What's in a surname? Today's Royal Trivia...

You've heard of the Tudors, Plantagenet's, and Windsors, but what about the Saxe-Coburg and Gothas? Have you ever wondered about the origin of the House of Windsor which is the official surname of the current Royal Family?

Interestingly enough the current Royals assigned the name of Windsor for themselves. Originally their surname was Saxe-Coburg and Gothas. Queen Victoria married Prince Albert Saxe-Coburg and Gothas the son of Duke Ernst I of Germany, this union gave her children and descendants the surname Saxe-Coburg and Gothas. The Royals used this surname until the regin of George V, Queen Victoria's grandson.

During the reign of George V, Britain was embroiled in World War I and there was much anti-Germanic feelings in Britain at the time. The local people did not look fondly on the Royal family being of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gothas with it's Germanic roots. It all came to a head when in March 1917 a German bomber called the Gotha G.IV crossed the English Channel and began bombing London directly. The British citizens were highly offended that the bomber had part of the Royal Family's surname. George V became determined to remove all German royal titles to his family and change the surname to an Anglican name. By a Royal Proclamation, King George changed the Royal Family surname from Saxe-Coburg and Gothas to Windsor.

The name of Windsor has always been associated with royalty and it seemed to fit just fine and satisfy the offended feelings of the British citizens. Thus today the Royal Family is of the House of Windsor, and the family members that are not so royal use the surname of Windsor.

Hope you enjoyed today's trivia. I always love comments. If there is any piece of Royal trivia you would like to have more information on please let me know.