Excerpt
Chapter 1: So You Want to Be Royal?
Not every person who wears a crown is the boss of a country. Some kings and queens today spend more time opening schools, meeting world leaders, and waving from balconies than making laws or commanding armies. Others had to make huge decisions about wars, taxes, or whether people could eat meat on certain days. Being a king or queen can mean very different things depending on when and where you lived—or still live.
The words “king” and “queen” get used a lot, even outside of history. You’ve probably heard them in fairy tales, on playing cards, or even in chess. They show up in movies wearing glittery robes and sitting on golden thrones. But what does it actually mean to be a king or queen?
A king or queen is a person who holds a special title that gives them power over a group of people—usually a country or a big piece of land. That title can be passed down through family or, once in a while, given to someone chosen in a different way. But having a crown isn’t just about looking fancy. It’s about leadership—whether that means making tough choices or representing a country with pride and responsibility.
The idea of having just one person in charge might seem strange if you’re used to presidents, elections, and voting. In many places today, leaders are picked by the people through elections. That means anyone could grow up to become a leader. In a monarchy, it usually works differently. The role of king or queen often stays in the family, passed down like a royal hand-me-down from parent to child.
This system can feel very official. There are rules about who gets the crown next, sometimes based on who was born first, or even if you’re a boy or girl. Some royal families have changed those rules over time to be more fair, but for a long time, the idea of being “royal” meant being born into it. No applications. No interviews. Just a big responsibility handed to you whether you wanted it or not.
That doesn’t mean kings and queens just sit around while everyone else does the hard work. In some parts of history, a monarch was expected to lead armies into battle, solve arguments between powerful lords, or make huge choices that affected millions of people. They were more than just figureheads—they were the center of life in the kingdom.
But not all kings or queens had the same kind of power. Some ruled with total control, while others shared responsibilities with councils, parliaments, or elected leaders. A king in one country might have been feared, while a queen in another was loved like a grandmother by her people. Leadership style, personality, and the laws of the land all made a difference.
Now here’s where things get tricky—and a little more interesting. Being royal doesn’t always mean being in charge. In places like the United Kingdom, the queen or king is a symbol of the country, but they don’t actually run it. They don’t get to make laws, arrest people, or tell everyone what to do. That’s left to the government. In those countries, the monarch’s job is to represent the nation at important events and keep traditions alive.
But long ago, kings and queens had real, serious power. They could raise taxes, start wars, or even decide who could speak in public. Their word was law, and sometimes people believed they were chosen by the gods or even part-god themselves. That kind of belief gave them a lot of authority.
Of course, not everyone thought this was a great idea. Some monarchs used their power selfishly, hurting their people or taking more than they needed. Others tried to rule fairly but had to deal with arguments, betrayals, and rebellions. Leading a kingdom wasn’t all sparkly crowns and banquets—it could be exhausting, dangerous, and lonely.
Still, there were kings and queens who worked hard to protect their people, who listened to advisors, and who made their kingdoms stronger and safer. These monarchs understood that ruling wasn’t just about being in charge—it was about caring for others and doing what was best for everyone, not just themselves.
And here’s something else you might not have thought about: kings and queens didn’t do everything alone. They had helpers—sometimes called advisors or ministers—who knew about different things like farming, money, fighting, or building. Good monarchs paid attention to those helpers. Bad ones ignored them—and that usually didn’t go well.
Some monarchs even took advice from the regular people in their kingdom, especially when there was big trouble, like food shortages or disease. Listening wasn’t just polite—it helped them understand the real problems and make better choices. Of course, some refused to listen to anyone and acted like they were the smartest person alive. That didn’t usually end in a happily-ever-after.
Another part of being a king or queen was setting an example. People looked up to their monarch. If a king was generous and kind, his people might try to be that way, too. If a queen was brave and stood up for what was right, her kingdom might follow. Royal behavior could shape an entire country’s beliefs about what was important.
But power also came with pressure. Everyone was always watching—what you wore, how you spoke, who you married, even how your kids acted. A single mistake could cause trouble not just for the monarch, but for the whole kingdom. And if a ruler made too many mistakes, their people might stop trusting them—or worse.
In some kingdoms, when a ruler lost the support of their people, they could be removed from power. Sometimes that meant giving up the throne peacefully. Other times, it meant being forced out or even imprisoned. A crown didn’t always guarantee safety.
That’s why many monarchs were taught from a young age how to act in public, how to speak clearly, how to make good choices, and how to handle emergencies. Even royal children were expected to learn things like history, languages, and military skills—not just for fun, but because they were expected to use them one day.
The truth is, being a king or queen wasn’t just about ruling over others. It was about knowing how to handle responsibility, learning when to speak and when to listen, and trying to make choices that helped more than they hurt. That kind of leadership takes more than a fancy crown. It takes heart, brains, and a strong sense of what’s right.
