Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie......

Charles The 1st, a king so bad he got himself executed and almost finished the Monarchy off for good.

But, of course, the story isn't that simple. Luckily for us, Charlie Higson unpicks his life with the help of Leanda De Lisle, historian and author of Henrietta Maria, Conspirator, Warrior, Phoenix Queen.

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Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain.......

As we wave goodbye to the Tudors, we usher in the Stuarts for an episode of plotting, gunpowder or otherwise.

In the 'proper historians' chair this week, we welcome Clare Jackson, author of Devil-land - England Under Siege - 1588 to 1688 and who is currently writing a book on James VI & I

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In this special bonus episode of Charlie Higson's Personal History Of The Monarchy, he's joined by Suzannah Lipscomb, author of A Visitors Guide To Tudor England.

And what a visit that would be!

It was a time when life was precarious, London was smelly and the next plague was just around the corner!

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Once again, the 'Willy Willy' rhyme takes a back seat as Charlie Higson digs into the extraordinary life of Mary, Queen Of Scots.

Crowned Queen at 18 months old, made Queen Consort of France before being widowed at 18, her 2nd husband was murdered, her 3rd was one of the murderers! Oh and then she was imprisoned for 20 years before being executed.

No wonder so much has been written about her, including the book that spawned a Hollywood movie, 'My Heart Is My Own' by Charlie's guest John Guy.

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This special edition of Charlie Higson's meander through the Monarchy was recorded live at the Chalke Valley History Festival, back in May of 2023.

Joining Charlie, on an open air stage in front of a large audience, were historian and co-host of The Rest Is History podcast Tom Holland, Have I Got News For You regular and Private Eye editor Ian Hislop and historian Leanda De Lisle.

The topic of discussion? The Best & Worst Monarchs including thoughts from the panel, but also from the audience.

Find our more about the Chalke Valley History Festival here...https://cvhf.org.uk/

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Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie......

It's part 2 of the story of Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth I and there's a lot to fit in. Plots, suitors, even an Armada and she survives them all.

Joining Charlie Higson as he navigates her life is Tracy Borman, self confessed Elizabeth I super-fan and author of Elizabeth's Women: The Hidden Story of the Virgin Queen

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Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie......

Yes, in this episode, Charlie Higson uncovers the life of one of the best known of all the Monarchs, Queen Elizabeth I. And it's a long life, so long in fact that it requires 2 episodes to fit it all in.

In Part 1, Charlie takes us from her birth through to taking the throne, helped along by the welcome return of Tracy Borman author of Elizabeth's Women: The Hidden Story of the Virgin Queen

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Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary.......

Welcome to our first official Queen as Charlie Higson uncovers the life of Mary I, who, as we saw last episode, quickly saw off Lady Jane Grey before equally quickly seeing off the protestant reformation......for a while at least.

But was she really that 'bloody'? To help Charlie find out is his 'proper historian', Alexander Samson, author of Mary & Philip - The Marriage Of Tudor England & Hapsburg Spain

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Willy Willy Harry Stee..........actually, we'll stop there for this episode. The lady in question was Queen, but only for 9 days and apart from a small apologetic addendum at the end of some versions of the rhyme, Lady Jane Grey doesn't get a mention.

They say a week is a long time in politics. Well, it's nothing compared to 9 days in the Monarchy and as Charlie Higson discovers, her tale is a tragic one. She didn't even want to be Queen!

Joining him to unravel the tale is Helen Castor author of She-Wolves who returns for one last time to uncover a story of plotting, religious fanaticism and eventually, violence.

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Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad

Henry VIII's only legitimate son is crowned King at 9 years old and as Charlie Higson discovers, his should have been the perfect reign, but it will come as no surprise to find out that things didn't go according to plan.

Helping Charlie is this episodes proper historian, Stephen Alford who wrote about Edward for Penguin Books 'Monarch' series as well as authoring his highly acclaimed book 'The Watchers: A Secret History of the Reign of Elizabeth'

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