Which 'ill-prepared' monarch was on the throne at the turn of the last millennium? How many English monarchs have been crowned on St George's day? When, how and why did England 'lose' eleven days?
'Monarchs, Murderers and Mistresses' answers these questions and more, presenting a royal event for each day of the calendar year in vivid detail with close-ups of the personalities involved. It reveals the recurring occupational difficulties faced by the royal family over the centuries: as Shakespeare's Henry IV so memorably concludes, 'Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.'
Today the royal family is plagued by the press, but even 300 years ago, Charles II felt the need to apologise to a crowd of onlookers for taking so long to die. This fascinating book brings alive the drama of what it was, and is, to be a king or queen. Entertaining, provocative and always amusing, here is the perfect gift and an ideal reference guide for anyone interested in the English monarchy.
Contents:
Preface
Chronology
Royal Calendar January 1 to December 31
- Longest Reigns
- The Twenty-four Princes of Wales
- Assassination Attempts of Queen Victoria
- The Present Order of Succession
- Charles II's Mistresses and Bastards
- The Monarchs Britain Never Had
Dates of Saxon and Danish Kings Before to Conquest
Dates on Monarchs: William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II
Dates of Queens and Consorts from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II
Genealogical Chart of the English Monarchs
Sources
Index
Review:A lucky dip of privilege, disaster, corruption and our noble monarchical tradition - The Scotsman
Inveterare dippers into reference books will find plenty of material here for passing idle moments ... humour as well as history, quirkiness as well as chronicling - Royalty Digest
