Introduction 1

Part I: All About the Monarchy 9

Chapter 1: Ruling Principles 11

Chapter 2: How the Monarchy Works 23

Part II: Early Rulers 35

Chapter 3: Mini-Kingdoms 37

Chapter 4: England United 51

Chapter 5: Danes versus Saxons 67

Part III: The Middle Ages 79

Chapter 6: Conquering Kings 81

Chapter 7: Plantagenet Power Struggles 97

Chapter 8: More Plantagenets 111

Chapter 9: Lancaster and York: Fighting Families 131

Part IV: The Kings of Scotland 149

Chapter 10: Picts, Scots, and Others 151

Chapter 11: Troublesome English, Troublesome Islanders 173

Chapter 12: The Stewart Story 187

Part V: Kingdoms United: Tudors, Stuarts, and Hanoverians 207

Chapter 13: The Tudors: The Monarchy Triumphs 209

Chapter 14: The Stuarts 231

Chapter 15: The House of Hanover 253

Part VI: Modern Royals: The House of Windsor 277

Chapter 16: Monarchs at War 279

Chapter 17: Thoroughly Modern Monarch: Elizabeth II 297

Chapter 18: The Prince of Wales 315

Part VII: The Part of Tens 331

Chapter 19: Ten Royal Homes 333

Chapter 20: Ten or So Royal Places 341

Chapter 21: Ten Princes of Wales 349

Chapter 22: Ten or So Charismatic Consorts 355

Index 363