Who's who on the Queen's family tree?

Romance, scandal, tragedy. Queen Elizabeth II’s family history saw it all. How well do you know each of the Queen’s ancestors and descendants? We’ve built the royal family tree to give you all the facts you need on the monarchy, including who’s related to who, their relationship to the late Queen and the stories they'll be remembered for. Plus, our interactive example shows you all the nifty features available on Findmypast's family tree builder. Perfect for having a tinker before you start your own family tree with us.

There's no denying that certain individuals on the Queen’s royal family tree led privileged but dramatic lives over her 70-year reign. You only have to binge-watch a season of The Crown to realize that.

Some of the most memorable royal family stories have come in recent times. So, who were the Queen's immediate and extended family?

The royal family tree today

Have you ever asked yourself who is Prince Michael of Kent or who is Prince Edward married to? Before we look back at the Queen’s genealogy, let's unravel her modern family ties.

As Netflix's The Crown proves, life was far from straightforward for the Queen and her closest relatives over the last few decades of her life.

Prince Philip

Prince Philip stood dutifully by the Queen’s side from when they married in 1947 until he died in 2021. He was actually born in Greece but his family was exiled from there while he was a young child. A Second World War veteran, at his death Philip was the oldest-ever male member of the British Monarchy.

Princess Margaret

The Queen’s younger sister and only sibling led quite a colorful life. After a controversial relationship with Captain Peter Townsend, she married photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960. The marriage fell apart in 1978 amid rumors of Margaret’s extra-marital affairs. A heavy smoker, much of Margaret's later years were dogged by ill-health.

King Charles III, formerly Prince Charles

King Charles III took the throne after Queen Elizabeth's passing in 2022, and is arguably one of the most divisive members of the British Royal Family. On the one hand, he’s widely praised by the public for his ongoing community work and sense of duty. However, his troubled first marriage to the ever-popular Princess Diana has also led to criticism from some. Charles married his longtime companion Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005. He is grandfather to some of the newest additions to the royal family tree, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's children, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.

Princess Anne

The Queen’s only daughter was once second in line to the throne but as the Royal family has grown, she's been pushed further down the accession list. Known for her equestrian skills, she was the first member of the British Monarchy to compete at the Olympics. She’s been married twice, divorced once, and even subjected to a kidnapping attempt in the 1970s.

Prince Andrew

Prince Andrew saw active military service during the Falklands War. He’s also another of the Queen’s children whose marriage ended in divorce. In more recent times, he’s been at the center of controversy surrounding his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.

Prince Edward

The youngest of the Queen’s four children took on many of his father’s official duties when Prince Philip retired in 2017. Early in life, he dropped out of the military to pursue a career in entertainment, eventually establishing a now-defunct TV production company.

The Queen's extended family

The Queen's family tree had many branches. Now you know her husband, children and sister a little better, here are some of her other closest relatives.

The Queen had eight grandchildren:

1. Peter Phillips, born in 1977 to parents Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips. Mark married Autumn Kelly in 2008 and was divorced in 2021.
2. Zara Tindall, born in 1981 to parents Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips. Zara married Mike Tindall in 2011.
3. Prince William, born in 1982 to parents Prince Charles and Princess Diana. William married Kate Middleton in 2011.
4. Prince Harry, born in 1984 to parents Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Harry married Meghan Markle in 2018.
5. Princess Beatrice, born in 1988 to parents Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Beatrice married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in 2020.
6. Princess Eugenie, born in 1990 to parents Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank in 2018.
7. Lady Louise Windsor, born in 2003 to parents Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
8. James, Viscount Severn, born in 2007 to parents Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

Between them, the Queen's grandchildren have 12 children of their own, Her Majesty's great-grandchildren.

What about the Queen's, aunts, uncles and cousins? Who are they and where do they fit in the royal family tree?

Queen Elizabeth II had 14 aunts and uncles (not including in-laws) and 31 first cousins. Her mother had nine siblings while her father, King George VI had five. The Queen's cousins include Princess Alexandra, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, Prince Michael of Kent, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and Princess Anne of Denmark.