Not every person who wears a crown is the boss of a country. Some kings and queens today spend more time opening schools, meeting world leaders, and waving from balconies than making laws or commanding armies. Others had to make huge decisions about wars, taxes, or whether people could eat meat on certain days. Being a king or queen can mean very different things depending on when and where you lived—or still live.
The words “king” and “queen” get used a lot, even outside of history. You’ve probably heard them in fairy tales, on playing cards, or even in chess. They show up in movies wearing glittery robes and sitting on golden thrones. But what does it actually mean to be a king or queen?
A king or queen is a person who holds a special title that gives them power over a group of people—usually a country or a big piece of land. That title can be passed down through family or, once in a while, given to someone chosen in a different way. But having a crown isn’t just about looking fancy. It’s about leadership—whether that means making tough choices or representing a country with pride and responsibility.
The idea of having just one person in charge might seem strange if you’re used to presidents, elections, and voting. In many places today, leaders are picked by the people through elections. That means anyone could grow up to become a leader. In a monarchy, it usually works differently. The role of king or queen often stays in the family, passed down like a royal hand-me-down from parent to child.
This system can feel very official. There are rules about who gets the crown next, sometimes based on who was born first, or even if you’re a boy or girl. Some royal families have changed those rules over time to be more fair, but for a long time, the idea of being “royal” meant being born into it. No applications. No interviews. Just a big responsibility handed to you whether you wanted it or not.
That doesn’t mean kings and queens just sit around while everyone else does the hard work. In some parts of history, a monarch was expected to lead armies into battle, solve arguments between powerful lords, or make huge choices that affected millions of people. They were more than just figureheads—they were the center of life in the kingdom.
But not all kings or queens had the same kind of power. Some ruled with total control, while others shared responsibilities with councils, parliaments, or elected leaders. A king in one country might have been feared, while a queen in another was loved like a grandmother by her people. Leadership style, personality, and the laws of the land all made a difference.
Now here’s where things get tricky—and a little more interesting. Being royal doesn’t always mean being in charge. In places like the United Kingdom, the queen or king is a symbol of the country, but they don’t actually run it. They don’t get to make laws, arrest people, or tell everyone what to do. That’s left to the government. In those countries, the monarch’s job is to represent the nation at important events and keep traditions alive.
But long ago, kings and queens had real, serious power. They could raise taxes, start wars, or even decide who could speak in public. Their word was law, and sometimes people believed they were chosen by the gods or even part-god themselves. That kind of belief gave them a lot of authority.
Of course, not everyone thought this was a great idea. Some monarchs used their power selfishly, hurting their people or taking more than they needed. Others tried to rule fairly but had to deal with arguments, betrayals, and rebellions. Leading a kingdom wasn’t all sparkly crowns and banquets—it could be exhausting, dangerous, and lonely.
Still, there were kings and queens who worked hard to protect their people, who listened to advisors, and who made their kingdoms stronger and safer. These monarchs understood that ruling wasn’t just about being in charge—it was about caring for others and doing what was best for everyone, not just themselves.
And here’s something else you might not have thought about: kings and queens didn’t do everything alone. They had helpers—sometimes called advisors or ministers—who knew about different things like farming, money, fighting, or building. Good monarchs paid attention to those helpers. Bad ones ignored them—and that usually didn’t go well.
Some monarchs even took advice from the regular people in their kingdom, especially when there was big trouble, like food shortages or disease. Listening wasn’t just polite—it helped them understand the real problems and make better choices. Of course, some refused to listen to anyone and acted like they were the smartest person alive. That didn’t usually end in a happily-ever-after.
Another part of being a king or queen was setting an example. People looked up to their monarch. If a king was generous and kind, his people might try to be that way, too. If a queen was brave and stood up for what was right, her kingdom might follow. Royal behavior could shape an entire country’s beliefs about what was important.
But power also came with pressure. Everyone was always watching—what you wore, how you spoke, who you married, even how your kids acted. A single mistake could cause trouble not just for the monarch, but for the whole kingdom. And if a ruler made too many mistakes, their people might stop trusting them—or worse.
In some kingdoms, when a ruler lost the support of their people, they could be removed from power. Sometimes that meant giving up the throne peacefully. Other times, it meant being forced out or even imprisoned. A crown didn’t always guarantee safety.
That’s why many monarchs were taught from a young age how to act in public, how to speak clearly, how to make good choices, and how to handle emergencies. Even royal children were expected to learn things like history, languages, and military skills—not just for fun, but because they were expected to use them one day.
The truth is, being a king or queen wasn’t just about ruling over others. It was about knowing how to handle responsibility, learning when to speak and when to listen, and trying to make choices that helped more than they hurt. That kind of leadership takes more than a fancy crown. It takes heart, brains, and a strong sense of what’s right.