Royal descendants of Queen Victoria and of King Christian IX

Painting by William Powell Frith depicting the marriage of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), Queen Victoria's son, with Princess Alexandra of Denmark, King Christian IX's daughter

The royal descendants of Queen Victoria (24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901; r. 1837–1901) and of King Christian IX (8 April 1818 – 29 January 1906; r. 1863–1906), monarchs of the United Kingdom and Denmark, respectively, have become members of multiple European royal families. This was partially achieved by the marriage of Victoria's progeny with Christian's (and vice versa). By the time of her Diamond Jubilee in 1897, Victoria was known as the "grandmother of Europe".[1] Christian IX was nicknamed the "father-in-law of Europe".[2]

Victoria and Christian's grandchildren were the monarchs of Denmark, Germany/Prussia, Greece, Norway, Russia and the United Kingdom. Today, the descendants of Victoria and Christian rule over Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Grandchildren

Christian IX in 1898 with his and Queen Victoria's mutual great-grandson Prince Edward of York, later Edward VIII[a]

Victoria arranged the marriage of her eldest son and heir, the future King Edward VII, to Princess Alexandra of Denmark, the daughter of Christian IX, which took place on 10 March 1863. Among Edward and Alexandra's six children were King George V and his sister Maud.[1] Maud would later marry her cousin, the future King Haakon VII of Norway, in 1896.[b][8]

A son of Christian and brother of Alexandra, Prince William, became King of the Hellenes as George I in 1863 because of his connection with the British royal family.[9] On 27 October 1889, George's son, later Constantine I of Greece, married Princess Sophia of Prussia.[c][9]

Another daughter of Christian IX, Princess Dagmar of Denmark, married the future Emperor Alexander III of Russia[11] in October 1866,[12] taking the religious name Maria Feodorovna.[11] Between 1881 and 1894, Maria's husband ruled as Russia's sovereign.[12] Her son, Nicholas II, became Emperor of Russia upon Alexander III's death.[11] Nicholas married Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, on 26 November 1894, and Alix became his consort, adopting the name Alexandra Feodorovna.[11]

Other grandchildren of either or both of Victoria and Christian were sovereigns suo jure or consorts of sovereigns, including:

• King Christian X of Denmark, the elder brother of Haakon VII of Norway[b][8]
• Wilhelm II, German Emperor and King of Prussia, the elder brother of Sophia of Prussia[c][13]
• Princess Marie of Edinburgh, the eldest daughter of Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha,[d] who married King Ferdinand I of Romania[9]
• Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, a daughter of Queen Victoria's youngest daughter Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom, who married King Alfonso XIII of Spain[15]

Family tree of Victoria and Christian IX's sovereign and consort descendants[16][17]

Christian IX Queen Victoria Frederick VIII of Denmark Alexandra of Denmark Edward VII of the United Kingdom George I of Greece Victoria, Princess Royal Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Dagmar of Denmark Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse Christian X of Denmark Haakon VII of Norway Maud of Wales George V of the United Kingdom Andrew of Greece and Denmark Constantine I of Greece Sophia of Prussia Wilhelm II of Germany Marie of Edinburgh Nicholas II of Russia Alix of Hesse Frederik IX of Denmark Olav V of Norway Edward VIII of the United Kingdom George VI of the United Kingdom George II of Greece Alexander of Greece Paul of Greece Helen of Greece and Denmark Carol II of Romania Margrethe II of Denmark Harald V of Norway Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Constantine II of Greece Sofia Michael I of Romania Frederik X of Denmark Charles III of the United Kingdom Felipe VI of Spain

World War I

See also: Allies of World War I and Central Powers

At the start of World War I, which lasted from 1914 to 1918, six major powers of Europe were divided between two coalitions. On one hand, France, Russia and the United Kingdom formed the Triple Entente. On the other hand, Austria-Hungary, Germany and Italy formed the Triple Alliance.[18] During this conflict, George V was King of the United Kingdom.[1] In addition, during World War I, Nicholas II was Emperor of Russia,[19] and Wilhelm II was the German emperor.[20]

Historian Margaret MacMillan has remarked on the close connection between George, Nicholas and Wilhelm. Namely, George's father and Wilhelm's mother were siblings, making George and Wilhelm first cousins.[e] Additionally, George's mother and Nicholas's mother were sisters from the Danish royal family, making George and Nicholas first cousins.[f][23]

