How British Royal History and Clan Lyon Might Be the Inspiration Behind the Midfords and Phantomhives?
You might have noticed some hidden "gimmicks" inserted by Yana Toboso. These elements seem to closely parallel real-life British royal and aristocratic history. A particularly fascinating connection lies in Midford Manor. In the story, the Midford family estate is modeled after Glamis Castle. In reality, this castle is the ancestral seat of the ancient noble family, Clan Lyon. Furthermore, if we look at Lizzy's father's full name, "Alexis Leon Midford," the phonetic resemblance to this clan is brilliantly intentional! Historically, the Lyon family reached the peak of its fame when Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (The Queen Mother) married into the British Royal Family.
With this level of connection, if we compare the history of "King George VI and his older brother" to the "Phantomhive twins," and the story of "Lady Elizabeth" to "Lizzy," we can see three incredibly consistent parallels:
1. The Golden Boy vs. The Spare: The Contrast Between Two Brothers
The first obvious similarity is the dynamic between the perfect older brother and the fragile younger brother.
• Historical Side: King George VI (Bertie) was the younger brother who suffered from health issues, extreme shyness, and a stutter. He was often overlooked and grew up in the shadow of his older brother, David (King Edward VIII), who was the handsome, charismatic, socially adept heir and the golden boy of the nation.
• Manga Side: This is perfectly mirrored in the Phantomhive twins. The older twin (R!Ciel) is the true heir—cheerful, healthy, and a natural-born leader. Meanwhile, the younger twin (O!Ciel) is a sickly child with asthma, shy, and has absolutely no ambition to become the head of the family.
George VI was born in 14th December !
2. A Rumored Love Triangle?: When Elizabeth (Might Have) Liked the Older Brother First
Another intriguing gimmick is the romantic storyline involving the "older brother-younger brother" dynamic.
• Historical Side: When Bertie first started courting Lady Elizabeth, rumors circulated in high society that her actual initial target was David (Bertie's dashing older brother). However, because David was a playboy and showed no interest in her, she eventually saw the true love and devotion of the younger brother, Bertie, and agreed to marry him instead.
• Manga Side: Even though Lizzy loves O!Ciel with all her heart, her original status as the Phantomhive heir's fiancée meant she was destined to marry the older twin (R!Ciel) from the very beginning. The pattern of a "young woman (both named Elizabeth) who is tied to or rumored with the older brother, but whose heart and ultimate fate end up with the younger brother" is a remarkably interesting shared trait.
3. The Crown and the Ring: The Unwanted Burden Falling on the Younger Sibling
The climax of both stories forces the seemingly weakest younger brother to become the strongest leader.
• Historical Side: David chose love over the throne. He abruptly abdicated to marry an American divorcee, causing the crown and the crushing weight of the nation to "fall onto" Bertie without warning. It is recorded that Bertie wept at the prospect because he was terrified of the burden. Yet, he eventually wore the crown and rose as King George VI, the monarch who guided Britain through the crisis of World War II.
• Manga Side: A bloody tragedy strikes, resulting in the older twin being sacrificed. The burden of being the Earl of Phantomhive and the "Queen's Watchdog" suddenly "falls onto" O!Ciel. The frail young boy has to abandon his own identity, impersonate his older brother, wear the family ring, and step up to bear all the darkness in order to avenge for himself.
4. What's in a Name?: The "Margaret" Coincidence
If the previous points weren't enough, there is a hidden detail regarding Lizzy's name that makes the connection to the Queen Mother.
• Manga Side: In one of Yana Toboso’s character guides/notes, Lizzy's name is written in Katakana as エリザベス・マーガレット・ライオン (Elizabeth Margaret Lion/Lyon). While it’s unclear whether this was an alternative concept name or her official full name, the specific combination of these three words is striking.
• Historical Side: The Queen Mother’s actual full name was Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon. "Marguerite" is the French variant of the English name "Margaret" (and to add another layer, the Queen Mother later named her second daughter Princess Margaret!).
To have a character named Elizabeth, associated with the name Margaret/Marguerite, belonging to a family connected to the name Lyon, and living in a mansion modeled after Glamis Castle? The mathematical probability of this being a pure accident is incredibly low!
Ultimately, we cannot confirm with 100% certainty whether Yana Toboso directly used the history of Clan Lyon and the British Royal Family as her inspiration for this storyline. However, these perfectly aligned coincidences and overlapping parallels serve as a fantastic gimmick for fans who love analyzing character dimensions alongside Victorian historical accuracy. It definitely makes reading Black Butler even more enjoyable and adds a captivating, mysterious charm to the series!
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