Kings & Queens by Iain Dale (Paperback) COMING 19 JUNE 2025

Hodder & Stoughton
Paperback
19 June 2025

All books will be signed by Iain Dale. If you want a personal dedication please give instructions in the box during the purchasing process.

The follow up to THE PRIME MINISTERS and THE PRESIDENTS

'We all know about Queen Victoria, Edward VIII and Queen Elizabeth II, but how much do we really know about other monarchs? Yes, we know William the Conqueror beat King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. We know George III was mad, but what else do we know about his 60 year long reign? We know Henry VIII famously had six wives, but do we know much more about him, other than he was very fat?'

The British monarchy is one of the oldest in the world - dating so far back that even its origins are the subject of debate. Was William the Conqueror the first king of England, or was it Alfred the Great? In this third instalment of the series that began with The Prime Ministers and The Presidents, Iain Dale charts this long history of the English and British monarchy, with 64 essays by journalists, historians and politicians on every individual to have sat on the throne, as well as some who didn't.

From Alfred the Great to Charles III, each essay examines the monarch, their role and what they tell us about British history. Why has the British monarchy, unlike so many others, endured? Kings and Queens will attempt to answer this question, and many others, providing valuable insight into British history and how Britain is ruled today.
This is the list of contributors...

List of Contributors to KINGS & QUEENS

Alfred the Great (886-899)
Alex Burghart MP
Conservative MP for Brentwood

Edward the Elder (899-924)
Gareth Streeter
Royal Historian

Aelfweard (924)
Matthew Stadlen
Broadcaster & Writer

Aethelstan (924-939)
Michael Wood
Historian and Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester

Edmund I (939-946)
George Trefgarne

Eadred (946-955)
Annie Whitehead
Historian

Eadwig (959-959)
Hugo Gye
Political Correspondent, The I Newspaper

Edgar the Peaceful (955-975)
Tom Holland
Historian and presenter of The Rest is History podcast

Edward the Martyr (975-978)
Charles Pitt
Historian & Researcher

Aethelred the Unready (978-1013 & 1014-1016)
Harry Lambert
Special Correspondent, The New Statesmann

Sweyn (1013-1014)
Justin Hill
Historian

Edmund Ironside (1016)
Paula Lofting
Medieval Historian

Canute (1016-1035)
Sue Cameron
Journalist & Broadcaster

Harold Harefoot (1035-1040)
Emily Fox
Historian

Hathacnut (1040-1042)
David Walsh
Historian

Edward the Confessor (1042-1066)
Lord Stephen Parkinson
Director, Conservative History Group

Edgar II (1066)
Iain Dale
Broadcaster

Harold Goodwinson (1066)
Alexander Stafford
Conservative MP for Rother Valley

William the Conqueror (1066-1087)
Peter Caddick-Adams
Military Historian

William Rufus (1087-1100)
Emma Mason
Editor, BBC History

Henry I (1100-1135)
Dominic Selwood
Historian

Stephen (1135-1154)
Robert Waller
Political Academic

Matilda (1154)
Bethany Moore
Historian

Henry II (1154-1189)
Theo Barclay
Barrister & Historian

Richard the Lionheart (1189-1199)
Dan Jones
Historian

John (1199-1216)
Nick Thomas-Symonds
Labour MP

Louis (1216)
Catherine Hanley
Historian

Henry III (1216-1272)
Sharon Bennett Connolly
Historian

Edward I (1272-1307)
John Barnes
Political Historian

Edward II (1307-1327)
Nigel Fletcher
Historian

Edward III (1327-1377)
Mark Fox
Writer & Commentator

Richard II (1377-1399)
Adam Lake
Public Affairs Consultant

Henry IV (1399-1413)
Christoher Given-Wilson
Historian

Henry V (1413-1422)
Lauren MacKay
Historian

Henry VI (1422-1461)
Josh Provan
Historian

Edward IV (1461-1483)
Charlotte Gauthier
Historian

Edward V (1483)
Chris Skidmore
Conservative MP

Richard III (1483-1485)
Matthew Lewis
Historian

Henry VII (1485-1509)
Nathen Amin
Historian

Henry VIII (1509-1547)
David Starkey
Historian & Broadcaster

Edward VI (1547-1553)
Elizabeth Norton
Historian

Lady Jane Grey (1553)
Nicola Tallis
Historian

Mary I (1553-1558)
Tim Stanley
Columnist, Daily Telegraph

Elizabeth I (1558-1603)
Anna Whitelock
Historian

James I (1603-1625)
Steven Verappen
Historian

Charles I (1625-1649)
Leanda de Lisle
Historian

Oliver Cromwell (1649-1658)
Miranda Malins
Historian

Richard Cromwell (1658-1660)
Kirsteen Mackenzie
Historian

Charles II (1660-1685)
Charlotte White
Historian

James II (1685-1688)
Gareth Russell
Historian

William & Mary (1689-1702)
Bim Afolami
Conservative MP

Anne (1702-1714)
Kate Mansey
Royal Correspondent, Mail on Sunday

George I (1714-1727)
Lewis Goodall
Political Correspondent, BBC Newsnight

George II (1727-1760)
Robert Buckland
Conservative MP

George III (1760-1820)
Jeremy Black
Historian

George IV (1820-1830)
Carolyn Day
Historian

William IV (1830-1837)
John Van der Kiste
Historian & Biographer

Victoria (1837-1901)
Alexandra Churchill
Co-presenter, The Great History Hack podcast

Edward VII (1901-1910)
Camilla Tominey
Assistant Editor, Daily Telegraph

George V (1910-1936)
Simon Heffer
Historian & Columnist, Sunday Telegraph

Edward VIII (1936-1936)
Damian Collins
Conservative MP & Historian

George VI (1936-1952)
Jane Ridley
Historian

Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
Julia Langdon
Biographer & Journalist

King Charles III (2022-)
Shelagh Fogarty
Broadcaster