Who’s who in the British royal family

For centuries, the British monarchy has captivated minds, hearts and countless newspaper headlines around the world.

Living life in the spotlight and under scrutiny, the British royal family continues to feed the global public’s fascination with coronations, royal weddings, birth announcements — and a few scandals.

Here’s a guide to the most well-known living members of the House of Windsor.

PHOTO: Queen Elizabeth II attends the wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel, Oct. 12, 2018, in Windsor, England. (Max Mumby/Pool via Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Born in London in 1926, Elizabeth II is the eldest child of the Duke and Duchess of York, who later became known as King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

In 1947, Elizabeth II wed Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, who became the Duke of Edinburgh upon marrying into the British royal family.

In 1952, Elizabeth II became queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms at age 25 after her father, King George VI, fell ill and died. The queen formally made her husband a British prince in 1957.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, died at the age of 99 on April 9, 2021, less than two months shy of his 100th birthday. Buckingham Palace said in a statement that Philip had “passed away peacefully” at Windsor Castle, a royal residence in the English county of Berkshire where he and the queen had been staying throughout most of the coronavirus pandemic.

Elizabeth II has four children with her late husband: Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward.

MORE: Queen Elizabeth II’s life through the years

PHOTO: Britain’s Prince Charles visits RAF base in Norfolk, England, July 27, 2018. (Chris Radburn/Reuters)

Charles, Prince of Wales

Charles, Prince of Wales, is the heir apparent to the British throne. Born in London in 1948, he is the first child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Charles was 4 years old at his mother’s coronation in Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953.

The queen made Charles the Prince of Wales in 1969, among other royal titles, after he had spent a term at the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth, where he learned to speak Welsh.

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In 1981, Charles married Lady Diana Spencer, who became the Princess of Wales. The couple had two sons, William and Harry, before their marriage was dissolved in 1996. Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris a year later.

In 2005, Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles, who became known as the Duchess of Cornwall.

PHOTO: Princess Anne arrives at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle, May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England. (Gareth Fuller/Getty Images)

Anne, Princess Royal

Anne, Princess Royal, is the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Born in London in 1950, Anne is known for her love of horses. She competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games as a member of the British equestrian team.

Queen Elizabeth II gave her daughter the title of Princess Royal in 1987.

Anne married Capt. Mark Phillips in 1992. The couple had two children, Peter and Zara, before their marriage was dissolved in 1992.

The princess went on to marry Adm. Timothy Laurence in 1992.

PHOTO: Prince Andrew attends the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey, March 11, 2019. (Wenn via AP)

Prince Andrew, Duke of York

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, was born in London in 1960, becoming the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Andrew was made the Duke of York by the queen after his marriage to Sarah Ferguson in 1986. The couple had two daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, before divorcing in 1996.

The duke joined the Royal Navy in 1979 and departed from active service 22 years later.

PHOTO: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex looks on during the medal ceremony for the Women’s 400 meters during athletics on day eight of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Carrara Stadium on April 12, 2018 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, was born in London in 1964, as the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Edward was made the Earl of Wessex by the queen after he wed Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999. The couple have two children, Louise and James.

The earl lives with his family in Bagshot Park in Berkshire.

PHOTO: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge leaves after attending the inaugural ‘This Can Happen’ conference,Nov. 20, 2018, in London. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, is second in line to the throne. Born in London in 1982, he is the eldest son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, the late Princess of Wales.

William was 15 when his mother died.

After graduating from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, the prince went on to complete nearly eight years of full-time military service in the British Armed Forces. William then retrained to become an air ambulance pilot and worked for East Anglian Air Ambulance from 2015 to 2017.

In 2011, William married Catherine Middleton, whom he met at university. He was then bestowed the title Duke of Cambridge by the queen.

The couple have three children: George, Charlotte and Louis. The family lives at Kensington Palace, but they also spend some time at Amner Hall near the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

PHOTO: Prince Harry departs from Orestad school following a conference, Oct. 26, 2017, in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is sixth in line to the throne. Born in London in 1984, he is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, the late Princess of Wales.

Harry was 12 when his mother died.

The prince served in the British Armed Forces for 10 years, during which he was deployed to Afghanistan twice. He left operational service in 2015.

Harry was given the title Duke of Sussex after he wed American actress Meghan Markle in 2018. The couple have a son, Archie, and are expecting a baby girl.

Harry and Meghan officially stepped down as senior working members of the British royal family on March 31, 2021. They moved their family to Canada temporarily before settling in California. They were previously living at Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate in Berkshire.

MORE: 8 major revelations from Prince Harry, Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey

PHOTO: Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge during the State visit by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, at Buckingham Palace in London, Oct. 23, 2018. (John Stillwell/PA via AP)

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

Born into an upper middle class family in Reading in 1982, Catherine “Kate” Middleton became a member of the British royal family and was made a duchess upon her marriage to Prince William in 2011.

The couple, who are now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, first met while studying at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. They have three children: George, Charlotte and Louis.

The family lives at Kensington Palace, though they also spend some time at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

MORE: The life and times of Duchess Kate

PHOTO: Meghan Markle is seen ahead of her visit with Prince Harry to the iconic Titanic Belfast during their trip to Northern Ireland on March 23, 2018 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

Born in Los Angeles in 1981, Meghan Markle became a member of the British royal family and was made a duchess upon her marriage to Prince Harry in 2018.

