THE VARIOUS METAMORPHOSES EXPERIENCED BY members of royal families may cause confusion to those unversed in such questions (and sometimes to the versed as well). A brief note may be of use. The Duke of Windsor bore seven titles in the course of his life, though only four are of significance: Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, King Edward VIII and Duke of Windsor.
When he was born in 1894 his great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, still reigned. His grandfather and his grandmother were Prince and Princess of Wales. His father and mother were Duke and Duchess of York and he himself was styled Prince Edward of York.
On the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 his grandfather succeeded as King Edward VII and the Princess of Wales became Queen Alexandra (referred to as the Queen, a designation reserved for reigning monarchs or the wife of a reigning king). His father and mother briefly became Duke and Duchess of Cornwall as well as of York, during which period he was Prince Edward of Cornwall and York. Later in 1901 the Duke of Cornwall was invested Prince of Wales. Prince Edward then became Prince Edward of Wales; his brothers Princes Albert, Henry and George and his sister Princess Mary being princes and princess of the same house.
King Edward died in 1910. The Prince of Wales succeeded as King George V. His wife, Queen Mary, was from then until January 1936 known as the Queen; Queen Alexandra being always referred to by name. Prince Edward was Duke of Cornwall until 1911 when he was invested Prince of Wales. His brother Prince Albert was created Duke of York in 1920; Prince Henry became Duke of Gloucester in 1928; Prince George Duke of Kent in 1934; while Princess Mary married the 6th Earl of Harewood in 1922 and was created Princess Royal in 1932.
On the death of King George V in January 1936, the Prince of Wales succeeded as King Edward VIII. His mother was henceforward known as Queen Mary. When he abdicated in December of the same year he was created Duke of Windsor. His brother, the Duke of York, succeeded as King George VI, the Duchess becoming Queen Elizabeth and known as the Queen.
George VI died in 1952 and was succeeded by his daughter, Princess Elizabeth. His widow was henceforward styled Queen Elizabeth or, more popularly, the Queen Mother.