Royalty in England has a long history and venerable traditions. Over the centuries, wave after wave of conquerors rolled into the British Isles - the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Scandinavians and, finally, the Franco-Normans. They all brought with them their traditions and cultural influences, the fusion of which formed the unique whole that is now called Great Britain. Having survived centuries of external and internal wars, rebellions, coups and executions, the British monarchy learned to find a common language with different political forces, to respect the opinions of subjects of all classes and nations. The book by historian Vadim Erlikhman includes portraits of twelve British kings and queens based on documentary sources - from the legendary Arthur to the now reigning Elizabeth II. The author also briefly talks about the reign of all the other monarchs of England and Great Britain, starting with the unifier of the country - Egbert of Wessex. Reference materials, including lists of kings, are provided at the end of the book.