Meet the British Royal Family: A Complete Guide to the Modern Monarchy

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty

The United Kingdom has a new monarch.

The U.K.’s modern royal family began when Queen Elizabeth marriedPrince Philipin 1947. Throughout her 70-year reign — which was the longest of any British monarch to date — the family endured both happy marriages and heartbreaking divorces, tragic deaths and royal births.

Now with King Charles at the helm of the monarchy, a handful of family members carry on royal duties beside him full-time, including Queen Camilla, his older sonPrince Williamand daughter-in-lawKate Middleton. Other members of the Mountbatten-Windsor clan — including the King’s younger sonPrince Harryand his wifeMeghan Markle— have chosen to pursue life outside of the royal fold.

The youngest generation of British royals, which includesPrince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louis, are also starting to make appearances at public family events — and stealing the spotlight with their adorable antics. In 2022, Prince Louis went viral formaking funny facesat his mom Kate Middleton during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant. Just a few years prior, Queen Elizabeth’s great-granddaughter Savannah Phillips (who was 7 at the time) made headlines for shushing a 4-year-old George on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Getty Images/Thais Reyes for PEOPLE

In February 2024, Buckingham Palace announcedKing Charles was diagnosed with cancerand would postpone all future engagements. The news came less than a month after the Kingunderwent a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate.

The following month,Kate shared her own cancer diagnosisafter undergoing a “planned abdominal surgery” in January. Though it appeared that the issue was non-cancerous, post-operative tests revealed that “cancer had been present.” In January 2025, Kate announced thatshe is in “remission"after undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Here’s everything to know about the British royal family.

Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth.Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty

Born on April 21, 1926,Queen Elizabethwas the monarch of the United Kingdom from 1952 until she died in 2022. She served in the armed forces,joining the Auxiliary Territorial Servicewhen she was 18 years old to become a vehicle mechanic during World War II.

She acceded to the throne when she was just 25 following the death of her father,King George VI.

In 1947, shemarried Prince Philip, and together, they welcomed four children: the future King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

TheQueen “died peacefully” at 96 years oldon Sept. 8, 2022. Reigning over 70 years, she had the longest tenure of any British monarch.

Prince Philip

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Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was the husband of Queen Elizabeth from theirwedding in 1947until hisdeath in 2021. Born to Greek and Danish royal families, Prince Philip served in the navy and was active in the sport of carriage driving.

King Charles

King Charlesis the oldest child ofQueen ElizabethandPrince Philipand the current King of the United Kingdom, having acceded to the throne upon thedeath of his motheron Sept. 8, 2022. King Charles' coronation took place at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023.

Charles married Princess Diana in 1981, welcoming sonsPrince Williamin 1982 andPrince Harryin 1984. The couple separated in 1992, and Charles went on to wed Queen Camilla in 2005.

An active humanitarian, Charles founded the Prince’s Trust in 1976 and has contributed to over 400 different organizations.

In February 2024, King Charles announced he was diagnosed with the cancer and would be postponing all future engagements. The palace said in a statement, “The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.”

Princess Diana

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Princess Dianawas King Charles' first wife and the mother ofPrince WilliamandPrince Harry. After meeting Charles through her sister, Lady Sarah, the twobegan courtingin 1980 and wed at St. Paul’s Cathedral the following year.

A prolific philanthropist, Princess Diana advocated for causes like homelessness, cancer and AIDS research.

Diana tragically diedon Aug. 31, 1997, following a car accident in Paris. She was 36 years old.

Queen Camilla

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Queen Camillais the Queen Consort of the United Kingdom and the second wife of King Charles.

She was previously married toarmy officer Andrew Parker-Bowles, with whom she shares two children, Tom and Laura, though they divorced in 1995. Camilla and Charles had an affair during both of their marriages and eventually wed in 2005.

In October 2022, Buckingham Palace announced thatCamilla would be crownedalongside her husband at his May 2023 coronation ceremony. She will be the first Queen Consort crowned at Westminster Abbey in nearly 90 years.

Prince William

The older son of King Charles and the late Princess Diana,Prince Williamwas born on June 21, 1982. He is currently next in line for the British throne.

After attending St. Andrews in Scotland, where he met his future wifeKate Middleton, Prince William completed officer training and entered the RAF Search and Rescue Force.

William and Kategot married at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011, and the two share three children:Prince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louis.

He holds over 30 charitable patronages, and in 2020 started The Earthshot Prize, awarded each year for winners' contributions to environmentalism.

Kate Middleton

Princess Kate was born on Jan. 9, 1982, to parents Michael and Carole Middleton.

