British monarchy: brush up on 1,000 years of history in 10 minutes
Diana Wright takes you through the ups and downs of the British monarchy from William the Conqueror to King Charles III in our gallop through history. Click or tap on the headlines for our quick guides
British Monarchy from William the conqueror to King charles III
The Normans, 1066-1154
The Norman invasion led by William the Conqueror reshaped Britain – from the rise of castles to the French words that began to appear in the English language
The Middle Ages, 1154-1485
The Plantagenet era was a time of conflict, burnished by stories of Richard the Lionheart and victory at Agincourt in 1415 during the Hundred Years War
The Tudors, 1485-1603
The Tudor era covers the Renaissance and Henry VIII to the Golden Age and Elizabeth I – via Shakespeare and the Spanish Armada
The Stuarts, 1603-1614
The Stuart period witnessed the Great Plague, the Fire of London, religious and political upheaval, the English Civil Wars, a republic and the restoration of the Crown
The Hanoverians, 1714-1901
The British Empire reached its peak under foreign rule with four king Georges, William IV and Queen Victoria
The Modern Era, 1901-2023
Today’s British monarchy – with Queen Elizabeth II at the helm for 70 years until September 2022 – has adapted and reinvented itself through two world wars and social revolution. Her son, King Charles III will be crowned on 6 May 2023.
Read everything you need to know about King Charles III’s coronation, here.
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