Chronicle of the Royal Family is a unique and compelling record of the longest-surviving and best-loved royal family in the world. From Alfred the Great to Elizabeth II, kings and queens have shaped the destiny of the British Isles. The book recaptures the full, thrilling drama in the distinctive Chronicle style that brings history to life as never before.

          Lavishly illustrated throughout, Chronicle of the Royal Family reports events of the past as though they had just happened. It is a saga not simply of power struggles, political intrigues and the rise and fall of empire, but also of personal joy and tragedy, heroism and scandal. It is also right up to date (1991), highlighting the private and public lives of today’s royal family.

          From the death of Victoria after a 63-year reign, the book covers in details the heady days of the Edwardian era, the inspiring leadership of the monarchy through two world wars, and the 1936 abdication crisis – and it charts the reign of the present Queen from her accession in 1952. The achievements, sorrows and escapades of Elizabeth II’s children and grandchildren are examined with a fresh eye, including the Prince of Wales’s career as a king-in-waiting and the Princess of Wales’s extraordinary influence as a fashion icon.

          With unrivalled immediacy, Chronicle of the Royal Family allows the reader to relive the Roman and Norman invasions and the momentous eras of the Plantagenets, Tudors and Stuarts. It reveals the truth behind the legends of monarchs such as Macbeth, Richard III, Mary Queen of Scots and the "Mad" George III, and uncovers the secrets which kings and queens tried to keep from their contemporaries. The story of Scotland is told separately from that of England and Wales until the union of the crowns under James VI and I. Then, following the civil war, the restoration of Charles II and the "Glorious Revolution" the story is traced through the line of the Hanoverians to the House of Windsor.

          Special features of this book are a gazetteer detailing the principle palaces and royal residences, past and present, and a wallchart depicting the royal family trees of Great Britain from 840 to the present day.

          Chronicle of the Royal Family is a lively and authoritative work of reference for people pf all ages. It rekindles memories of great events and serves as a lasting celebration of one thousand years of royalty.