Later descendants

There are seven current reigning monarchs in Europe who are descended from either Victoria or Christian IX or both. In 2004, while touring Tatoi Palace and the Greek royal cemetery, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece commented of the royals' relations, "So you see, everybody comes from two sides — Denmark, King Christian IX, and Britain, Queen Victoria — and they all sort of criss crossed, I mean us too!" Anne-Marie is a descendant of both Victoria and Christian IX, as was her husband, Constantine II of Greece.[24]

Contemporary monarchs

Multiple reigning European monarchs are descended from Victoria or Christian IX:

• The King of Denmark, Frederik X, is the son of Queen Margrethe II.[25] Margrethe II is a descendant of both Victoria[g] and Christian.[h]
• The King of the United Kingdom, Charles III, is a son of Queen Elizabeth II.[29] Elizabeth II is a descendant of both Victoria[i] and Christian.[j]
• The King of Norway, Harald V, is a descendant of both Victoria[k] and Christian.[l]
• The King of Spain, Felipe VI, is also descended from both Victoria[m] and Christian.[n]
• The King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, is a descendant of Victoria through both his father[o] and mother.[p]
• The King of the Belgians, Philippe, is descended from Christian.[q]
• The Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Henri, is descended from Christian.[r]

Monarchs descended from Queen Victoria

See also: Descendants of Queen Victoria

Sovereign descendants of Queen Victoria. Names of monarchs are bolded.[16][17][44][45][46][47][9]

Victoria Queen of the United Kingdom Edward VII King of the United Kingdom Alice Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom Victoria German Empress Alfred Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha George V King of the United Kingdom Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine[s] Alexandra Feodorovna Empress of Russia[t] Maud Queen of Norway Margaret Crown Princess of Sweden Charles Edward Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Victoria Eugenie Queen of Spain Wilhelm II German Emperor Sophia Queen of the Hellenes Marie Queen of Romania[u] George VI King of the United Kingdom[v] Princess Alice of Battenberg Louise Queen of Sweden Olav V King of Norway Ingrid Queen of Denmark Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Victoria Louise Duchess of Brunswick Carol II King of Romania[w] Maria Queen of Yugoslavia Elizabeth II Queen of the United Kingdom Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark Harald V King of Norway Margrethe II Queen of Denmark Carl XVI Gustaf King of Sweden Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona Frederica Queen of the Hellenes Paul King of the Hellenes[x] Michael I King of Romania[y] Charles III King of the United Kingdom Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway Frederik X King of Denmark Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden Juan Carlos I King of Spain Sofía Queen of Spain Constantine II King of the Hellenes[z] Peter II King of Yugoslavia[aa] William, Prince of Wales Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway Christian, Crown Prince of Denmark Princess Estelle, Duchess of Östergötland Felipe VI King of Spain Prince George of Wales Leonor, Princess of Asturias

Monarchs descended from King Christian IX

See also: Descendants of Christian IX of Denmark

Sovereign descendants of King Christian IX. Names of monarchs are bolded.[17][46][45][47][9][60][61]

Christian IX King of Denmark Frederick VIII King of Denmark Alexandra Queen of the United Kingdom George I King of the Hellenes Maria Feodorovna Empress of Russia Thyra Crown Princess of Hanover Christian X King of Denmark Princess Ingeborg of Denmark Haakon VII King of Norway Maud Queen of Norway George V King of the United Kingdom Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark Constantine I King of the Hellenes Nicholas II Emperor of Russia Ernest Augustus Duke of Brunswick[ab] Frederik IX King of Denmark Astrid Queen of the Belgians Märtha Crown Princess of Norway[ac] Olav V King of Norway George VI King of the United Kingdom[v] Helen Queen Mother of Romania Paul King of the Hellenes[x] Frederica Queen of the Hellenes Margrethe II Queen of Denmark Joséphine-Charlotte Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Albert II King of the Belgians[ad] Harald V King of Norway Elizabeth II Queen of the United Kingdom Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark Michael I King of Romania[ae] Constantine II King of the Hellenes[z] Sofía Queen of Spain Frederik X King of Denmark Henri Grand Duke of Luxembourg Philippe King of the Belgians Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway Charles III King of the United Kingdom Felipe VI King of Spain Christian, Crown Prince of Denmark Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway William, Prince of Wales Leonor, Princess of Asturias Prince Charles of Luxembourg Prince George of Wales

