Royals At War (World War One)

 During world war one, many royals across Europe including King George V were actively involved in the war effort, some serving in the military, visiting front lines and supporting the war effort at home. 

At the outbreak of the First World War the royal family was led by King George V and his wife Queen Mary. The pair had 6 children Edward, Albert, Mary. Henry, George and their youngest John. 

King George V and his wife Queen Mary were both active in supporting soldiers during the war years and visited the western front numerous times and also paid repeated visits to hospitals of wounded soldiers. During one visit to France George suffered a broken pelvis when his horse rolled over on top of him. 

Edward, Heir to the throne was keen on serving in the military immediately as soon as the war was declared. His hopes of fighting on the front line were immediately dashed when the Secretary of War Lord KItchener refused to allow the British heir to the throne to place himself in such danger. Despite this Edward would pay many visits to the front line trenches and witness the fighting first hand. 

Albert served in the navy during the war and was mentioned in dispatches for his work as a turret officer during the Battle Of Jutland. However ill health would shortly rule him out of the military service. 

Princess Mary became heavily involved with supporting soldiers in action through the creation of The Princess Mary Christmas Tins and those who were wounded and then treated in military hospitals back in Britain. 

As the war went on it became clear that the links of Germany through the name Saxe-Coburg and Gotha were becoming unpopular. The Europe revolution saw the overthrow of George's cousin Nicholas in Russia. This caused concern for the other European Monarchies including Britain. George took the step of suspending or revoking the British peerages and titles of his relatives who were fighting on the German side. 

In order to ensure that the Royal Family could be viewed as a British Royal Proclamation that was issued on the 17th July 1917 announcing the new Royal  name of Windsor.