She metPrince Williamas a student at St. Andrews in 2001, and the two eventually wed 10 years later. On their wedding day, the couple were given the titles of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. However, following King Charles' accession in 2022, they became the Prince and Princess of Wales.

She shares three young children with her husband —Prince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louis— and holds over 20 charitable patronages, including organizations that support mental health resources, fight addiction and promote the arts.

In March 2024, Kate shared a video on the Prince and Princess of Wales’Instagram accountrevealing that she’d been diagnosed with cancer following a “planned abdominal surgery” in January.

“My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and I am now in the early stages of that treatment,” she said in the video, later adding, “We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy, and I look forward to being back when I am able — but for now, I must focus on making a full recovery.”

Prince George

Prince George.Chris Jackson/Getty

William and Kate’s eldest child isPrince George. He was on born July 22, 2013, and is second in line to the throne behind his father.

He’s already participated in many royal activities, including thePlatinum JubileeandQueen Elizabeth’s state funeral.

Princess Charlotte

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William and Kate’s second child and only daughter isPrincess Charlotte, who was born on May 2, 2015. She is third in line for the throne.

Like her brother, she’s already participated in a number of royal activities and even got the attention of royal watchers after shecheekily stopped little brother Louisfrom waving during a 2022 carriage ride.

Prince Louis

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press/Getty

William and Kate’s youngest child,Prince Louis, was born on April 23, 2018, and currently sits fourth in line for the throne. Though he’s still young, the prince has alreadygone viralfor his goofy antics at the 2022 Platinum Jubilee, in which he showed off a series of funny faces while watching the events.

In April 2023, the then-4-year-old princemade his Easter debutalongside his parents and siblings.

Prince Harry

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King Charles and Princess Diana’s younger child,Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, was born Sept. 15, 1984.

After undergoing officer training,Prince Harryserved in Afghanistan with the Army Air Corps before resigning from the army in 2015.

In 2018, hemarried formerSuitsactress Meghan Markleat St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. The couple has since welcomed two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

In 2020, the couple stepped back from their roles as working royals and moved to Meghan’s home state of California. Three years later,Prince Harryreleased his memoirSpare, which containedbombshell revelationsabout his relationship with other members of the family.

Ahead of the King’s coronation, Buckingham Palace confirmed thatPrince Harry will attend his father’s crowning ceremony, though his wife will stay in California.

Meghan Markle

The couple are parents to two children: son Archie, who was born in 2019, and daughter Lilibet, who was born in 2021.

In 2020, the two announced their intentions tostep back from their rolesas working royals and began living in California. They support a number of charitable causes through their Archewell Foundation. Markle is also the host of her podcast Archetypes, which explores stereotypes women face daily.

Meghan will not attend King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronation ceremony in May 2023 and will instead remain in California with her children.

Prince Archie

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Prince HarryandMeghan Markle’s older child,Prince Archie of Sussex, was born on May 6, 2019.

Archiegained the title of princewhen King Charles acceded the throne, as he’s the grandson of a monarch; his sister Lilibet, respectively, gained the title of princess.

Princess Lilibet

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s daughter Princess Lilibet.Misan Harriman

Prince HarryandMeghan Markle’s younger child,Princess Lilibet, was born on June 4, 2021.

Her first name pays tribute toQueen Elizabeth’s childhood nickname, while her middle name, Diana, is in honor of Harry’s late mother.

In March 2023,she was christened during a small, intimate ceremonyat the family’s home in Montecito, California.

Princess Anne

Princess Anne.Chris Jackson/Getty

The second child ofQueen ElizabethandPrince Philip,Princess Annewas born Aug. 15, 1950. An accomplished equestrian, Anne became the first British royal to compete in the Olympics in 1976.

Shemarried Captain Mark Phillipsin 1973. The couple had two children, Peter and Zara, before their 1992 divorce. That same year, she married Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.

As a working royal, Anneperforms official dutieson behalf of the King and is the patron of over 300 charities.

Sir Timothy Laurence

Timothy Laurenceand Princess Anne met while he was working as an equerry forQueen Elizabeth. They got married in 1992 following Anne’s divorce from Phillips. In 2004, the retired naval officer was named personal aide-de-camp to the Queen.

Peter Phillips

Born Nov. 15, 1977,Peter Phillipsis the first child of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips. A businessman, Peter has worked for Jaguar Racing and the Royal Bank of Scotland and has owned his own sports management company, SEL UK, since 2012.

He married Canadian management consultant Autumn Phillips in 2008. The couple had two children together, Savannah and Isla, before their2021 divorce.

Savannah Phillips

Born on Dec. 29, 2010, Savannah Phillips wasQueen Elizabeth’s first great-grandchild. She and her younger sister Isla made their royal debuts in 2017 at the Trooping the Color. The next year at the ceremony, shewent viral for shushing her second cousinPrince George.

