Details

<p><b>Introduction 1</b></p> <p><b>Part I: All About the Monarchy 9</b></p> <p>Chapter 1: Ruling Principles 11</p> <p>Chapter 2: How the Monarchy Works 23</p> <p><b>Part II: Early Rulers 35</b></p> <p>Chapter 3: Mini-Kingdoms 37</p> <p>Chapter 4: England United 51</p> <p>Chapter 5: Danes versus Saxons 67</p> <p><b>Part III: The Middle Ages 79</b></p> <p>Chapter 6: Conquering Kings 81</p> <p>Chapter 7: Plantagenet Power Struggles 97</p> <p>Chapter 8: More Plantagenets 111</p> <p>Chapter 9: Lancaster and York: Fighting Families 131</p> <p><b>Part IV: The Kings of Scotland 149</b></p> <p>Chapter 10: Picts, Scots, and Others 151</p> <p>Chapter 11: Troublesome English, Troublesome Islanders 173</p> <p>Chapter 12: The Stewart Story 187</p> <p><b>Part V: Kingdoms United: Tudors, Stuarts, and Hanoverians 207</b></p> <p>Chapter 13: The Tudors: The Monarchy Triumphs 209</p> <p>Chapter 14: The Stuarts 231</p> <p>Chapter 15: The House of Hanover 253</p> <p><b>Part VI: Modern Royals: The House of Windsor 277</b></p> <p>Chapter 16: Monarchs at War 279</p> <p>Chapter 17: Thoroughly Modern Monarch: Elizabeth II 297</p> <p>Chapter 18: The Prince of Wales 315</p> <p><b>Part VII: The Part of Tens 331</b></p> <p>Chapter 19: Ten Royal Homes 333</p> <p>Chapter 20: Ten or So Royal Places 341</p> <p>Chapter 21: Ten Princes of Wales 349</p> <p>Chapter 22: Ten or So Charismatic Consorts 355</p> <p><b>Index 363</b></p>

<b>Philip Wilkinson</b> was educated at Oxford University, after which he worked as an editor for various publishers in Britain. For the last 15 years or so, he has been a full-time writer specializing in history, the arts, and heritage. He has written books on these subjects for adults and for children, and his titles include <i>What the Romans Did For Us,</i> which accompanied the BBC television series presented by Adam Hart-Davis, the award-winning <i>Amazing Buildings</i>, and <i>The English Buildings Book</i>. He lives in the Cotswolds with his wife and son.

<b>Includes insights into the lives of the current royal family</b> <p><b>Britain's heritage told through the colourful lives of its kings and queens</b></p> <p>The monarchy is at the heart of British life. If you're going to understand Britain and its history, you need to understand the story of its royal family. This lively guide walks you through the history of the British monarchy from the earliest times to the present day and covers the colourful characters, extraordinary events, power struggles, and politics that have shaped one of the most famous institutions in the world.</p> <p><b>Discover</b></p> <ul> <li>The origins of the British monarchy</li> <li>How the monarchy works</li> <li>The relationship between the royal family and the general public</li> <li>How the role of the monarch has changed over time</li> <li>What the monarch and the rest of the royal family do all day</li> </ul>

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