The king or queen is the title given to the head of a kingdom. Throughout history, kings and queens who sat on thrones have been endowed with great authority and have had the ability to alter the course of their nation. Taking a broad view of the British monarchy, British Kings and Queens explains what a monarchy is, how it operates, and who holds the throne. It also examines fifteen significant monarchs whose deeds had an impact on the authority and position of the country's current king or queen.