See also

• John William Friso – the most recent common ancestor of all European monarchs that have reigned since World War II
• Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt – the most common recent ancestor of all current European monarchs

Footnotes

Notes

1. Edward VIII's father was George V.[3] George's mother, Princess Alexandra of Denmark,[4] was a daughter of Christian IX.[5] Additionally, Queen Victoria was the mother of King Edward VII,[5] George's father.[4]
2. Haakon's father, King Frederick VIII of Denmark,[6] was a son of Christian IX.[7]
3. Sophia's mother, Victoria, Princess Royal, was the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria.[10]
4. Alfred was the second son of Queen Victoria.[14]
5. Queen Victoria was a mutual parent of George's father and Wilhelm's mother.[21]
6. George's mother and Nicholas's mother were mutual daughters of Christian IX.[5][22]
7. Margrethe is descended from Queen Victoria's son Prince Arthur. Arthur's daughter Margaret would herself have a daughter, Ingrid.[26] In turn, Margrethe is Ingrid's daughter.[27]
8. Margrethe's great-grandfather was King Frederick VIII of Denmark,[28] who was himself a son of Christian IX.[7]
9. Elizabeth is Queen Victoria's great-great-granddaughter.[30]
10. Elizabeth's grandfather was King George V of the United Kingdom.[30] In turn, George's mother, Princess Alexandra of Denmark,[4] was a daughter of Christian IX.[5]
11. Harald is Queen Victoria's great-great-grandson.[31]
12. Harald's father, King Olav V of Norway, was the son of King Haakon VII.[31] Haakon's father, King Frederick VIII of Denmark,[6] was a son of Christian IX.[7]
13. Felipe's paternal grandfather, Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, was the son of Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg. Victoria Eugenie was herself the daughter of Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria's youngest child.[32]
14. Felipe is a great-great grandson of George I, King of the Hellenes.[33] George was himself the son of Christian IX.[34]
15. Princess Margaret, the daughter of Queen Victoria's seventh child, Prince Arthur, married King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden, then a Prince. One of Margaret and Gustaf VI Adolf's children was Prince Gustaf Adolf, the father of Carl Gustaf.[35]
16. Carl Gustaf's mother, Princess Sibylla, was a granddaughter of Prince Leopold, Queen Victoria's youngest son.[35]
17. Philippe is the son of King Albert II.[36] Albert is himself the son of Princess Astrid of Sweden,[37] the youngest daughter of Princess Ingeborg of Denmark.[38] Ingeborg was the daughter of King Frederick VIII of Denmark,[39] a son of Christian IX.[7]
18. Henri is the eldest son of Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium,[40] herself the daughter of Princess Astrid of Sweden.[41] Astrid was the youngest daughter of Princess Ingeborg of Denmark.[42] Moreover, Ingeborg was the daughter of King Frederick VIII of Denmark,[43] a son of Christian IX.[7]
19. Victoria's brother, Ernest Louis,[48] was Grand Duke of Hesse.[49]
20. Alexandra's brother, Ernest Louis,[48] was Grand Duke of Hesse.[49]
21. Another child of Alfred, Princess Victoria Melita, was the spouse of Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse prior to the dissolvement of their marriage in 1901.[50]
22. George became King of the United Kingdom upon the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII.[51]
23. Another child of Marie, Princess Elisabeth of Romania,[52] was the spouse of George II, King of the Hellenes prior to their divorce in 1935.[53]
24. Contantine I had two other children, George II and Alexander, who became King of the Hellenes.[55] Alexander's daughter was Princess Alexandra of Greece and Denmark,[59] the spouse of King Peter II of Yugoslavia.[58]
25. Michael was a son of Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark,[54] herself a child of Princess Sophia of Prussia.[55]
26. Constantine's spouse, Anne-Marie,[56] is a sibling of Queen Margrethe II.[57]
27. Peter II's spouse, Princess Alexandra of Greece and Denmark,[58] was the daughter of Alexander, King of the Hellenes.[59]
28. Another child of Thyra, Princess Alexandra of Hanover, was the spouse of Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.[62]
29. Märtha never became Queen of Norway.[63]
30. Albert II became King of the Belgians after the death of his brother, Baudouin.[64]
31. Michael's spouse was Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma,[65] whose mother was Princess Margaret of Denmark.[66] Margaret was a child of Prince Valdemar of Denmark,[67] himself a son of Christian IX.[68]

