The Kings and Queens podcast

Elizabeth II (1952-2022) ruled for 70 years, the second longest verifiably recorded reign of any monarch in world history behind Louis XIV. For 4 out of 5 Brits, she was the only monarch they had ever known. In a reign that was characterised by a redefinition of monarchy and empire. She offered calmness, reassurance, comfort, leadership and perspective over perhaps the most significant period of social, economic and technological change of any reign in British history. Despite the challenges of modern perspectives around the principles and practicalities of monarchy her adaptability and strong sense of civic duty ensured its survival.

Elizabeth II - Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms (1952-2022)

Prince Philip - Duke of Edinburgh, Consort of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms (1952-2021)

George VI - King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions (1936-52), Emperor of India (1936-47), father of Elizabeth

Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon - Queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions (1936-52), Empress of India (1936-47), mother of Elizabeth

Edward VII - King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India (1936), uncle of ElizabethGeorge V - King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India (1910-36), grandfather of Elizabeth

Mary of Teck - Queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India (1910-36), grandmother of Elizabeth

Princess Margaret - sister of Elizabeth

Prince Charles - eldest son of Elizabeth and heir

Princess Anne - daughter of Elizabeth

Prince Andrew - son of Elizabeth

Prince Edward - son of Elizabeth

Prince William - son of Charles and Diana, grandson of Elizabeth

Prince Harry - son of Charles and Diana, grandson of Elizabeth

Princess Diana - first wife of Charles

Camilla Parker-Bowles - second wife of Charles

Marion Crawford - governess to Elizabeth and Margaret

Cosmo Lang - Archbishop of Canterbury

Winston Churchill - Prime Minister 1940-45, 51-55

Anthony Eden - Prime Minister 1955-57Harold MacMillan - Prime Minister 1957-63Alec Douglas-Home - Prime Minister 1963-64

Margaret Thatcher - Prime Minister 1979-1990

Tony Blair - Prime Minister 1997-2007

Liz Truss - Prime Minister 2022

Michael Fagan - Buckingham Palace intruder

Credits

Jerusalem - Hubert Parry, Edward Elgar

A Moonlit Night On The Spring RiverZadok The Priest - George Friedrich Handel

We Wait For Thy Loving Kindness - William McKie

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George VI (1936-52) led Britain through one of the most consequential periods in world history. His modest and undramatic style of rule in stark contrast to the controversy and drama which surrounded the short reign of his brother was required to guide Britain through the Second World War and the death of the British Empire. He was a steady hand, who overcame his own personal limitations and won the respect of the British people.

Characters

George VI - King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions (1936-52), Emperor of India (1936-47)

Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon - Queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions (1936-52), Empress of India (1936-47)

Edward VII - King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India (1936), brother of GeorgeGeorge V - King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India (1910-36), father of George

Edward VII - King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India (1901-10), grandfather of George

Victoria - Queen of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions (1837-1901) and Empress of India (1876-1901), Great-grandmother of George

Mary of Teck - Queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India (1910-36), mother of George

Wallis Simpson - Wife of Edward VIII

Princess Elizabeth - elder daughter of George and Elizabeth

Princess Margaret - younger daughter of George and Elizabeth

Prince Philip - husband of Princess Elizabeth

Prime Ministers

Stanley Baldwin (1935-37)Neville Chamberlain (1937-40)

Winston Churchill (1940-45, 1951-55)

Clement Attlee (1945-51)

Aneurin Bevan - Labour Minister of Health, co-founder of the NHS

Duff Cooper - anti-appeasement Conservative politician 

Alec Hardinge - Private Secretary of George VI

Lionel Logue - Australian speech therapist

Freda Dudley Ward - Edward VIII’s former mistress

Phyllis Monkman - George’s former love interest

Sheila Chisholm - George’s former mistress

Cosmo Lang - Archbishop of Canterbury

Adolf Hitler - Fuhrer of Germany (1934-45)