Isla Phillips

Peter and Autumn’s second child, Isla Phillips, was born on March 29, 2012. Isla is often seen attending royal events and playing with cousins Mia, Lena and Lucas Tindall.

Zara Tindall

Mike Tindall

Mia Tindall

Zara and Mike’s first child, Mia Tindall, was born on Jan. 17, 2014. She’s close with second cousins George, Charlotte and Louis, even getting caught on cameradistracting Georgeduring a 2022 Christmas walk.

Lena Tindall

Lucas Tindall

The youngest child of Zara and Mike,Lucas Tindallwas born on March 21, 2021. His birth was anything but smooth, however, with Mike revealing that he was bornat home in the bathroom.

Prince Andrew

The third child ofQueen ElizabethandPrince Philip,Prince Andrewwas born on Feb. 19, 1960, at Buckingham Palace. A career naval officer, Andrewmarried Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson in 1986. The couple welcomed two daughters,Princess BeatriceandPrincess Eugenie, before theirdivorce in 1996.

Sarah Ferguson

Sarah Ferguson.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson first met Prince Andrew when Princess Diana invited the soon-to-be Duchess of York to the Royal Ascot in 1985. The twomarried in 1986, welcoming daughters Beatrice in 1988 and Eugenie in 1990. However, the coupleseparated in 1992and finalized their divorce four years later.

In the years since, she and Andrew have remained close,living togetherafter the split andeven adopting the Queen’s corgisafter her death.

Princess Beatrice

The first child of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson,Princess Beatricewas born on Aug. 8, 1988. In 2020, shemarried property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and the two welcomed their first daughterSiennain 2021 and second daughter Athena in 2025.

Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

Property developer Edoardo “Edo” Mapelli Mozzi first metPrincess Beatricethrough mutual friends. They debuted their relationship at a 2019 gala for the National Portrait Gallery. The two married in anintimate 2020 weddingand welcomed daughter Sienna in 2021. Edo also shares son Christopher Woolf, known as “Wolfie,” with ex-girlfriend and American architect Dara Huang.

Sienna Mapelli Mozzi

Athena Mapelli Mozzi

The couple welcomed their second child,Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, several weeks before her early spring due date on Jan. 22, 2025. Beatrice and Edo announced the news one week after Athena’s arrival, sharing a photo of her wrapped in a pink blanket on social media platforms includingX.

Princess Eugenie

Karwai Tang/WireImage

The second daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson,Princess Eugeniewas born on March 23, 1990. In 2018, shewed her longtime partner Jack Brooksbank, and in 2021, they welcomed their first child, August Philip Hawke. Two years later, Eugenie and Jack welcomed their second child, Ernest.

Jack Brooksbank

Jack Brooksbankfirst metPrincess Eugenieon a2010 ski trip in Verbier, Switzerland. The two married in 2018 and welcomed their first child, August, in 2021, and their second child, Ernest, in 2023.

August Brooksbank

Princess Eugenieand Jack Brooksbank’s first child,August Philip Hawke Brooksbank—affectionately nicknamed Augie — was born on Feb. 9, 2021. He made his royal debut in June 2022 for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant, showing offhis wavein a Union Jack sweater.

Ernest Brooksbank

Prince Edward

The youngest child ofQueen Elizabethand Prince Phillip,Prince Edwardwas born on March 10, 1964, at Buckingham Palace. After graduating from the University of Cambridge and completing a brief stint in the Royal Marines, Edward went into theater and formed his own company, Ardent Productions. In 1999, he married Sophie Rhys-Jones; the couple would go on to welcome two children, Lady Louise and James Mountbatten-Windsor. In 2002, he stepped down from Ardent to become a full-time working royal and is now the Duke of Edinburgh.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, wed Prince Edward in 1999. They have since welcomed two children, Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex. After working in public relations, Sophie became a full-time working member of the royal family in 2002.

Lady Louise

Edward and Sophie’s first child,Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, was born on Nov. 8, 2003, about a month before her due date. Lady Louise’s premature birth resulted in the young royal having an eye condition called esotropia (which Sophie explained is a “profound squint”).

When she was 7, Lady Louise was a bridesmaid forPrince Williamand Kate’s 2011 wedding. In 2018, she served as a special attendant atPrincess Eugenieand Jack Brooksbank’s wedding. She currentlyattends St. Andrews University.

James, Earl of Wessex

Louise’s younger brother James was born on Dec. 17, 2007. While James was styled as Viscount Severn since birth, in March 2023, hebecame Earl of Wessexwhen his father Edward received the title of Duke of Edinburgh.

source: people.com