Tudors to Windsors: The Generation Game Quiz

Answer: Father

Elizabeth I was Henry VIII's second daughter. Her mother was Anne Boleyn, Henry's second wife. All of Henry's three legitimate children became monarch but none of them produced an heir, which is why we start this journey by taking one step back!

Answer: Brother-in-law

Henry's sister Margaret married James IV of Scotland, not that the family connection did the latter much good: James was killed by Henry's forces at the Battle of Flodden Field!

Answer: Great grandfather

After the death of Elizabeth I, the line of succession came through the Stewart (later Anglicised to Stuart) side: James IV's son was James V, his daughter was Mary, Queen of Scots and her son was James VI of Scotland, who later became James I of England.

Answer: Grandfather

James I was succeeded his son Charles I who had his head not so neatly removed by the Parliamentarians! Charles' son Charles II became king at the restoration, but died without any legitimate heirs, so his brother James II took over.

Answer: First cousin once removed

This was probably the most contentious issue of English succession: James II had two daughters, Mary and Anne, by his first marriage. After his first wife died he married again and had a son, also James. When the young James was still a baby, Mary, her husband William (of Orange) and Anne conspired to overthrow their father. James II lived out the rest of his life in exile in France and his son James was brought up as a French Catholic.
William and Mary died without children, and Anne became Queen, she too died without surviving issue (although she was pregnant an amazing eighteen times!).
Many people believed that James II's son, James (The Old Pretender) now had the rightful claim to the throne but the powers that be were suspicious of his 'French Connection' and asked George of Hanover to become king instead. George was the son of James II's cousin Sophia, therefore his first cousin once removed.

Answer: Great grandfather

There is a 'generation gap' in the succession of Georges because George II's son, Frederick, died before his father. The throne then passed to Frederick's son, George III, who was George I's great grandson.

Answer: Father

Finally, a straightforward link! George III was prone to bouts of illness and his son ruled as Prince Regent for several years before becoming king in his own right.

Answer: Brother

George IV had no legitimate sons and only one legitimate daughter, Charlotte. Sadly she died before her father, so the throne went to George's brother 'Sailor Billy' - William IV.

Answer: Uncle

William IV died without legitimate heirs (but that's another story you might like to check out!), so the throne passed to his niece, Victoria. As a young girl Victoria never expected to become queen, but by the time of her death in 1901 she was the longest reigning British monarch (to date).

Answer: Great, great grandmother

The abdication of Edward VIII has no bearing on the direct link between Victoria and Elizabeth II via Edward VII, George V and the Queen's father George VI.