Queen Elizabeth II’s Distant Connection to the House of Hohenzollern: A Tale of Royal Interconnections
The House of Hohenzollern, the ruling dynasty in Prussia and later the German Empire, has a fascinating connection to Queen Elizabeth II, the former monarch of the United Kingdom. This link revolves around a complex and intertwined history of royal marriages and inter-relations.
Shared Ancestry and Royal Marriages
Queen Elizabeth II, as a descendant of Queen Victoria, shares a lineage with various European royal houses, including the House of Hohenzollern. Queen Victoria, the queen of the United Kingdom from 1837 to 1901, was known to have married into the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, which she later adopted as the House of Windsor. Her extensive family tree includes connections to numerous German noble families, including the Hohenzollerns.
One of the key marriages that established the connection was that of Princess Victoria, Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, to German Emperor Frederick III. Princess Victoria's marriage to Frederick III, who hailed from the Hohenzollern family, strengthened the ties between the British and German royal houses. This ensures that Queen Elizabeth II, as a descendant of Princess Victoria, is also related to the Hohenzollern family.
Lineage and Historical Context
The history of the House of Hohenzollern is rich and extensive. Wilhelm II, the last reigning German Emperor, was a first cousin of George V, the grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II. This means that Queen Elizabeth II is related to Wilhelm II, her first cousin twice removed. Similarly, Georg Friedrich von Hohenzollern, the current Head of the House, is a third cousin once removed to Queen Elizabeth II through Queen Victoria's great-granddaughter Kira Kirillovna Romanova.
Broader Lineage and Interdependencies
The connection between the Houses of Windsor and Hohenzollern is further strengthened by the broader network of royal intermarriages within Europe. Queen Victoria's descendants, which include Queen Elizabeth II, are linked to various noble families through shared ancestry. For example, the marriages between Queen Victoria's children and grandchildren ensured that the Hohenzollern family is connected to several German and Russian royal and noble lines.
It is worth noting that despite the interdependence of royal houses, the House of Hohenzollern was excluded from the British throne during the First World War. However, today, there are still members of the House of Hohenzollern who are in line for succession, though extremely distant.
Chart and Conclusion
To better illustrate the complex lineage and connections, here's a chart that shows the relationship between Queen Elizabeth II, Wilhelm II, and Georg Friedrich von Hohenzollern:
Princess Victoria (Queen Victoria's eldest daughter) - German Emperor Frederick III - Wilhelm II (Hohenzollern family steward)
Queen Victoria - George V (Queen Elizabeth II's grandfather) - Wilhelm II (Hohenzollern family steward)
Queen Victoria's great-granddaughter, Kira Kirillovna Romanova, is the maternal grandmother of Georg Friedrich von Hohenzollern, the current Head of the House.
The connection between the Houses of Windsor and Hohenzollern, therefore, is a testament to the intricate and enduring nature of royal intermarriages. While the connection might be distant, it remains an important aspect of the broader European royal lineage.