Elizabeth II (21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom from 1952 to 2022. She and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (10 June 19219 April 2021), had four children, eight grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren.
Married in November 1947, the couple lived at Clarence House and in Villa Guardamangia, Malta, prior to Elizabeth's accession to the throne.
All four of Elizabeth and Philip's children have children and descendants of their own. Their son Charles III became King of the United Kingdom, and their grandson William, Prince of Wales is the British heir apparent.
Background Queen Elizabeth II The daughter of George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Elizabeth and her sister, Margaret, were raised by multiple governesses at 145 Piccadilly. Following the outbreak of World War II, Elizabeth and Margaret were relocated to Windsor Castle. In the last year of the Second World War, Elizabeth served in the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service.
In 1951, as the health of her father, George VI, deteriorated, Elizabeth began to assume more ceremonial duties. On 6 February 1952, Elizabeth II became Queen of the United Kingdom upon her father's death. One year later, she participated in her coronation at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953. During Elizabeth's reign, various political and societal changes occurred in the United Kingdom, including the decline in the authority of the Church of England, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of multiculturalism.
Elizabeth died in 2022 at Balmoral Castle.
Prince Philip The only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg, Philip was educated at Cheam School, Schule Schloss Salem, and Gordonstoun School. He joined the Royal Navy in 1939, later serving with distinction during World War II and becoming a lieutenant.
In 1939, Philip escorted Elizabeth and her sister Margaret around Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth. Shortly afterwards, Elizabeth and Philip began exchanging correspondence. On 10 July 1947, their engagement was announced. Elizabeth and Philip later married on 20 November 1947.
As Elizabeth's consort, Philip provided her companionship and moral support. He accompanied Elizabeth on her state visits and royal tours within the United Kingdom. In addition, Philip was associated with approximately 1,000 organisations that supported various causes, including young people, nature conservation, and sports.
Philip died in 2021 at Windsor Castle.
Marriage
Elizabeth and Philip were married in 1947. Following their wedding ceremony, they spent their honeymoon at Broadlands. Elizabeth and Philip later resided at Clarence House until she became Queen of the United Kingdom in 1952. Moreover, they resided at Villa Guardamangia during Philip's naval posting to Malta. + Family of Elizabeth II, Queen of the United KingdomPortraitNameBirthDeathDescendants Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom21 April 19268 September 20224 children, including: Charles III, King of the United Kingdom Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh10 June 19219 April 2021
Children Elizabeth II and Philip sought to instil notions of duty and hard work into their four children. Their three sons, Charles, Andrew and Edward, all attended Gordonstoun School, which their father had also attended. Charles and Edward went on to study at the University of Cambridge. Also, all three sons served in the British Armed Forces. Charles and Andrew trained in the Royal Navy, whereas Edward trained in the Royal Marines.
Neither Charles nor his sister, Anne, travelled with their parents in their childhood. Nevertheless, according to Anne, Philip tried to spend time with Charles and her before bedtime, giving them time to read or play. During his youth, Charles was sensitive and responded badly to criticism. Conversely, Anne was confident with an outgoing personality during her youth.
+ Children of Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom Name Birth Family Charles III, King of the United Kingdom Married 1981, Diana Spencer (1961–1997) 2 childrenMarried 2005, Camilla Parker Bowles (born 1947) Anne, Princess Royal Married 1973, Mark Phillips (born 1948) 2 childrenMarried 1992, Timothy Laurence (born 1955) Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Married 1986, Sarah Ferguson (born 1959) 2 children Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh Married 1999, Sophie Rhys-Jones (born 1965) 2 children
Grandchildren Children of Charles and Diana
In November 1977, Prince Charles met Diana Spencer for the first time. Three years later, in 1980, their relationship became more intimate following a conversation involving Charles's late granduncle, Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma. Diana was subsequently invited to Balmoral Castle, where Charles's family took interest in her. On 24 February 1981, Charles and Diana announced their engagement. They subsequently married on 29 July 1981.
Charles and Diana became the parents of two boys, William and Harry, who were known as the heir and spare, respectively. Diana raised their children in an atypical manner for British royal children. For example, she chose William and Harry's schools, personally taking them to school as often as possible. Diana remarked that Charles wanted their children to be raised by governesses, which she disagreed with because she wanted them to experience the real world. Also, Diana took William with her on a royal tour of Australia with Charles in 1983. Furthermore, Diana brought William and Harry to Thorpe Park and fast food restaurants, including KFC.
Contrary to perceptions that Charles was absent around his sons, the former was hugely present in the daily lives of the latter at Kensington Palace. Charles shared breakfast with and engaged in horseplay with William and Harry. In addition, Charles introduced his sons to fox hunting, fly fishing, and polo matches. Nevertheless, William later expressed that Charles put duty before parenthood.
