In William Shakespeare's, Richard II, II, I: we have the quote: "This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle ... This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England, This nurse, this teeming womb of royal kings, Fear'd by their breed and famous by their birth." Thus this quote seems to say that it is difficult to separate the history and culture of Great Britain from the personalities, politics, and policies of its monarchs.

Who can imagine the Church of England without Henry VIII (and his wives), the English Renaissance without Elizabeth I (or Shakespeare's plays without the Wars of the Roses), the American War for Independence without George III, the British Empire without Queen Victoria, or contemporary royal roles without Prince William?

By listening to some British experts on the monarchy; by studying historical, artistic, and literary portraits of the kings and queens; by visiting palaces, castles, educational institutions, and churches associated with royal rule, one can focus on and note ways that the English monarchy has shaped political, social, economic, religious, and intellectual developments in Great Britain from the Anglo-Saxons to the present.

Keeping the above idea in mind, the words from Richard II, Act II, scene I provide great clarity about the English monarchy and its role in English history.

More Info: blogs.spectator.co.uk