“The monarchy is a labor intensive industry.”
The British monarchy is the most famous in the world. From the Norman conquest, the turbulent times of the Tudors to the modern reigns of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III, the royal family can trace its history back over a thousand years, and weaving a rich tapestry of power, drama and intrigue. And what makes these stories so compelling is the fact they’re still being played out to this day. Whether you’re interested in learning more about the best and worst British monarchs, their roles in the many plots, conflicts and scandals that have shaped the country or simply fascinated by the pomp, pageantry and traditions that come with the royals, we here at What We Reading have you covered with all of our favourite biographies and historical non-fiction British monarchy books!
Elizabeth The Queen: The Life Of A Modern Monarch – Sally Bedell Smith
First up on our list of the best British monarchy books is Sally Bedell Smith’s Elizabeth the Queen, an instant New York Times bestseller and perfect for any fans of Netflix’s The Crown. From the moment of her ascension to the throne in 1952 as a twenty-five-year-old, Queen Elizabeth II was one of the most recognisable faces on Earth. But, behind the glitz and glamour of regal living, how much do we really know about the world’s most famous monarch?
Utilising numerous interviews and never-before-seen documents, Bedell Smith lifts the lid on the life and personality of Queen Elizabeth during her intimate private moments, as well as her public ones. From the young heir presumptive mending trucks during the Second World War to the arduous routines involved with juggling a country and a family. Elizabeth II remains Great Britain’s longest reigning monarch, and Sally Bedell Smith’s biography is the most complete and comprehensive guide to understanding the woman behind the rule.
The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings And Queens Who Made England – Dan Jones
The first Plantagenet king inherited a blood-soaked kingdom from the Normans and managed to transform it into a sprawling empire that stretched from Scotland to Jerusalem. In his epic book about the English monarchy, The Plantagenets, Dan Jones charts this fierce royal dynasty and its mythic world.
Through his tour across this often-overlooked part of British history, readers are introduced to characters like Eleanor of Aquitaine, the most woman in Christianity, her crusading son, Richard the Lionheart, and King John, the supposed tyrant who was forced to sign the Magna Carta. From Robin Hood, the Black Death, rules of chivalry, the Knights Templar, and the Hundred Years War to the founding of Parliament, few books on English history match the scope of Jones’ work.
Henry VIII: The King And His Court – Alison Weir
King Henry VIII is one of the most famous kings in English history, with a legacy that is just as controversial as it is significant. In her acclaimed biography, Henry VIII: The King and His Court, Alison Weir takes readers inside one of the most magnificent – and dangerous – courts in Renaissance Europe.
Weir brings to life the turbulent, unpredictable and complex figure of King Henry set against the cultural, social and political background of his glittering court. Jam-packed full of colourful descriptions and meticulous historical detail, this is one of the best British monarchy books for uncovering the truth behind Henry VIII’s reign, his lavish court, and the array of characters vying for its pleasures and rewards.
Check Out The Best Books About King Henry VIII
Crown & Sceptre: A New History Of The British Monarchy, From William The Conquerer To Elizabeth II – Tracy Borman
Since William the Conquerer successfully invaded England in 1066, forty-one kings and queens have sat on Britain’s throne. In her 2021 book, Crown & Sceptre, Tracy Borman masterfully takes readers through every British monarch in order and explores their personalities, achievements, challenges and legacy in shaping both the country and the wider world.
From the Norman French, Welsh-born Tudors, and Scottish Stuarts, to the Hanoverians and their modern German successors, Borman reveals the monarchy’s evolution from hard-lined rulers to ceremonial figureheads, showcasing how kings and queens have evolved and adapted throughout history. By bending to the needs and opinions of their people, Crown & Sceptre shows how the British monarchy has persevered through the conflicts, rebellions and revolutions that brought many of Europe’s royals to an abrupt end.
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Victoria: A Life – A.N. Wilson
When Queen Victoria died in 1901, she had ruled for nearly sixty-four years. She had been a mother to nine, and grandmother to forty-two and was widely seen as the ‘grandmother of Europe’ on the back of her children’s marriages. Nevertheless, despite being one of the most famous monarchs in British history, Queen Victoria is still a figurehead shrouded in myth and mystery. Yet, behind the stereotypical view of Victoria is a captivating story about one of the most passionate, humorous and unconventional women who ever lived.