Exploring the royal family tree today is fascinating but delving into the Queen's genealogy is arguably even more so. Let's dig a little deeper into the Queen's direct ancestry, stretching back four generations into the early 1800s.

The Queen's family tree

Queen Elizabeth II was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on April 21, 1926 in Mayfair, London.

King George VI

The Queen’s father, George VI was King from 1936 until his death in 1952. He served in the military during the First World War and was seen as a popular symbol of British resilience while he reigned throughout the Second World War. George never expected to become King. He only ascended the throne after his elder brother, King Edward VIII, abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson.

The Queen Mother

Born Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon, most of us know King George VI’s wife as The Queen Mother. Seen by many as the matriarch of the modern royals, The Queen Mother was a consistently popular member of the British Monarchy throughout her life. She was 101 years old when she died, just a few weeks after her daughter, Princess Margaret.

King George V

The Queen’s paternal grandfather reigned as King from 1910 until 1936. His time on the throne was set against the backdrop of a series of world-changing events including the First World War, the suffrage movement, and the rise of fascism. George V was the first monarch of the House of Windsor.

Queen Mary

It’s easy to see why Queen Mary carried such a shortened title. Her full name is a real mouthful - Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes. Yet, her family simply knew her as ‘May’. Before she married George V, Queen Mary was actually engaged to his elder brother, Prince Albert Victor, but he died unexpectedly before they could marry. Queen Mary's death came just a few weeks before her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II was crowned.

Claude Bowes-Lyon

The Queen Mother's father and Queen's grandfather was 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, a.k.a. Lord Glamis. He owned large estates in England and Scotland and enjoyed working on his land. His younger brother, Patrick, won the Wimbledon doubles tennis tournament in 1887.

Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck

The Queen’s maternal grandmother was the eldest daughter of a reverend. With a preference for a quiet family life, she was known for her outstanding hosting skills, piano playing and keen interest in gardening. In 1938, Cecilia suffered a heart attack during her granddaughter, Anne-Bowes-Lyon’s wedding and died a few weeks later.

King Edward VII

Eldest son of the formidable Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Edward ascended the throne when his mother died in 1901 and only reigned for nine years. With a reputation as a playboy prince, Edward’s relationship with his mother was sometimes strained. Edward VII is a paternal great-grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II’s, making Queen Victoria her great-great-grandmother.

Queen Alexandra of Denmark

1863 was a momentous year for Queen Alexandra and her family. She married Edward VII, her father became King of Denmark and her brother became King of Greece, all within a few months of each other. She held the title of Princess of Wales longer than anyone in history, and much like Princess Diana, who also held that prestigious moniker, Alexandra was admired for her fashion sense.

Francis, Duke of Teck

Francis was Austrian nobility who married into the British Royal Family. He had a distinguished military career in Austria, Germany and Britain. His only daughter, ‘May’ married George V and became Queen Mary in 1893.

Princess Mary Adelaide

Queen Mary’s mother and Queen Elizabeth II’s paternal great-grandmother was, in many respects, a pioneering member of the British Royal Family. She dedicated much of her life to charity, yet enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle that saw her family rack up crippling debts. Regrettably, Princess Mary didn’t live long enough to see her only daughter become Queen.

Claude Bowes-Lyon

Claude Bowes-Lyon, like his son after him, held the title of Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. He changed the family name from Lyon-Bowes to Bowes-Lyon and was also a standout cricket player.

Frances Dora Smith

The paternal grandmother of The Queen Mother (and great-grandmother of The Queen) had 11 eleven children and outlived her husband, Claude Bowes-Lyon, by 18 years.

Charles Cavendish-Bentinck

The Queen Mother’s maternal grandfather was a priest who married twice.

Caroline Louisa Burnaby

Born: December 5, 1832.

Died: July 6, 1918.

Father: Edwyn Burnaby.

Mother: Anne Caroline Salisbury.

Spouses: Charles Cavendish-Bentinck and Harry Warren Scott.

Children: Cecilia, Ann Violet, and Hyacinth Sinetta.

Siblings: Edwyn, Cecilia, Gertrude and Ida. 

Like her first husband, Caroline Louisa married twice. She was also widowed twice. Caroline Louisa Burnaby is a maternal great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II.

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