Benito Mussolini - Dictator of Italy (1922-43)

Richard Grigg - Historian

Credits

Wenn die Soldaten

I was glad Hubert Parry

King Oliver s Jazz Band

The Planets - Jupiter - Gustav Holst

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Edward VIII (1936) ruled for 325 days, the shortest reign of any English monarch since Lady Jane Grey in the 16th century. The first monarch to abdicate since James II in 1688 and the first to do so voluntarily. The abdication crisis shook the British establishment to its core. His connections to Nazi Germany has undoubtedly shrouded his life in ignominy. Even after the war, he was known to describe Hitler as ‘not such a bad chap’. Shunned by the royal family for the crisis he had created and for putting private desire above public duty. It could also have been because they knew, unlike the country, that he was a traitor.

Characters

Edward VIII - King of the United Kingdom and British Dominions. Emperor of India (1936). Duke of Windsor (1937-72)

Wallis Simpson - Duchess of Windsor (1937-86), wife of Edward 

George V - King of the United Kingdom and British Dominions. Emperor of India (1910-36), father of Edward VIII and George VI

Mary of Teck - Queen consort of the United Kingdom and British Dominions. Empress of India (1910-36), mother of Edward VIII and George VI

George VI - King of the United Kingdom and British Dominions (1936-52). Emperor of India (1936-47). Younger brother of Edward. 

Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon - Queen consort of the United Kingdom and British Dominions (1936-52. Empress of India (1936-47). Wife of George VI

Queen Victoria - Queen of the United Kingdom (1837-1901), great-grandmother of Edward

Edward VII - King of the United Kingdom (1901-10), grandfather of Edward

Herbert Warren - Edward’s tutor and President of Magdalen college, Oxford

Lord Kitchener - Secretary of War

Cosmo Lang - Archbishop of Canterbury

Alec Hardinge - Private Secretary to the Sovereign 

Louis Mountbatten - British Statesman and friend of Edward

David Lloyd George - Leader of the Liberal Party, Prime Minister (1916-22)

Stanley Baldwin - Leader of the Conservative Party, Prime Minister (1935-37)

Winston Churchill - Leader of the Conservative Party, Prime Minister (1940-45, 51-55)

Clement Attlee - Leader of the Labour Party, Prime Minister (1945-51)

Anthony Eden - Foreign Secretary, Prime Minister (1955-57)

Winifred Dudley Ward - mistress of Edward 

Thelma Furness - mistress of Edward

Ernest Simpson - husband of Wallis (1928-37)

Lord Rothermere - media mogul, founder of the Daily Mail

Lord Beaverbrook - owner of the Daily Express

Oswald Mosley - leader of the British Union of Fascists

Ricardo Espirito Santo - Portuguese banker and associate of Edward

Adolf Hitler - Chancellor of Germany (1933-45), Fuhrer (1934-45)

Joseph Goebbels - Reichminister of Propaganda

Hermann Goering - Reichsmarschall and leading Nazi figure

Joachim von Ribbentrop - German ambassador to the United Kingdom, Reichminister of Foreign Affairs, Wallis Simpson’s lover.

Credits

Pomp and Circumstance No. 3Erika (German Soldier’s song)

When Eliza Rolls Her Eyes

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George V's reign (1910-36) stretched across perhaps the most tumultuous period in world history. It saw the bloodiest war to date, the financial markets melt and the rise of fascism and communism

His calm, dutiful leadership would be put to the test, the British monarchy faced perhaps its biggest existential threat as Europe faced unparalleled political and social change. 

