The House of Windsor

Queen Victoria died in 1901. Her eldest son Edward ascended the throne as Edward VI, becoming the founder of the new royal line, which he called, using his father's family name, the House of Saxe-Coburg. Having gift for with people, "Bertie", as he was called a dealing within the family circle, did a lot to promote friendship between nations and was often called "Edward the Peacemaker When he died in 1910, he was succeeded by his George who, during t World son War patriotic reasons, changed the German name of the for English Royal House, the House of Saxe-Coburg, to the House of Wind sor. In January 1936, only eight months after his Silver Jubilee (25 years on the throne),King George V died. His eldest son ascended the throne as Edward VII, but eleven months later he abdicated in favour of his junior brother.

As Prince of Wales, he detested all kinds of ceremonies and preferred to spend time with his friends, who called him simply "David” (his full name was Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David). In 1930 "David" with an American woman, Mrs Wallis Simpson, who had come to England with her second husband, a London shipping broker. She was not beautiful, but there was made this something "world's most eligible bachelor”, to fall in love with her.

When on the death of his father, he was proclaimed King Edward VIII, he expressed his wish to marry Wallis who had just divorced her second husband. Both the Church of England and Parliament refused to accept her as Edward's future wife. Confronted with the choice between the Crown and the woman he loved, Edward abdicate in younger brother George. On December 1936 Edward, now simply Duke of Windsor, left Britain, married Wallis Simpson and spent the rest of his life abroad. He died in 1972 in Paris.

In his early years the future King George VI was always in the shadow of his elder brothe. Modest and quiet man, he did not like to be in public because of his stammering. In 1923 he married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who is now known as Queen Mother. They had two children, Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) and Margaret. George was a good husband and father and spent much time with his family.

When the World War II began, the King and his family earned great respect by staying in London. He could be often seen in the streets,especially after heavy raids of German aeroplanes. The King also visited many fronts in Europe and became a symbol of British resistance during the He was very popular at home and abroad. After his death in r. 1952 his elder daughter ascended the throne as Elizabeth II.

She was only 19 when she married Prince Philip, who, although his was Prince Andrew of Greece, was brought up in England served in the British Navy and was a British subject. On his wedding day he got the title of Duke of Edinburgh. They have four children: Charles Anne, Andrew, and Edward

Answer these questions:

1. Do you know why Edward VII is called the founder of the new royal line

2. For what quality was he given his nickname?

3.Why was the name of the English royal line changed in 1917?

4. What event did the British people celebrate in 1935?

5.How long was Edward VIII on the throne?

6.Why was he called "David" in the company of his friends? How many names do the English aristocrats usually give to their children?

7. Who was Mrs Wallis Simpson?

8. Why did Parliament refuse to accept her as the King's fu wife?

9.What did King Edward VIII do when he was confronted with the choice between the throne and the woman he loved?

10. Where did the ex-king and his wife live after the Abdication?

11. What sort of man was King George VI?

12. why were the King and the Queen so popular during World War II?

13. What do you know about Queen Elizabeth II and the members of the royal family?

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Дата добавления: 2015-10-16