A History of Royal Britain in 100 Objects

Over 1000 years of royal history told through 100 fascinating objects.

From the glory of coronation regalia to coins, from imposing statues to stamps, from distinguished medals to monuments, and from beautiful artworks to Edward VIII's abdication document, each item in this book has a fascinating story to tell. 

Ordered chronologically by monarch, from Alfred the Great to Queen Elizabeth II, this fully illustrated book takes a regal journey through the centuries. Discover the significance of each object – some famous, others more obscure – and how the royal ruler connected to it shaped the course of history in this celebration of the British monarchy.

Featured are William I's eleventh century survey, more famously known as The Domesday Book; the world's first ever postage stamp, the Penny Black, with a cameo-style portrait of Queen Victoria; Edward VIII's abdication document; the written birth announcement of Queen Elizabeth II, placed outside Buckingham Palace as per royal custom; and many more.



Gill Knappett is an author and editor with a wealth of experience in writing about the Royal Family and the history of British Royalty. She is the author of The Crown's Royal Britain, Charles and The Princess of Cambridge. She has worked on many Pitkin guidebooks for more than 20 years, specialising in royal titles and many of Britain's best-loved places to visit.



871–1154







Statue of a Great Monarch 12







Jewelled Aestel 14







King and Saint Illuminated 16







Coronation Glass 18







Stone for a Martyred King 20







Medieval Chronicle 22







Essex Village Sign 24







Mortuary Chest for an Anglo-







Saxon Ruler 26







Coins of the Realm 28







'Double, double toil and trouble . . .' 30







Shrine for a Pious King 32







Honoured in Glass: Queen Consort







and Saint 34







Battle Stone for a King 36







Conqueror's Coronation 38







Eleventh-Century Survey 40







Conqueror's Castle 42







New Forest Memorial 44







Royal Seal of Approval 46







A King, a Stag and the Founding of







an Abbey 48







A Castle, a Prison... and an Escape 50







 







1154–1485







A King's Penance 52







Heraldic Lions on the Royal







Coat of Arms 54







Great Charter 56







Statue of a Great Welsh Prince 58







Wriothesley Manuscript 60







Knights Templar Tombs 62







Birthplace of the First Prince of Wales 64







Cross for a Queen Consort 66







Scone's Historic Stone 68







Statue of a Scottish Hero 70







Bruce's Celebrated Battle 72







Tomb of a Murdered King 74







Knights of the Garter Banners 76







A King Invades Ireland 78







Ancient Survivor of the Palace of Westminster 80







A Royal Couple at Eternal Rest 82







Statue of a Legendary Welsh Prince 84







England's Victory at Agincourt 86







Shakespeare's Heroic Prince Hal 88







Royal Coat of Arms at King's College 90







Cathedral Library's Illuminated







Manuscript 92







Letter From an Exiled King 94







Princes in the Tower 96







Tomb of a Crookback King 98







Title Page of a Tragedy 100







 







1485–1603







Remembering the Battle of Bosworth 102







Rose Window 104







Monument to a Popular Scottish King 106







The Field of Cloth of Gold 108







First of Six Wives 110







A Stewart King's Fountain 112







Crown of Scotland 114







Tragic Queen's Last Letter 116







Portrait of the Royal Family 118







Memorial to the Executed 120







Silver Coin of a Royal Couple 122







Miniature of the Virgin Queen 124







Victory Over the Spanish Armada 126







A United Flag 128







Tulip Stairs in a Queen's House 130







Rubens's Ceiling 132







A King's Death Warrant 134







Coronation Chair 136







Survivor of Coronation Regalia







Destruction 138







A King's Hiding Place 140







St Edward's Crown 142







Battle of the Boyne 144







 







1689–1714







Wind Dial for a King 146







A Puzzling Maze 148







Queen in a Gilded Crown 150







Order of the Bath 152







Battle of Dettingen 154







Over the Sea to Skye... 156







Buckingham House 158







Pinnacles of a Seaside Palace 160







An Uncomfortable Golden Carriage 162







New London Bridge Poster 164







World's First Postage Stamp 166







Christening of a Princess Royal 168







Royal Bathing Machine 170







Monument to a Beloved Consort 172







State Landau 174







 







1910–present







First World War Letter 176







Gift from a King to his Queen 178







Photograph of an Historic Broadcast 180







One Photograph, One Queen, Three







Future Kings 182







Instrument of Abdication 184







Coronation Souvenir 186







King's Medal for a Home Guard 188







Tradition on a Palace Balcony 190







Royal Birth Announcement 192







Coronation Gown 194







Royal Cypher 196







Maundy Money 198







Red Despatch Box 200







Commonwealth Stamp 202







Royal Standard 204







Royal Warrant: Prince of Wales Badge 206







Northern Irish Castle's Portrait of a







Future King 208







Engagement Ring from a Future King 210