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THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

The British Empire consists of:—

I. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

II. India, the Colonies, Protectorates, and Dependencies.

Reigning King and Emperor.

George V., born June 3, 1865, son of King Edward VII. and Queen Alexandra, eldest daughter of King Christian IX., of Denmark; married July 6, 1893, to Victoria Mary, daughter of the late Duke of Teck; succeeded to the crown on the death of his father. May 6, 1910.

Children of the King.

I. Edward Albert, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Heir-apparent, born June 23, 1894.

II. Prince Albert Frederick, born December 14, 1895.

III. Princess Victoria Alexandra, born April 25, 1897.

IV. Prince Henry William, born March 31, 1900.

V. Prince George Edward, born December 20, 1902.

VI. Prince John Charles, born July 12, 1905.

Living Sisters of the King.

I. Princess Louise, Princess Royal, born February 20, 1867; married July 27 1889 to the Duke of Fife, who died January 29, 1912. Offspring:— (l) Alexandra Victoria born May 17, 1891; (2) Maud Alexandra, born April 3, 1893.

II. Princess Victoria Alexandra, born July 6, 1868.

III. Princess Maud Charlotte, born November 26, 1869; married July 22 1896 to Charles, Prince of Denmark, now King Haakon VII. of Norway. Offspring:— Olav, Crown Prince of Norway, born July 2, 1903.

Living Brother and Sisters of the late King.

I. Princess Helena, born May 25, 1846; married July 5, 1866, to Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. Living offspring:— Albert John, born Feb. 26, 1869; Victoria born May 3, 1870; Louise Augusta, born Aug. 12, 1872, married to Prince Aribert of Anhalt July 6, 1891: the marriage was dissolved December 13, 1900.

II. Princess Louise, born March 18, 1848; married March 21, 1871, to John, Marquis of Lorne, who became Duke of Argyll, April 24, 1900.

III. Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, born May 1, 1850; married March 13, 1879, to Princess Louise of Prussia, born July 25, 1860. Offspring:— (1) Margaret Victoria, born Jan. 15, 1882, married June 15, 1905, to Prince Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden; (2) Arthur born Jan. 13, 1883; (3) Victoria, born March 17, 1886.

IV. Princess Beatrice, born April 14, 1857; married July 23, 1885, to Prince Henry (died January 20, 1896), third son of Prince Alexander of Hesse. Offspring:— (1) Alexander Albert, born Nov. 23, 1886; (2) Victoria Eugénie, born Oct. 24, 1887; married May 31 1906, to Alfonso XIII., King of Spain; (3) Leopold Arthur Louis, born May 21 l889; (4) Maurice Victor Donald, born October 3, 1891.

The King's legal title rests on the statute of 12 and 13 Will. III. c. 3, by which the succession to the Crown of Great Britain and Ireland was settled on the Princess Sophia of Hanover and the 'heirs of her body, being Protestants.' By proclamation of May 9, 1910, under the Royal Titles Act 1901, the title of the King is declared to be 'George V., by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King Defender of the Faith Emperor of India.'

The Regency Act, 1910 (10 Edw. VII. and 1 Geo. V., ch. 26) appointed Queen Mary to act as regent in the event of the demise of the King and his succession by any of his children under the age of 18 years.

Provision is made for the support of the Royal household by the settlement of the Civil List soon after the commencement of each reign. (For historical details, see Year-Book for 1908, p. 5.) By Act of 10 Ed. VII. and 1 Geo. V. c. 28 (August 3, 1910), the Civil List of the King, after the usual surrender of hereditary revenues, is fixed at 470,000 ₤, of which 110,000 ₤ is appropriated to the privy purse of the King and Queen, 125,800 ₤ for

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