House of Glücksburg facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids
Country:	Duchy of Schleswig (1863-1866) Duchy of Holstein (1863-1864) Kingdom of Denmark (1863–present) Kingdom of Greece (1863–1924 and 1935–1973) Kingdom of Iceland (1918–1944) Kingdom of Norway (1905–present)
Parent House:	House of Oldenburg
Titles:	List Current: King/Queen of Denmark King of Norway King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Former: King of the Goths King of the Wends King of the Hellenes King of Iceland Duke of Schleswig-Holstein Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
Founder:	Friedrich Wilhelm (August Philipp as Beck)
Current Head:	Christoph, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein, Duke of Glücksburg
Founding Year:	6 July 1825; 199 years ago (1825-07-06) (17 December 1633; 391 years ago (1633-12-17) as Beck)
Cadet Branches:	Danish royal family Greek royal family Norwegian royal family

The House of Glücksburg is a famous royal family. Its members have ruled in many countries. These include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Greece. They also ruled in several northern German states.

Today, King Charles III of the United Kingdom is a member of this family. So are Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and King Harald V of Norway. Former queens like Anne-Marie of Greece and Sofía of Spain are also from this family.

Glücksburg Castle, an important Renaissance castle in northern Europe

What's in a Name?

The name Glücksburg can also be spelled Glücksborg or Lyksborg. It comes from a longer name: House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. This family is a branch of the older House of Oldenburg.

The family's name comes from Glücksburg. This is a town in Schleswig and Holstein in Germany.

Family History

A 2 rigsdaler coin from 1863. It shows the change of kings in Denmark to the Glücksburg family.

Glücksburg is a small town by the sea. It is located on the German side of the fjord of Flensburg. This fjord separates Germany from Denmark. In 1460, Glücksburg became part of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. These lands were ruled by Count Christian of Oldenburg. He was elected King of Denmark in 1448. The Norwegians also chose him as their king in 1450.

Later, in 1564, King Frederick II divided the lands. He kept some for his own royal family. He gave Glücksburg to his brother, Duke John the Younger. John's family then divided their share even more. They created a line of dukes at Beck. These dukes were still loyal to the Kings of Denmark.

By 1825, Glücksburg Castle was back with the Danish crown. King Frederick VI gave it to his relative, Frederick. Frederick added "Glücksburg" to his title. This is how the current Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg came to be.

The main line of Danish kings from the Oldenburg family ended in 1863. The Glücksburg family then became the oldest surviving branch of the House of Oldenburg.

The Dukes of Beck and Glücksburg were not independent rulers. They held their lands as fiefs. This means they were given land by the Kings of Denmark.

Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg was the fourth son of Duke Friedrich. In 1852, he was chosen to be the next King of Denmark. He became King Christian IX on November 15, 1863.

Prince Vilhelm, Christian's second son, was chosen as King of the Hellenes (King of Greece). He became King George I on March 30, 1863.

Prince Carl, Christian IX's grandson, became King of Norway. He took the name Haakon VII of Norway on November 18, 1905.

Christian IX's daughters also became important. Alexandra married King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. Dagmar married Emperor Alexander III of Russia. Because of his many royal children, Christian IX became known as the "Father-in-law of Europe".

Today, Christoph, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein is the current head of the senior Glücksburg family line.

Family Tree of Duke Friedrich Wilhelm

This list shows the male ancestors of Duke Friedrich Wilhelm, who helped start the Glücksburg line:

• Elimar I, Count of Oldenburg
• Elimar II, Count of Oldenburg
• Christian I, Count of Oldenburg
• Maurice, Count of Oldenburg
• Christian II, Count of Oldenburg
• John I, Count of Oldenburg
• Christian III, Count of Oldenburg
• John II, Count of Oldenburg
• Conrad I, Count of Oldenburg
• Christian V, Count of Oldenburg
• Dietrich, Count of Oldenburg
• Christian I of Denmark
• Frederick I of Denmark
• Christian III of Denmark
• John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg
• Alexander, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg
• August Philipp, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
• Frederick Louis, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
• Peter August, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
• Karl Anton August, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
• Friedrich Karl Ludwig, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
• Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

Coat of arms of the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein

The Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg are the main male line of the family. They are the heads of the Glücksburg branch. The overall head of the entire House of Oldenburg is Christoph, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein.

