Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee

An Epically Short History of Our Kings and Queens

Charlie Higson, Jim Moir

• Publisher: Mudlark
• Year: 2025
• Print ISBN:
  9780008741068
  9780008798512
• eBook ISBN:
  9780008741075
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Historical Biographies
• Index: History

A Waterstones Best History Book 2025

A BBC History Magazine Book of the Year 2025

'Learned, entertaining and highly approachable' BOB MORTIMER

'A treat' ALICE LOXTON

'Five stars from me…' AL MURRAY

An unmissable collaboration between two comedy legends – an irresistible, family-friendly deep dive into the murky lives of the British monarchy.

Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee, Harry, Dick, John, Harry three. One, two, three Neds, Richard Two, Henries, four, five, six, then who?

Charlie Higson has always been fascinated by the story of the monarchy: from the b*stardly to the benevolent, the brilliant to the brutal. In this wonderful new book, using the famous rhyme he learned at school as his trusty guide, Charlie takes us through the history of this bizarre and long-lasting institution, introducing readers to every single ruler since poor Harold got it in the eye at the Battle of Hastings (or did he?).

Who were all these people, and what did they do? It's all here. Bloody treachery? Check. Unruly incest? Check. A couple of Cromwells? Check. The War of Jenkins Ear? Sadly, for Robert Jenkins, check.

A rip-roaring journey that takes in the Normans, Plantagenets, Tudors, Stuarts, Hanoverians and Windsors, not to mention the infamous Blois (how can we forget them?), Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee is an utterly engrossing and grossly entertaining guide to who ruled when and whether they were any good at it.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright
• Note to Readers
• Dedication
• Contents
• A Note on the Illustrations
• Introduction
• 1 Willie – William I
• 2 Willie (Again) – William II
• 3 Harry – Henry I
• 4 Stee – King Stephen
• 5 Harry – Henry II
• 6 Dick – Richard I
• 7 John – King John
• 8 Harry 3 – Henry III
• 9 1–2–3 Neds (#I) – Edward I
• 10 1–2–3 Neds (#II) – Edward II
• 11 1–2–3 Neds (#III) – Edward III
• 12 Richard 2 – Richard II
• 13 Henrys 4, 5, 6 (#IV) – Henry IV
• 14 Henrys 4, 5, 6 (#V) – Henry V
• 15 Henrys 4, 5, 6 (#VI) – Henry VI
• 16 Then who? Edwards 4-5 (#IV) – Edward IV
• 17 Then who? Edwards 4-5 (#V) – Edward V
• 18 Dick the Bad – Richard III
• 19 Harrys Twain (#I) – Henry VII
• 20 Harrys Twain (#II) – Henry VIII)
• 21 And Ned the Lad – Edward VI
• 22 Mary – Mary I
• 23 Bessie – Elizabeth I
• 24 James the Vain – James VI of Scotland/James I of England
• 25 Charlie (#1) – Charles I
• 26 The Interregnum – Oliver Cromwell and Richard Cromwell
• 27 Charlie (#2) – Charles II
• 28 James Again – James II (and VII)
• 29 William & Mary – William III and Mary II
• 30 Anna Gloria – Queen Anne
• 31 4 Georges (#I) – George I
• 32 4 Georges (#II) – George II
• 33 4 Georges (#III) – George III
• 34 4 Georges (#IV) – George IV
• 35 William – William IV
• 36 And Victoria – Queen Victoria
• 37 Edward … – Edward VII
• 38 George … – George V
• 39 Then Ned the 8th Quickly Goes and Abdicat’th – Edward VIII
• 40 Leaving George 6 – George VI
• 41 Then Lizzie 2 – Elizabeth II
• 42 With Charlie Next to See Us Through – Charles III
• Acknowledgements
• Picture Section
• Also by Charlie Higson
• About the Publisher