Profiles the men and women who have inherited or seized the English crown since 1066 and assesses the political impact of their personalities and characteristics.

We can hardly imagine a Britain without Elizabeth II. Yet for much of her early life, the young princess did not know what her future would hold. Kate Williams reveals how the 25-year-old accidental queen carved out a lasting role for herself amid the changes of the 20th century.

"Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II has reigned through more seismic social change than any monarch since 1066. Yet she is not merely hanging on. She is a 21st century global phenomenon commanding unrivalled respect and affection. And now she is preparing for an event without parallel since the reign of Louis XIV: her Platinum Jubilee. On February 6th, 2022, she marks 70 years on the Throne. Robert Hardman wraps up the full story of one of the...