Citations

1. Crofton, Ian (2011). The Kings & Queens of England. Metro Books. ISBN 978-1-4351-2965-8.
2. "Christian IX". Royal Palaces. National Museum of Denmark. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
3. Crofton 2011, p. 234.
4. Crofton 2011, p. 228.
5. Crofton 2011, p. 224.
6. The Royal House of Norway n.d., para. 1.
7. Amalienborg Palace n.d., para. 2.
8. The Royal House of Norway (n.d.). "King Haakon VII (1872-1957)". Retrieved 30 September 2024.
9. Bence-Jones, Mark; Vickers, Hugo; Williamson, David (1977). Burke's Royal Families of the World Volume I. Burke's Peerage Limited. ISBN 0-85011-023-8. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
10. Bence-Jones, Vickers & Williamson 1977, p. 142.
11. Beeche, Art (n.d.). "Dowager Empress Marie". Alexander Palace Time Machine. Bob Atchinson. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
12. Malsom, Scott. "Alexander III". Alexander Palace Time Machine. Bob Atchinson. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
13. "Death of Ex-King Constantine". The Journal. 12 January 1923. p. 2. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
14. Gibbney 1972, para. 1.
15. Castelló, Elena (n.d.). "Cómo influyó la reina Victoria Eugenia en la corte española de los Borbones: joyas, modernidad y peleas con su suegra" [How Queen Victoria Eugenie influenced the Spanish Bourbon court: jewelry, modernity and quarrels with her mother-in-law]. Mujer Hoy (in Spanish). Vocento. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
16. Arnstein, Walter L. (2003). Queen Victoria. PALGRAVE MACMILLAN. pp. 207–209. ISBN 978-0-333-63807-1.
17. Carter, Miranda (2009). George, Nicholas and Wilhelm. Alfred A. Knopf. pp. ix–xii. ISBN 978-1-4000-4363-7.
18. Wilde, Robert (n.d.). "The Major Alliances of World War I". ThoughtCo. Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
19. Daniels, Patricia E. (n.d.). "Biography of Czar Nicholas II, Last Czar of Russia". ThoughtCo. Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
20. Hickman, Kennedy (n.d.). "Causes of World War I and the Rise of Germany". ThoughtCo. Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
21. Crofton 2011, p. 216.
22. Beeche n.d., p. paras. 1 and 4.
23. Dews, Fred (20 December 2013). "The Family Relationships that Couldn't Stop World War I". Brookings. The Brookings Institution. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
24. Constantine II of Greece, Anne-Marie of Greece (2004). Constantine, A King's Story!. London, Athens. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
25. "HM The King". Kongehuset. n.d. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
26. Hubbard 2022, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
27. Kongehuset (Margrethe) n.d., para. 1.
28. Amalienborg Palace n.d., para. 1.
29. Hubbard, Lauren (16 September 2022). "Queen Victoria's Descendants Still Reign Over Europe". Town & Country. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
30. Hubbard 2022, Queen Elizabeth II.
31. Hubbard 2022, King Harald V of Norway.
32. Hubbard 2022, King Felipe VI of Spain.
33. Greek Royal Family n.d., Family Tree of the Greek Royal Family.
34. The Royal Danish Collection (George) n.d., para. 1.
35. Hubbard 2022, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
36. The Belgian Monarchy (Philippe) n.d., para. 1.
37. The Belgian Monarchy (Albert) n.d., para. 2.
38. Swedish Royal Court (Astrid) n.d., para. 1.
39. Swedish Royal Court (Ingeborg) n.d., para. 1.
40. Cour grand-ducale (Henri) n.d., Biography.
41. Cour grand-ducale (Joséphine-Charlotte) n.d., Childhood and youth.
42. Swedish Royal Court (Astrid) n.d., para. 1.
43. Swedish Royal Court (Ingeborg) n.d., para. 1.
44. Hibbert, Christopher (2000). Queen Victoria: A Personal History. Basic Books. pp. xvi–xvii. ISBN 0-465-06761-1.
45. Wilson, A.N. (2014). Victoria: A Life. Penguin Press. pp. XII–XIII. ISBN 978-1-59420-599-6.
46. Greek Royal Family (n.d.). "Family Tree of the Greek Royal Family". Retrieved 6 October 2024.
47. "The Family tree". The Royal House of Norway. n.d. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
48. Wilson n.d., para. 1.
49. Wilson n.d., para. 7.
50. Burke & Burke 1914, p. 39.
51. Crofton 2011, p. 239.
52. Bence-Jones, Vickers & Williamson 1977, p. 457.
53. Greek Royal Family n.d., FAMILY TREE of the Greek Royal Family.
54. Reuters 1982, para. 3.
55. Bence-Jones, Vickers & Williamson 1977, p. 327.
56. Kongehuset (Anne-Marie) n.d., Wedding.
57. Kongehuset (Margrethe) n.d., Family.
58. The Royal Family of Serbia n.d., para. 2.
59. The Royal Family of Serbia n.d., para. 1.
60. "Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant". n.d. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
61. "H.R.H. the Crown Prince". n.d. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
62. Burke & Burke 1914, p. 21.
63. The Royal House of Norway (Märtha) n.d., Post-war period.
64. The Belgian Monarchy (Albert) n.d., para. 10.
65. Pearl 2016, para. 10.
66. Pearl 2016, para. 3.
67. Bence-Jones, Vickers & Williamson 1977, pp. 69–70.
68. The Royal Danish Collection (Valdemar) n.d., para. 1.