Due to various factors, Charles and Diana's marriage deteriorated. Charles engaged in an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. Tapes that recorded intimate conversations between Charles and Camilla became public in November 1992. In turn, Diana, deprived of emotional support from Charles, engaged in her own affairs, including with James Hewitt. Combined with the age difference between Charles and Diana, his affair with Camilla caused the collapse of his marriage to Diana. Charles and Diana separated in December 1992 and eventually divorced in July 1996.
Charles and Diana have five grandchildren: George, Charlotte, Louis, Archie and Lilibet. Upon becoming a grandfather in 2013, Charles remarked that it was a different part of his life. Also, Charles stated that "the great thing is to encourage them [his grandchildren], show them things that take their interest", noting that his own grandmother had provided him those experiences.
Due to the high number of royal engagements that Charles undertook, he was initially less actively involved in the lives of George and Charlotte than their maternal grandparents, Michael and Carole Middleton. Nevertheless, Charles expressed that he was extremely thankful to have grandchildren. Moreover, William has noted that despite doting on both George and Charlotte, Charles was "positively obsessed" with the latter.
After Louis's birth, Charles became more involved in the lives of his grandchildren. He installed recreational equipment at Highgrove House for George, Charlotte and Louis. In addition, Charles has used a tactile grandparenting style with William's children, including embracing them and showing them the plants and farm animals of Highgrove House.
Despite familial tensions, Harry has expressed a desire for Archie and Lilibet to have relationships with other members of the British royal family. During the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II in June 2022, Charles met Lilibet for the first time.
+ Children of Charles III, King of the United Kingdom Portrait Name Birth Family William, Prince of Wales Married 2011, Catherine Middleton (born 1982) and has 3 children: Prince George of Wales (born 2013) Princess Charlotte of Wales (born 2015) Prince Louis of Wales (born 2018) Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Married 2018, Meghan Markle (born 1981) and has 2 children Prince Archie of Sussex (born 2019) Princess Lilibet of Sussex (born 2021)
Children of Anne and Mark
In 1968, Princess Anne met Mark Phillips in Mexico City. Despite unfavourable impressions of Mark from Elizabeth II, Philip, and Charles, Mark proposed to Anne in May 1973, and the two married on 14 November 1973. Anne and Mark had two children: Peter and Zara. Neither Peter nor Zara, who both grew up at Gatcombe Park, was given royal titles. Moreover, Zara has expressed gratitude for not receiving a royal title.
Shortly after Anne gave birth to Zara, Anne and Mark began to become more emotionally distant in their relationship. In 1985, Mark was named in a paternity suit as the father of a child from an affair. Ultimately, Anne and Mark separated in 1989. They divorced in 1992.
+ Children of Anne, Princess Royal Portrait Name Birth Family Peter Phillips Married 2008, Autumn Kelly (born 1978) and has 2 children Savannah Phillips (born 2010) Isla Phillips (born 2012) Married 2026, Harriet Sperling (born 1980) Zara Phillips Married 2011, Mike Tindall (born 1978) and has 3 children Mia Tindall (born 2014) Lena Tindall (born 2018) Lucas Tindall (born 2021)
Children of Andrew and Sarah
In 1985, Andrew met Sarah Ferguson at Windsor Castle. In March 1986, they announced their engagement, eventually marrying on 23 July 1986. Andrew and Sarah had two children: Beatrice and Eugenie. Growing up, Beatrice and Eugenie attended Christmas services at St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham, and the Royal Ascot with the rest of the British royal family.
Andrew and Sarah separated in 1992, followed by their divorce in 1996. Nevertheless, they have maintained an amicable relationship.
+ Children of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Portrait Name Birth Family Princess Beatrice Married 2020, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (born 1983) and has 2 children Sienna Mapelli Mozzi (born 2021) Athena Mapelli Mozzi (born 2025) Princess Eugenie Married 2018, Jack Brooksbank (born 1986) and has 3 children August Philip Hawke Brooksbank (born 2021) Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank (born 2023) Adelaide Elizabeth Annina Brooksbank (born 2026)
Children of Edward and Sophie
Contrary to speculation that Edward would remain unmarried, Prince Edward wed Sophie Rhys-Jones on 19 June 1999. Edward and Sophie had met at a real tennis event in 1993, and they announced their engagement in January 1999.
Edward and Sophie have two children: Louise and James. Sophie prematurely gave birth to Louise, which resulted in her having esotropia. Moreover, Edward and Sophie have opted not to style Louise and James as a British princess and British prince, respectively, raising them with the understanding that they will work for a living.
+ Children of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh Portrait Name Birth Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex
See also Descendants of Charles I of England Descendants of George III Descendants of Queen Victoria Descendants of George V Family tree of British monarchs Mountbatten-Windsor
Footnotes Notes
Citations
Further reading A magazine article on the names of the descendants of Elizabeth II and her legacy. A book on the descendants of Elizabeth II and her legacy of leadership. A book that describes the relationships between Diana, Princess of Wales, Charles, and their sons. A magazine edition on William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and their children.
External links Family life of Elizabeth II BBC article on British line of succession