In one of the best biographies about a British monarch ever penned, A.N. Wilson presents recently unearthed material to show Queen Victoria as she’s never been seen before. From the curious circumstances that led to her coronation, her strange and isolated childhood, her marriage to Albert and the lasting effects of his death on her, Victoria: A Life shows how the queen’s life intertwined with millions across the world as British commercial and political power reached its height.
Check Out The Best Books About Queen Victoria
The King’s Speech – Mark Logue And Peter Conradi
One man saved the British Royal Family in the first decades of the 20th century. He wasn’t the Archbishop of Canterbury, a prime minister or a special advisor. In fact, he was a relatively unknown, self-taught speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Despite his humble beginnings, however, the outgoing amiable Logue would be the man to single-handedly transform the nervous, tongue-tied Duke of York into one of the greatest kings in British history.
Mark Logue and Peter Conradi’s British monarchy book documents the remarkable relationship between the two men. On the back of Logue’s recently discovered diary entries, The King’s Speech chronicles the intimacy of the two men, the vital role the king’s wife played in bringing them together, and how their work helped save the monarchy’s reputation and reign during one of the most pivotal moments in British history.
Unruly: The Ridiculous History Of England’s Kings And Queens – David Mitchell
One of the best British monarchy books for those looking for more humour, David Mitchell’s 2023 history book has you covered. In Unruly, Mitchell explores how early English monarchs were often as bizarre, weird and usually lucky. Beginning with the legend of King Arthur in post-Roman England to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the book is a tale of how the English evolved from having their crops stolen by the thug with the largest armed gang to bowing and paying taxes to a king anointed by god.
As well as giving a tour through English kings and queens in order, David Mitchell also meditates on how the monarchy came to be, who it happened to and why it matters even today. Brimming with wit, snark and humour, it is one of the most essential guides to understanding the history of the British monarchy.
A Great And Terrible King: Edward I And The Forging Of Britain – Marc Morris
King Edward I is known by many by his nickname ‘Longshanks’, conquering Scotland and as the fierce nemesis of Sir William Wallace on the back of Braveheart. Yet, this reputation is only a small fraction of an extraordinary action-packed life. From defeating and killing the famous Simon de Montfort in battle, travelling across Europe to the Holy Land on a crusade, conquering Wales and constructing famous castles at Conwy, Harlech and Caernarfon, Marc Morris brings Edward I to life in his British monarchy book, A Great and Terrible King.
The longest-lived of any medieval English king, Morris examines the forces that drove Edward throughout his reign. It is a sweeping story that takes readers on an epic tour across Europe in the Middle Ages and behind the scenes of one of its most defining rulers.
A Royal Experiment: The Private Life Of King George III – Janice Hadlow
For most Americans, King George III is known as the mad king whom the US won their independence from. However, in her historical biography, A Royal Experiment, Janice Hadlow reveals how there is much to this monarch than this infamous reputation.
Hadlow explains how George III was the first Hanoverian king to be born in England, and the first to identify as British. Fuelled by a childhood filled with cruelty and feuding, he came to the throne looking to become a new type of ruler for his country, one that would be a force for moral good. Against a backdrop of years worth of intrigue, infidelity and betrayal, George III would be faithful to his wife and raise loving, educated and resilient children. Hadlow’s novel charts George his wife, Queen Charlotte, and their fifteen children as they attempted to redefine what was expected of them as a royal family.
Elizabeth: The Struggle For The Throne – David Starkey
From her fiery red hair to the Spanish Armada, Elizabeth I is one of the most popular English monarchs. Yet, in his biography, Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne, historian David Starkey explores the early years of the future queen’s life to show how her remarkable character was forged.
On the back of her mother’s execution, Elizabeth saw herself fall from heir apparent to an outcast from court, virtually forgotten. Following the deaths of her father and half-brother, she came narrowly close to being executed by her half-sister, Queen Mary. Despite this, her savviness as an operator enabled her to evade trouble and, eventually climb to the throne and usher in what would be a golden age for the country and one of the most legendary reigns in history. In The Struggle for the Throne, Starkey helps readers understand the forces that made her a formidable woman and a brilliant ruler.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