Prior to becoming a royal, the future duchess graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and pursued a career in acting. She was most known for her role in the American legal drama series “Suits.” She also ran a successful lifestyle blog called “The Tig.”

Meghan retired from her acting career, shuttered her blog and deleted all her social media accounts following the announcement of her engagement to Prince Harry, whom she first met on a blind date. The couple, who are now known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have a son, Archie, and are expecting a baby girl.

Meghan was previously married to actor and producer Trevor Engelson. They divorced in 2013 after less than two years of marriage.

Harry and Meghan officially stepped down as senior working members of the British royal family on March 31, 2021. They moved their family to Canada temporarily before settling in California. They were previously living at Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate in Berkshire.

In a bombshell interview with American television host Oprah Winfrey that aired on CBS on March 12, 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex alleged that Meghan was the victim of racism and callous treatment during her time as a working member of the British royal family. Buckingham Palace later said in a statement that the allegations were “concerning” and would be “taken very seriously.”

MORE: Meghan Markle, life in photos

PHOTO: Princess Beatrice at Royal Ascot, June 21, 2018, in Ascot, U.K. (REX via Shutterstock)

Princess Beatrice of York

Born in London in 1988, Princess Beatrice is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York. She graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London in 2011 and currently has a full-time career in business.

Beatrice became the first member of the British royal family to complete the London Marathon in 2010.

In 2020, Beatrice wed British property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

PHOTO: Princess Eugenie arrives at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle, May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England. (Gareth Fuller/Getty Images)

Princess Eugenie of York

Born in London in 1990, Princess Eugenie is the younger daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York. She graduated from Newcastle University in northeast England in 2012 and currently has a full-time job in the art world.

In 2018, Eugenie married British bar manager Jack Brooksbank. The couple have a son, August.

PHOTO: Peter Phillips at the Cheltenham Racecourse, March 15, 2019, in Cheltenham, England. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Peter Phillips

Peter Phillips is the eldest child and only son of Anne, Princess Royal, and her first husband, Capt. Mark Phillips. Born in London in 1977, he is the eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Peter did not inherit an official royal title at birth nor was he given a courtesy title. Hereditary titles are traditionally passed down through male heirs, and Peter’s father does not possess one. The princess and her husband at the time were said to have declined an offer from the queen to give both her children courtesy titles.

After graduating from the University of Exeter in 2000, Peter pursued a career in sports sponsorship and management.

Peter wed Canadian management consultant Autumn Kelly in 2008. The couple has two daughters, Savannah and Isla.

PHOTO: Zara Tindall attends the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, March 12, 2019, in Cheltenham, England. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Zara Tindall

Zara Tindall is the daughter of Anne, Princess Royal, and her first husband, Capt. Mark Phillips. Born in London in 1981, she is another of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s grandchildren.

Zara did not inherit an official royal title at birth nor was she given a courtesy title. Anne, Princess Royal, and her then-husband were said to have declined an offer from the queen to give both her children courtesy titles.

After graduating from the University of Exeter, Zara went on to have a successful equestrian career, sharing her mother’s love of horses. She competed for the British equestrian team at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Hong Kong and the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, winning a silver medal at the latter.

In 2011, Zara married English rugby union player Mike Tindall, with whom she has three children, Mia, Lena and Lucas.

PHOTO: Prince George of Cambridge attends the wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel, Oct. 12, 2018, in Windsor, England. (Max Mumby/Pool via Getty Images)

Prince George of Cambridge

Born in London in 2013, Prince George of Cambridge is the first child of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. He is third in line to the throne, after his father and grandfather.

George lives with his parents and two siblings at Kensington Palace, though the family also spends some time at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

MORE: The life and times of the royal children

PHOTO: Princess Charlotte of Cambridge attends the wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, Oct. 12, 2018, in Windsor, England. (Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty Images)

Princess Charlotte of Cambridge

Born in London in 2015, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge is the second child of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. She is fourth in line to the throne, after her older brother, father and grandfather.

Charlotte lives with her parents and two siblings at Kensington Palace, but the family also spends some time in Norfolk.

PHOTO: Kate, Duchess of Cambridge carries Prince Louis as they arrive for his christening service at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, London, July 9, 2018. (Dominic Lipinski/Pool Photo via AP)

Prince Louis of Cambridge

Born in London in 2018, Prince Louis of Cambridge is the third child of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. He is fifth in line to the throne, after his sister, brother, father and grandfather.

Louis lives with his parents and two siblings at Kensington Palace, though the family also spends some time in Norfolk.

PHOTO: Britain’s Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan hold their baby son Archie in Cape Town on Sept. 25, 2019. (Henk Kruger/POOL/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor

Born in London in 2019, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor is the first child of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. He is seventh in line to the throne.

Archie lives with his parents in California.

Archie’s surname of Mountbatten-Windsor is a combination of Queen Elizabeth II’s surname of Windsor and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s adopted surname of Mountbatten. Archie inherited that surname as a descendant of the queen without the title of prince or the style of His Royal Highness. After his birth and name were announced, Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement that Archie will not carry a courtesy title “at this time.”

Who’s who in the British royal family originally appeared on abcnews.go.com