House of Windsor: Britain's Royal House Since 1917
The house of Windsor has been Britain's royal house since 17 July 1917: why George V changed the name, all five Windsor monarchs with their dates, and how the Mountbatten-Windsor surname works.
Last updated September 2026
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The house of Windsor is the name of Britain's royal house. George V chose it in 1917, in the middle of the First World War, to replace a German name. Five monarchs have reigned under it, and it is still the house of the present King. This page gives the date and reason for the change, lists every Windsor monarch, and explains the surname the family uses today.
TL;DR: On 17 July 1917, George V renamed the royal house from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to Windsor, after Windsor Castle. The Windsor monarchs are George V (1910-1936), Edward VIII (1936), George VI (1936-1952), Elizabeth II (1952-2022) and Charles III (from 2022). Since 1960, some descendants use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.
Why the house of Windsor was created
George V's grandfather was Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. When Victoria's son became Edward VII in 1901, the royal house took Albert's family name.
By 1917 that name was a problem. Britain had been at war with Germany for three years. German bombers, called Gothas, were raiding London that summer. George V decided the family needed a British name.
The 1917 proclamation
House of Windsor proclaimed, 17 July 1917.
Status: Reviewed.
Note: George V's proclamation declared that his house and family would be known as the House and Family of Windsor. It also gave up the use of German titles and names by his descendants. The name came from Windsor Castle, a royal home since the 11th century.
Sources: The Royal Family, "The House of Windsor"; Britannica, "House of Windsor".
Other relatives changed their names at the same time. The Battenbergs became Mountbatten, and the Tecks took the name Cambridge.
Every monarch of the house of Windsor
| Monarch | Came to the throne | Crowned | Reign ended | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George V | 6 May 1910 (as Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) | 22 June 1911 | Died 20 January 1936 | Reviewed |
| Edward VIII | 20 January 1936 | Never crowned | Abdicated 11 December 1936 | Reviewed |
| George VI | 11 December 1936 | 12 May 1937 | Died 6 February 1952 | Reviewed |
| Elizabeth II | 6 February 1952 | 2 June 1953 | Died 8 September 2022 | Reviewed |
| Charles III | 8 September 2022 | 6 May 2023 | Reigning | Reviewed |
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The house of Windsor reign by reign
George V led the country through the First World War and gave the house its name. His reign also saw the partition of Ireland and the first Labour government in 1924. He began the royal Christmas broadcast on radio in 1932.
Edward VIII reigned for less than a year. He wanted to marry Wallis Simpson, an American who had divorced once and was seeking a second divorce. The government and the Church would not accept her as queen. He abdicated in December 1936 and became the Duke of Windsor.
George VI had not expected to reign. He led the country through the Second World War, and he and Queen Elizabeth stayed in London during the Blitz. India and Pakistan became independent in 1947, and he gave up the title Emperor of India.
Elizabeth II reigned for 70 years, longer than any other British monarch. Her reign saw the end of most of the empire and the growth of the Commonwealth. The details are on the Elizabeth and the monarchy page.
Charles III became king at 73, the oldest person to accede to the British throne. He was crowned at Westminster Abbey in May 2023.
The name Mountbatten-Windsor
The house name and the family surname are not quite the same thing. When Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952, she declared that the house would stay Windsor, not take her husband's name of Mountbatten.
In 1960 she added that her descendants who do not have royal titles would use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor. In practice, several members of the family have used it, for example on official documents. The full story is on the royal family last name page.
The house of Windsor today
The house of Windsor is still the royal house of the United Kingdom and of the other realms that share the King. Its current heir is William, Prince of Wales. The main members, and how they descend from Elizabeth II, are set out on the family tree of Queen Elizabeth II page.
A home DNA test cannot link you to a royal line like this one. Our guide to the best DNA test for ancestry compares five kits and bundles. It also explains what they can and cannot show.
Verdict: the house of Windsor in brief
The house of Windsor began with a wartime name change on 17 July 1917. It has produced five monarchs, one abdication, and the longest reign in British history. The house name is still Windsor under Charles III, while the family surname, where one is needed, is Mountbatten-Windsor. For every monarch since 1066, see the England royal family hub.
Sources checked for this page
- The Royal Family, "The House of Windsor"
- The Royal Family, "The Royal Family name"
- Britannica, "House of Windsor"
- The Royal Family, "Edward VIII"
- The Royal Family, "Queen Elizabeth II's Accession and Coronation"
- The Royal Family, "The Coronation of His Majesty The King"
Questions people also ask
When did the house of Windsor start?
On 17 July 1917, when George V proclaimed that his house and family would be known as Windsor instead of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Why did the royal family change its name to Windsor?
Britain was at war with Germany, and the old name sounded German. George V took the name of Windsor Castle, one of the oldest royal homes, to show the family was British.
Is Charles III a Windsor?
Yes. The royal house is still called Windsor. His own surname, when one is needed, is Mountbatten-Windsor, after his father, Prince Philip, and the house name.
How many Windsor monarchs have there been?
Five: George V, Edward VIII, George VI, Elizabeth II and Charles III.