"The Windsors" refers to the royal family of the United Kingdom, whose surname was officially changed from the German-sounding "House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha" to "House of Windsor" during World War I. The change in name was prompted by anti-German sentiment in Britain at the time.
Here's the background on how this name change came about:
Origins of the Surname "Saxe-Coburg and Gotha": In 1840, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who was of German origin. As a result of their marriage, the British royal family became linked to the Germanic House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
World War I and the Name Change: With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, anti-German sentiment was strong in Britain due to the ongoing conflict with Germany. King George V, who was a grandson of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, felt that the family's German-sounding name was inappropriate during this time of war.
In 1917, King George V made the decision to change the family's surname and relinquish any German titles associated with the royal family. He chose the name "Windsor" as a nod to Windsor Castle, one of the royal residences, and to emphasize the family's British identity.
Declaration of the New Name: On July 17, 1917, the king issued a royal proclamation declaring that his family and all descendants in the male line would bear the name "Windsor." This new name was confirmed in the Letters Patent issued by the king on July 30, 1917.
The change in name was not without controversy and criticism, especially from those who questioned the authenticity of the royal family's British heritage due to their German lineage. However, the name "Windsor" has since become synonymous with the British royal family and has been used by subsequent generations.
It's worth noting that in 1952, Queen Elizabeth II, the granddaughter of King George V, maintained the name "Windsor" after her ascension to the throne. However, in 1960, she declared that her descendants who did not carry the title of "Prince" or "Princess" and who married into other royal families would use the surname "Mountbatten-Windsor," incorporating her husband Prince Philip's surname "Mountbatten."
In summary, "The Windsors" originated as a response to the anti-German sentiment during World War I, when the British royal family changed their name from the Germanic "Saxe-Coburg and Gotha" to the more British-sounding "House of Windsor."
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