Memorable Monarchs

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     Today's royal family, the Wİndsors, have a family tree that goes back to the eleventh century. The function of the monarchy has changed much over the 300 years - today Britain is as a constitutional monarchy, which means that the government rules the country in the Queen's name. There is even a debate about whether Britain now needs its monarchy. However ther is no doubt that Britain'S kings and queens have had a huge influence on British history and identity.Here are three particularly memorable monarchs.

EDWARD VIII

As prince of whales, Edward fought during World War One. He was worried by the revolutions at the end of the war when Germany and Russia lost their kings. Edward realised that the monarchy had to be close to the nation to survive. During the economy crisis of the 1930s he worked to help the unemployed. When he finally became king in 1936, he was perhaps the most popular monarch in British history But he was also in love with an American woman, Wallis Simpson, who was still married. The government presented Edward with an ultimatum - either the throne or Mrs Simpson. On December II 1936 Edward shocked the nation by telling them that he had abdicated. He had been king for less than eleven months. Edward married Mrs Simpson in 1937 and the couple spent the rest of their lives abroad.


ELIZABETH I
When Elizabeth became Queen in 1558, Englan was a weak, divided country. But during the 45 years she was in power, Elizabeth brought her nation together and England's position became stronger. It was a golden age - the age of Shakespeare and the voyages of discovery. Elizabeth was not a beautiful woman. -she started going bald when she was quite young - but she had a nagnetic personality and chose talented men to be her ministers. She once said that although she had the body of a woman, she had the heart of and stomach of a king. Elizabeth never married - she used to say that her love affair was with the nation.


GEORGE IV




The beginning of the 19th century was an exciting time in Britain. İndustry was growing and every year brought new technological innovations. There was a revolution in the arts too - this was the era of the Romantic poets and writers. It's a pitty that one of the most hopeless kings in British history sat on the throne at the time. During the decade he ruled, he became famous for spending public money to support his expensive habits. He often didn't get up until six in the evening and was so large that he needed five men and special ladder to help him get onto his horse. In fact, his reputation was so awful that British people booed and laughed at him when he appeared in public.

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