- Oct 20, 2013
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The media, both in England and the US, have been making a bit of a huff about soon-to-be Princess Meghan being an American. It is said to be a big deal. OK. That may be so, and it is for them in England to say. It is THEIR royal family, in a tradition of royalty dating back or 1,000 years.
At the same time though, it may be noted that there is nothing whatsoever new about a foreigner entering into British royalty. It has happened numerous times before, and not just with a princess, but with English kings. In 1689, William of Orange, a Dutch prince, was made the King of England (William III), in a dual coronation with his English bride, Mary II, who was the daughter of the former English king, King James II. The English parliament and people preferred the Dutch William (a Protestant) over their own James II, a catholic, and too friendly with catholic France.
Although William was a fierce defender of England and his throne, who actually wore armor and went into battle with the troops (as in the battle of the Boyne in 1690-and the fiddle tune, Billy in the Lowground), and was wounded at times, the English people never really accepted him as they did his queen, the English-born Mary, who was sweet, joyful, and much loved throughout Britain.
After the reign of William & Mary, Mary's sister Anne took the throne, and England again had a true English monarch. This only lasted for 12 years however, and in 1714, the era of the Hanoverians began. These were Germans who ruled as Kings of England. Two of them, George I and George II, were not even born in England, and the first one George I, didn't even speak a word of English.
These Hanoverian kings (George I, II, III, IV, William IV, and Victoria, ruled for almost a century, until 1901). As with William III, the English didn't fully accept the Hanoverians, Even after this time, the next king Edward was a Brit, but his wife Alexandra was from Denmark.
In earlier times, there was also Henry V, who having conquered France at the time (1420), married the daughter of the French king, Catherine, and the English had a French queen. About a century later (1509), Henry VIII became king and whose queen, Catherine of Aragon, was from Spain.
I could go on and on with this, but if you've stuck with it this far, you've got the idea by now.
William of Orange, in his younger years as a Dutch prince.
William in later years, as King William III, arch enemy of Louis XIV of France.
At the same time though, it may be noted that there is nothing whatsoever new about a foreigner entering into British royalty. It has happened numerous times before, and not just with a princess, but with English kings. In 1689, William of Orange, a Dutch prince, was made the King of England (William III), in a dual coronation with his English bride, Mary II, who was the daughter of the former English king, King James II. The English parliament and people preferred the Dutch William (a Protestant) over their own James II, a catholic, and too friendly with catholic France.
Although William was a fierce defender of England and his throne, who actually wore armor and went into battle with the troops (as in the battle of the Boyne in 1690-and the fiddle tune, Billy in the Lowground), and was wounded at times, the English people never really accepted him as they did his queen, the English-born Mary, who was sweet, joyful, and much loved throughout Britain.
After the reign of William & Mary, Mary's sister Anne took the throne, and England again had a true English monarch. This only lasted for 12 years however, and in 1714, the era of the Hanoverians began. These were Germans who ruled as Kings of England. Two of them, George I and George II, were not even born in England, and the first one George I, didn't even speak a word of English.
These Hanoverian kings (George I, II, III, IV, William IV, and Victoria, ruled for almost a century, until 1901). As with William III, the English didn't fully accept the Hanoverians, Even after this time, the next king Edward was a Brit, but his wife Alexandra was from Denmark.
In earlier times, there was also Henry V, who having conquered France at the time (1420), married the daughter of the French king, Catherine, and the English had a French queen. About a century later (1509), Henry VIII became king and whose queen, Catherine of Aragon, was from Spain.
I could go on and on with this, but if you've stuck with it this far, you've got the idea by now.
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