References

• Amalienborg Palace (n.d.). "Frederik VIII 1906-1912". Retrieved 1 October 2024.
• Burke, Bernard; Burke, Ashworth P. (1914). Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of Peerage, Baronetage, and Knightage. Harrison and Sons. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
• Cour grand-ducale (Henri) (n.d.). "H.R.H. the Grand Duke". Retrieved 2 October 2024.
• Cour grand-ducale (Joséphine-Charlotte) (n.d.). "H.R.H. Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte". Retrieved 2 October 2024.
• Gibbney, H.J. (1972). "Duke of Edinburgh (1844–1900)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 4. Australian National University. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
• Kongehuset (Anne-Marie) (n.d.). "HM Queen Anne-Marie". Retrieved 2 October 2024.
• Kongehuset (Margrethe) (n.d.). "HM Queen Margrethe". Retrieved 2 October 2024.
• Pearl, Diana (2 August 2016). "Ambulance Driver, Poultry Farm Worker and Exiled Royal: Inside the Fascinating Life of the Late Queen Anne of Romania". People. Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
• Reuters (30 November 1982). "Queen Helen of Rumania, 87; Was Forced Into Exile in '47". The New York Times. p. 12. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
• Swedish Royal Court (Astrid) (n.d.). "Princess Astrid". Retrieved 2 October 2024.
• Swedish Royal Court (Ingeborg) (n.d.). "Princess Ingeborg". Retrieved 2 October 2024.
• The Belgian Monarchy (Albert) (n.d.). "King Albert II". Retrieved 2 October 2024.
• The Belgian Monarchy (Philippe) (n.d.). "The King". Retrieved 2 October 2024.
• The Royal Danish Collection (George) (n.d.). "Vilhelm (Georg I)". Amalienborg Palace. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
• The Royal Danish Collection (Valdemar) (n.d.). "Valdemar". Amalienborg Palace. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
• The Royal Family of Serbia (n.d.). "HM Queen Alexandra of Yugoslavia". Retrieved 2 October 2024.
• The Royal House of Norway (Märtha) (n.d.). "Biography". Retrieved 2 October 2024.
• Wilson, Penny (n.d.). "Ernest Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse". Alexander Palace Time Machine. Bob Atchinson. Retrieved 2 October 2024.

Further reading

• Aronson, Theo (6 October 2022). Crowns in Conflict: The Triumph and the Tragedy of European Monarchy 1910–1918. Lume Books. ISBN 978-1-83901-409-3.
• Aronson, Theo (12 November 2020). A Family of Kings. Lume Books. ISBN 978-1-83901-257-0. A book that describes the relationships among the children of King Christian IX.
• Aronson, Theo (12 November 2020). Grandmama of Europe: The Crowned Descendants of Queen Victoria. Lume Books. ISBN 978-1-83901-258-7.
• Gelardi, Julia P. (April 2007). Born to Rule: Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen Victoria. St. Martin's Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-4299-0455-1.
• Potts, D M; Potts, W T W (21 October 2011). Queen Victoria's Gene: Haemophilia and the Royal Family. History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-7196-9.

External links

• Complete list of descendants of Christian IX of Denmark