The House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is a European royal dynasty that originated in the early 19th century. It was established when the German duchies of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha were united under the rule of Duke Ernst I. The family gained prominence through strategic marriages, connecting with various European royal families, including the British monarchy. In the United Kingdom, the house became particularly significant when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert, a member of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha family. However, during World War I, anti-German sentiment led to a name change, and the British royal family adopted the name Windsor in 1917.