Edward VII (1841 - 1910)- r.

1901-1910

Edward was born on 9 November 1841 in London, the eldest son of Victoria and her prince consort,
Albert. He was subjected to a strict regime from an early age, as his parents were keen to ensure he
was prepared to rule. He attended both Oxford and Cambridge and briefly joined the army.

After Prince Albert died, Queen Victoria withdrew almost completely from public life, and Edward
was allowed to represent her at state occasions, but given almost no chance to participate in affairs
of state. He became a leader of London society, spending his time eating, drinking, gambling,
shooting, watching racing and sailing. In 1863, he married Princess Alexandra of Denmark and they
had six children.

In January 1901, Queen Victoria died and Edward succeeded to the throne as Edward VII. He was
crowned in August 1902. He threw himself into his new role with energy and his reign restored
sparkle to a monarchy that had been rather gloomy since his father's death, 40 years earlier. Related
to most European royalty (he was known as the 'Uncle of Europe'), he was able to assist in foreign
policy negotiations and his well-received addresses during a state visit to Paris helped pave the way
for the Anglo-French Entente Cordiale of 1904. Edward was also the first British monarch to visit
Russia. In 1902, he founded the Order of Merit to reward those who distinguished themselves in
science, art or literature.

In the last year of his life, Edward was involved in a constitutional crisis brought about by the refusal
of the Conservative majority in the Lords to pass the Liberal budget of 1909. He died on 6 May 1910,
before the situation could be resolved, and was succeeded by his son who became George V.

George V (1865 - 1936)- r. 1910-1936

George was born on 3 June 1865 in London, the second son of the Prince of Wales. When George
was 18 he went into the Royal Navy, but the death of his elder brother in 1892 meant he had to
leave a career he enjoyed, as he was now heir to the throne. He married his elder brother's fiancée,
Princess Mary of Teck, and they had six children. In May 1910, after his father’s death, George
became king.

His reign began amid a constitutional crisis over the government's attempt to curb the power of the
House of Lords. After the Liberal government obtained the king's promise to create sufficient peers
to overcome Conservative opposition in the Lords, the Parliament Bill was passed by the Lords in
1911 without a mass creation of peers. 1911 also saw George's visit to India, the only king-emperor
to make the journey.

Public respect for the king increased during World War One, when he made many visits to the front
line, hospitals, factories and dockyards. In 1917 anti-German feeling led him to adopt the family
name of Windsor, replacing the Germanic Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

After the overthrow of the Russian Tsar in 1917, the post-war world saw the toppling of monarchies
all over Europe, many of them related to the British royal family. The king's relationship with parts of
the British Empire changed too. The 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin and subsequent civil war resulted in
the setting up of the Irish Free State in 1922, while the six northern counties remained part of the
United Kingdom.

In 1924, George readily accepted the first Labour government. In 1931 the international economic
slump caused a political crisis in Britain. The king promoted the idea of a 'national coalition'
government of Labour, Conservatives and Liberals, which was eventually formed. In 1935, the king
celebrated his Silver Jubilee, which marks the 25th year of a monarch's reign and it was an occasion
of great public rejoicing. He died on 20 January 1936 and was succeeded by his son Edward VII.