Characters

George V - King of the United Kingdom and the British dominions, Emperor of India (1910-36)

Mary of Teck - Queen of the United Kingdom and the British dominions, Empress of India (1910-36)

Edward VII - Father of George, King (1901-10)

Alexandra of Denmark - mother of George, Queen consort (1901-10)

Albert ‘Eddy’ - brother of George

Victoria - Grandmother of George, Queen (1837-01)

Albert - Grandfather of George, Prince consort (1837-61)

David - eldest son of George and future Edward VIII

Bertie - younger son of George and future George VII

John Neale Dalton - tutor

Emmeline Pankhurst - leader of the Suffragette movement

Emily Davison - Suffragette killed during the 1913 Derby

Edward Carson - Irish Unionist politician

Bertrand Edward Dawson - George’s physician

Winston Churchill - Minister of Munitions, First Lord of the Admiralty, Chancellor of the Exchequer

Field Marshal John French - Commander-in-chief of the British Expeditionary Force

Field Marshal Douglas Haig - Commander of the Expeditionary Force on the Western Front

Lord Kitchener - Secretary of State for War

Tsar Alexander III - Emperor of Russia (1881-94)

Tsar Nicholas II - Emperor of Russia (1894-1917), cousin of George 

Kaiser Wilhelm II - Emperor of Germany (1888-1918), cousin of George

Archduke Franz Ferdinand - heir presumptive to the throne of Austria-Hungary

Gavrilo Princip - Serbian nationalist and Franz Ferdinand’s assassin

Prime Ministers

Herbert Asquith - 1908-16

David Lloyd George - 1916-22

Andrew Bonar Law - 1922-23

Stanley Baldwin - 1923-24, 24-29, 35-37

Ramsey MacDonald - 1924, 1929-35

Pomp and Circumstance no. 4

The Last Post

Wo alle Straßen enden

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Politips host Ed Castel deep dives into the remarkable reign

Who were the Anglo-Saxons?

What were the seven kingdoms and how did the deal with

How are sources found?

The reign of Athelstan: his rise and consolidation of power,

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Email - [email protected]

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It was a real privilege to interview Ben Kane.

Initially well known for his excellent trilogies set in ancient Rome including the Forgotten Legion and the Spartacus series. More recently he has ventured into medieval England with his Lionheart series focussing on the reign of Richard I of England. His most recent book is set in the Napoleonic era.

You can follow Ben on twitter - @BenKaneAuthor or on his website benkane.net

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/poli-tips

In the words of the Edward VII (1901-1910) ‘I don’t mind praying to the Eternal Father, but I must be the only man in the country afflicted with an eternal mother. He had to wait 59 years to become king. Though only 9 years, the king also lent his name to an era. The Edwardian era was distinct in its social and cultural change with a rejection of certain Victorian values. The era saw significant social mobility, reform yet also hedonism. In the words of W. B. Yeats ‘everybody got down off their stilts.' He was perhaps the final monarch to hold true political power. The power and influence was held over the great monarchs of Europe, his relatives, who would soon succumb to republicanism, to socialism and to war.

Politips for A-Level and Beyond https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/poli-tips

Characters

Edward VII ‘Bertie’ – King of the United Kingdom and British Dominions, Emperor of India (1901-10)
Alexandra of Denmark – Queen consort of the United Kingdom and British Dominions, Empress consort of India (1901-10)
Victoria – Queen of the United Kingdom and British Dominions (1837-1901, Emperor of India (1876-1901), mother of Edward
Prince Albert – Consort of the British monarch (1840-61), father of Edward
Victoria, Princess Royal – German Empress consort, sister of Edward
Prince Albert ‘Eddie’ – eldest son of Edward and Alexandra
Prince George – second eldest son of Edward and Alexandra and heir apparent.
Mary of Teck – former fiancé of Eddie and wife of Prince George.

