1. House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Number one on our list of European Royal families today is House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Created in 1826, when Ernest I became Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the house was at first one of many German noble dynasties that ruled over tiny duchies and princedoms. Their rise to prominence begun when his brother Leopold was elected King of Belgium. Interestingly enough, he was first offered the Greek throne, but he refused, judging that the country was too unstable. If Greek creditors had his insight, perhaps the whole Grexit drama could have been avoided. The current ruler of Belgium, King Philippe, is Leopold’s descendant.
Ernest’s son Albert married Queen Victoria, the ruling monarch of the United Kingdom, in 1840. Their marriage became one of the greatest love stories ever told. Although never crowned King, but rather given the title of Prince Consort, Albert had a profound effect on British history. His son, Edward VII, became the first member of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha family on the throne of the United Kingdom. His son, George V, changed the family name to Windsor by a Royal decree in 1917, due to anti-German sentiment in the public.
House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was also on the throne of Bulgaria. The current head of the Bulgarian branch is Simeon, who was evicted from the country by the communists in 1946. However, a Hollywood-style plot, he returned to Bulgaria in 2001 and became democratically elected Prime Minister.
The last ruling house of Portugal, before the monarchy was abolished in 1910, was also a branch of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, styled House of Braganza-Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Manuel I had the honor of being the last King of Portugal. Since he died childless the Portuguese branch of the family died with him.
Current head of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is Andreas, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke of Saxony. His first cousin is King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf. Andreas spend two years training to be a timber merchant, not a past time ordinarily entertained by European nobles.
