List of British monarchs
![]()
The list of British monarchs brings together the sovereigns of the kingdoms of Great Britain and then of the United Kingdom since 1707.
History
On May 1, 1707, the Acts of Union merged the kingdoms of England and Scotland into a single entity, Great Britain. Previously the two kingdoms were ruled in personal union by the same monarch since James VI of Scotland, who became King of England as James I in 1603.
On January 1, 1801, a new Act of Union merged the Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, giving rise to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, renamed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland North in 1927, after Irish independence took effect in 1922.
Since 1707, there have been twelve monarchs, nine men and three women. The current monarch has been Queen Elizabeth II since 1952.
Title
The title of British monarchs has changed over the centuries:
1707-1801: King (or Queen) of Great Britain and Ireland, defender of the Faith
1801-1876: King (or Queen) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, defender of the Faith
1876-1901: King (or Queen) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Emperor (or Empress) of India
1901-1927: King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions Beyond the Seas, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India
1927-1948: King of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions Beyond the Seas, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India
1948-1953: King of Great Britain and Ireland and the British Dominions Beyond the Seas, Defender of the Faith
since 1953, the complete title of the queen is:
in English: Her Majesty Elizabeth II, by the grace of God, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and her other realms and territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith
in English: Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith
in Latin: Elizabeth II, Dei Gratia Britanniarum Regnorumque Suorum Ceterorum Regina, Consortionis Populorum Princeps, Fidei Defensor
List of Kings and Queens of Great Britain and the United Kingdom
Stuart House (1707-1714)
House of Hanover (1714-1901)
House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha then Windsor (since 1901)
Simplified family tree
Notes and References
Related Articles
British monarchy
List of monarchs of England
List of monarchs of Scotland
List of spouses of British sovereigns
List of mistresses and lovers of the sovereigns of Great Britain
List of sovereigns of Canada
List of monarchs of New Zealand
List of monarchs of Australia
Prince of Wales
History Portal United Kingdom Portal Monarchy Portal Genealogy Portal