Canon Birch – tutor of Edward
Frederick Gibbs – tutor of Edward

Frederick Johnstone – close university friend ofEdward
Henry Chaplin ‘Magnifico’ – close university friend of Edward

Mistresses and alleged mistresses

Nellie Clifden
Harriet Mordaunt
Daisy Greville
Lady Aylesford
Alice Keppel
Lady Randolph Churchill – mother of Winston Churchill

Charles Mordaunt – husband of Harriet
Randolph Churchill – father of Winston Churchill
Lord Blandford
Lord Aylesford

Prime Ministers

Joseph Chamberlain – Conservative MP, Colonial secretary under Balfour
David Lloyd-George – Liberal MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer under Asquith

Winston Churchill – Liberal MP, Trade Secretary and Home Secretary under Asquith
Keir Hardie – Founder of the Labour party

Lord Kitchener – British commander during the Boer War

Joseph Lister – British surgeon and medical scientist

Social reformers

Charles Booth

Credits

Land of Hope and Glory – Edward Elgar
Egyptian Fantasy – Sucre d’Orge Burlesque
Gilbert & Sullivan – Cow and Box
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On the death of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), Arthur Balfour wrote, ‘I suppose that, in all the history of the British Monarchy, there never has been a case in which the feeling of national grief was so deep-seated as it is at present, so universal, so spontaneous. And that grief affects us not merely because we have lost a great personality, but because we feel that the end of a great epoch has come upon us—an epoch the beginning of which stretches beyond the memory, I suppose, of any individual whom I am now addressing, and which embraces within its compass sixty-three years, more important, more crowded with epoch-making change, than almost any other period of like length that could be selected in the history of the world.’

Characters

Queen Victoria – Queen of the United Kingdom and Ireland (1837-1901)
Prince Albert – Prince Consort of the United Kingdom and Ireland (1837-61)
Prince Edward (Bertie) – Duke of Edinburgh, son of Victoria and Albert, heir apparent
Duchess of Kent – mother of Victoria
Prince Edward, duke of Kent – father of Victoria

Previous Kings of the United Kingdom and Ireland

George III –1760-1820
George IV – 1820-30
William IV – 1830-37

John Conroy – comptroller to the duchess of Kent
Louise Lehzen – governess of the Victoria’s household
Feodore – Victoria’s half-sister
Leopold I – King of Belgium

Ernest Augustus – King ofHanover, uncle of Victoria

Prime Ministers

Lord Melbourne – 1835-41
Robert Peel – 1841-46
John Russell – 1846-52, 65-66
Earl of Derby – 1846-52, 66-68
Earl of Aberdeen – 1852-55, 58-59
Lord Palmerston – 1855-58, 59-65
Benjamin Disraeli – 1868, 74-80
William Gladstone – 1868-74, 80-85, 86, 92-94
Earl of Rosebury – 1894-95
Lord Salisbury – 1885-86, 86-92, 95-02
Arthur Balfour – 1902-05

Flora Hastings – lady-in-waiting for the Duchess
John Snow – physician and leader in the development of anaesthesia
Mary Seacole – nurse who set up the ‘British Hotel’
Florence Nightingale – social reformer and founder of modern nursing

Credits

Cherry Ripe
Sail the Ocean Blue – HMS pinafore – Gilbert and Sullivan
Hallelujah – George Frideric Handel

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When William IV (1830-37) was a teenage sailor drinking and debauching his way across the empire alongside such esteemed friends as Horatio Nelson, no one expected that one day he would king. He was taught no royal graces or decorum, yet his time would come. He was described as unassuming and disinterested in pomp and as hard-working and conscientious. Despite a short rule, he would provide royal assent to some of the most significant acts in British history. He had political views and his lack of royal training meant; he would not be lightly brushed aside.

Characters

William IV – King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1830-37)

Horatio Nelson – British flag officer in the Royal Navy

William Wilberforce – leading abolitionist

George Canning – Prime Minister (1827)

John Nash - architect

Charles Greville – Diarist

George Washington – Commander-in-chief of the Continental army, 1stPresident of the United States

Credits

Beethoven’s 6th symphony ‘Pastorale’

Freesound.org and BBC sound effects

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I have started a new podcast with my teaching colleagues. Politips... Politics for A-Level and Beyond. Reviewing the biggest stories in the world of politics in the UK and the US. Give it a try - links below for more episodes.

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