This animated timeline of the British royal family is the only history lesson you need
LONDON – The British royal family tree is a complex mishmash full of wars, betrayals and so many different strands and family members that it’s difficult to know where to begin.
Luckily, YouTube user and master of the edutainment video, CPG Grey, has just the ticket: on Wednesday, to tie in with the Queen becoming the UK’s longest-reigning monarch, he uploaded a breakdown of the royal family’s history – starting from 1066 and marching rapidly forward to the present day.
Things kick off with William the Conqueror.
“Because it’s the olden days, people had lots of kids,” reads the narrator. “But to keep things simple this family tree is going to leave out many of them on each branch, because… not every child matters.”
The video shows the different ways the crown changed hands over the years.
There’s a nice succinct summary of The War of the Roses.
As well as the legacy of Henry VIII, which begins what the video describes as “the really messy time.”
The timeline breezes on through the centuries, past Oliver Cromwell and Charles I…
…before finally reaching the present day.
If only all history was this much fun.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