Portrait	Name	Life	Reign
	Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg	1785–1831	1825–1831
	Karl, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg	1813–1878	1831–1878
	Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg	1814–1885	1878–1885
	Friedrich Ferdinand, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein	1855–1934	1885–1934
	Wilhelm Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein	1891–1965	1934–1965
	Peter, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein	1922–1980	1965–1980
	Christoph, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein	born 1949	1980–present

The next in line to be Duke is Friedrich Ferdinand, Hereditary Prince of Schleswig-Holstein (born 1985).

Kings and Queens of Denmark

Coat of arms of the Queen of Denmark

In 1853, Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg became the future King of Denmark. He became king in 1863. He was the fourth son of Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. The Danish royal family uses the name Glücksborg.

Portrait	Name	Life	Reign	Additional titles
	Christian IX	1818–1906	1863–1906	King of the Wends King of the Goths Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Lauenburg and Oldenburg
	Frederick VIII	1843–1912	1906–1912	King of the Wends King of the Goths Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Lauenburg and Oldenburg
	Christian X	1870–1947	1912–1947	King of Iceland (1918–1944) King of the Wends King of the Goths Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Lauenburg and Oldenburg
	Frederick IX	1899–1972	1947–1972	King of the Wends King of the Goths Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Lauenburg and Oldenburg
	Margrethe II	born 1940	1972–present

The next in line to the Danish throne is Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark (born 1968).

Kings of Greece

Coat of arms of the King of the Hellenes

A 1963 Greek coin. It celebrates 100 years of the Glücksburg family ruling Greece. It shows five kings: Paul, George II, Alexander, Constantine I and George I.

In 1863, Prince Wilhelm of Denmark was chosen to be King of the Hellenes. He took the name George I. He was the second son of King Christian IX of Denmark.

Portrait	Name	Life	Reign	Additional titles
	George I	1845–1913	1863–1913	Prince of Denmark
	Constantine I	1868–1923	1913–1917 1920–1922	Prince of Denmark
	Alexander	1893–1920	1917–1920	Prince of Denmark
	George II	1890–1947	1922–1924 1935–1947	Prince of Denmark
	Paul	1901–1964	1947–1964	Prince of Denmark
	Constantine II	1940–2023	1964–1973	Prince of Denmark
	Crown Prince Pavlos	born 1967	Crown Prince of Greece from birth, until monarchy abolished	Prince of Denmark

The monarchy in Greece ended in 1973. This happened after a military government took power. In 1974, people voted in a referendum. Most people voted against bringing the monarchy back.

Kings of Norway

Coat of arms of the King of Norway

In 1905, Prince Carl of Denmark became Norway's first independent king in over 500 years. He took the name Haakon VII. His father was King Frederick VIII of Denmark. One of his uncles was King George I of Greece.

Portrait	Name	Life	Reign	Additional titles
	Haakon VII	1872–1957	1905–1957	Prince of Denmark
	Olav V	1903–1991	1957–1991	Prince of Denmark Olympic Sailing Champion
	Harald V	born 1937	1991–present	Prince of Denmark Sailing World Champion

The next in line to the Norwegian throne is Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (born 1973).

Kings of Iceland

Kingdom of Iceland

In 1918, Iceland became its own kingdom. It was no longer just a part of Denmark. Christian X of Denmark was King of both Denmark and Iceland. This lasted until 1944. In 1944, Iceland decided to become a fully independent country.

Portrait	Name	Life	Reign	Additional titles
	Kristján 10	1870–1947	1918–1944	King of Denmark King of the Wends King of the Goths Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Lauenburg and Oldenburg

His son, Frederick IX of Denmark (1899–1972), was the next in line.

Royal Family in the United Kingdom

Arms of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom

In 1947, Philip Mountbatten married Princess Elizabeth. She later became Queen Elizabeth II. Philip was born into the House of Glücksburg. He was a prince of Denmark and Greece. He gave up these titles when he married. He was then made Duke of Edinburgh by King George VI.

Portrait	Name	Life	Tenure	Additional titles
	Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh	1921–2021	1947–2021	Earl of Merioneth Baron Greenwich
	Charles III	Born 1948	2021-2022 (as Duke of Edinburgh) 2022- (as monarch)	As Duke of Edinburgh: Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall Earl of Chester Duke of Rothesay Earl of Carrick Baron of Renfrew Lord of the Isles Prince and Great Steward of Scotland Earl of Merioneth Baron Greenwich As Monarch: Duke of Lancaster Head of the Commonwealth

Line of Succession

This list shows some of the male members in the line of succession for the House of Glücksburg. It follows the rule of primogeniture, meaning the oldest male child inherits first.

See also

In Spanish: Casa de Glücksburg para niños