Godwin had eight children, six sons and two daughters. His wife Gyda was from the Royal house of Denmark (probably another shrewd move). The sons were named Harold, Tostig, Gyrth, Sweyn, Leofwin and Wulfnot. The daughters were Edith, Elgifu and possibly a third named Gunhild.

Edward the Confessor became king in 1042. Godwin seeing a opportunity to increase his power and influence over the realm, arranged the marriage between Edward and his daughter Edith. It was a marriage of convenience and was probably never consummated. It was almost as though Edward had walked into a trap. Not only did he have the all powerful Godwin to reckon with, but the ambition and squabbles of his children and Godwin's ongoing feuds with Leofwin of Mercia and Sward of Northumbria.

Realising that now there could only be one ruler of England, Edward decided to act against Godwin and his growing army. Godwin had been preparing for this very showdown. The king called on Mercia and Northumbria to come to his aid. This they prepared to do. Marching south, they had a change of heart. They began to realise that civil war was unacceptable, so returned home. A hasty meeting of the Witan was convened in London. Here a solution could be argued out. Neither side trusted the other. It was an uneasy stand-off on both banks of the river Thames. Godwin and Harold requested safe passage to the meeting, but were refused. The Godwin family were given five days to leave the country. All their possessions were confiscated. Their cry for help to his once loyal forces came to nothing. In those days, fighting against the kings interests would have been considered treason, akin to mutiny on a naval ship. Having totally run out of options, they departed for Flanders and sanctuary with Count Balduin, who always seemed available for English exiles.

Harold and his brother Leofwin were not to be put down so easily. They sailed to Ireland with Flemish and Irish mercenaries and started to raid the English coast. Edward the king continued his imports of Norman advisers and positioning them in high office. These actions were beginning to annoy the population. The support for the Godwins began to grow. They eventually sailed up the river Thames to Southwark where the loyal kings forces of Mercia and Northumbria were stationed. Demanding a meeting with the king, who immediately refused, another stand-off occurred. Eventually Edward relented. After an exchange of hostages, the Witan was convened. Edward realised that he had no choice because the tide was turning against him. He was trying to turn England into another province of Normandy. Godwin and his sons argued well. Being accused of harbouring and being traitors, they fought their case. All titles and property removed from them was returned. Even his exiled wife was reinstated as queen. Sweyn on the other hand was killed on a crusade. Godwin did not get away absolutely free, he was required to allow his son, Wulfnot and Sweyn's son Harkon, held hostage in Normandy subject to Duke William becoming king of England. Harold, who had always been the dominant son, succeeded his father. A political move was made when he gave up his earldom of East Anglia in favour of the son of Leofwin of Mercia. Sward of Northumbria died in 1055 which left the door open for Tostig. When Leofwin died, Alfgar, now in East Anglia, returned to Mercia to take over. This vacancy in East Anglia was taken by Gyrth, Harold's younger brother. The Godwin children now were becoming all powerful. Harold became a good sub-regulus, acting for the good of the country. He worked well with the king and managed the administration of the kingdoms under his control. He had always found Mercia to be a problem especially when they allied themselves to the Welsh. He managed to inflict a heavy defeat on them. By 1065, with the help of Tostig, who led the fleet, he invaded North Wales. By defeating Gruffyd ap Llewellyn he ended his aggression.

In 1064, Edward the Confessor ordered Harold to make a voyage to Normandy to confirm Edward's promise of the throne to William on his death. This must have been a humiliating exercise for him. I am sure he felt that the kingdom should be his. Harold must have known that this was a difficult and dangerous expedition. He also had other ideas.

His brother, Wulfnot and Harkon ( Harkon ) were still being held as hostages and he saw that this may be a way to get them released. Setting off from the Sussex Coast they run into storm which forces them off course. Thanks to the Danish sailors who were used to sailing in bad weather, a forced landing was made. Unfortunately, bedraggled and half drowned they waded ashore, only to the captured by Guy, Count of Ponthieu. Guy, who was a vassal of Duke William held them to ransom. He sent a messenger to William with his demands. William refused the offer and called Guy's bluff. Guy decided to give Harold up, possibly because of disguised threats or fear of invasion. Whatever the reason, Harold was handed over to Duke William.