The kings and queens of England have an enduring hold over the cultural psyche of the British. Whether it’s William the Conqueror’s slaying of Harold Godwinson, King John’s mythic badness, or Henry VIII’s readiness to behead his unfortunate wives, these monarchs hold both legendary and symbolic positions in the public imagination, but are also integral to how history and events have shaped England today. In this new illustrated edition, expert historians vividly present the lives of the country’s monarchs from the warrior kings of the so-called Dark Ages through to the present queen.