From Edward VIII’s abdication to Prince Harry’s wedding, everything that changed the British royal family forever

The British Royal Family has gone through every thick and thin to maintain its status in the new world. Although it has experienced many hurdles and difficulties through the tides of time, it has risen above it all and still stands strong in the face of change. That being said, over the years, there have been many instances and unfortunate occurrences that have thrown the members of the royal family in a state of shock and disarray. From the abdication of the British throne by Edward VIII to Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle, here are all the moments that changed the British Royal Family forever.

In 1936, King Edward VIII succeeded his father George V and took over the reign of England. However, later in the years, he abdicated his throne to marry the love of his life, Wallis Simpson, a two time divorcee. Even after continuous persuasion, he remained a man of his words and renounced the throne, changing the entire line of succession of the British royalty.

Prior to being named the House of Windsor in 1917, the British Royal Family was known as the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Reportedly, during World War II, German Gotha bombers attacked a school, leading to the deaths of 18 schoolchildren and as the royal family shared some resemblance to the name, King George V with the help of a proclamation decided to change their last name. In 1917, the king proclaimed, "The Name of Windsor is to be borne by His Royal House and Family and Relinquishing the Use of All German Titles and Dignities.

Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation is a symbol of union between the public and the royalty. As the ceremony was broadcasted live on television on 2 June 1953, 20 million people watched the Service on television, outnumbering the radio audience for the first time. It was the first ever glimpse of the royal coronation that the common man ever witnessed.

Photo: ITV Archive

While the death of Princess Diana was extremely tragic and controversial, it sure did open a lot of discussion around the authenticity of the British Royal Family. From her husband’s infidelity to her explicit love affairs, Princess Diana’s life and death, both unraveled a lot of secrets about the royals, which only proved that they were as human as any other person in the world.

Prince Andrew is one of the most controversial royals in the world. He was initially accused of being associated with his billionaire friend, Jeffrey Epstein, who was charged with sexual assaults on a minor. On January, 2015, Buckingham Palace denied all accusations on behalf of the Prince. However, after having denied his association with Epstein for so long, on in an Interview with BBC Newsnight, Prince Andrew opened up about his friendship with Epstein. Four days later, he resigned from all his public roles.

On May 19, 2019, Meghan Markle became the Duchess of Sussex upon her marriage to Prince Harry. From the time they were rumoured to be together until the day of their wedding, it was an unthinkable reality many refused to believe. However, the couple indeed came together becoming the first ever mixed race marriage in the royal family.