grandfather.

‘Windsor’ – after the castle in southern England – replaced the family’s Germanic surname Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, amid anti-German sentiment during the First World War.

The Duke of Windsor – briefly King Edward VIII – and King George VI were both kings under the House of Windsor.

Indeed, Queen Elizabeth II carried on the family name when she began her reign in 1952.

More: Royal Family

Of course, there were monarchs before 1917 – such as Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth I and King Henry VIII.

Further back in the Middle Ages, England, Scotland and Wales had their own rulers, often for smaller kingdoms and territories within.

However, the Royal Family as we know it goes back to William The Conqueror (William I), the first Norman King of England. He took the throne in 1066, after the Battle of Hastings.

But when did they stop being separate kingdoms, with just one monarch for all of the UK?

It was in 1603 that James I, who had been Scotland’s monarch for 36 years (as James VI), also became King of England – as heir to Queen Elizabeth I following her death.

This was known as the ‘Union of the Crowns’ – and despite both remaining separate kingdoms, James was known to have styled himself as ‘King of Great Britain’ anyway.

The Acts of Union 1707 joined England and Scotland together politically, making Queen Anne – then Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland – officially Queen of Great Britain and Ireland.

Following the Acts of Union 1800, the monarch became the King or Queen of the United Kingdom.

MORE : Royal Family tree: Meet the members of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s family

MORE : Kate gives behind-the-scenes glimpse of what we can expect from royals this Christmas

MORE : How long did Queen Victoria reign and how old was she when she died?

Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Share your views in the comments below

The monarchy goes way back.