The Royal Family of the United Kingdom is one of the most instantly recognized institutions in the world. Since the current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, was crowned in 1952, it has undergone a huge amount of cultural and social change, but over the course of many decades the Royal Family has continued to play an important role in British society. The Royal Family Operations Manual, written by royal expert and correspondent Robert Jobson, offers a complete examination of a very British institution, looking behind the scenes at the current heirs of a kingdom that has been ruled nearly uninterruptedly by a monarch since 774AD. Chapters include explanations of the: Windsor bloodline, family tree and personalities Their royal residences, palaces and country retreats Military connections Charity work Annual engagements Royal finances, including facts and statistics on personal incomes, state salaries and business interests Births, marriages and deaths State ceremonies, such as the opening of parliament, the Christmas address, trooping the colours and the elaborate hosting of foreign dignitaries. The book also includes throughout fascinating behind the scenes details on staff, domestic rituals, personalities, pets, family gatherings and other inside information. Lavishly illustrated with photographs of the people, places and events of the past 150 years, this book makes a fitting celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign as she nears 70 years on the throne.

They have been dubbed 'the modern royals' by the world's media, and have not only won the hearts and the loyalty of millions of people around the world, but have helped to re-establish the British royal family as an important, and largely admired, presence in national and international affairs. In short, Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - also known simply as 'William and Kate' - have done as much as anyone to bring the royal family into the twenty-first century, and to keep it firmly in the national consciousness. The birth of Prince George, their first child, on 22 July 2013, fuelled such a worldwide media and public frenzy that it became the most talked-about event of the year. The birth of a future heir, combined with the historic possibility of the first baby to be born not only to a Queen-in-waiting, but to the son of the much mourned Diana, Princess of Wales, accounted for much of the excitement, but that was stoked by a natural affection for the young couple.From the beginning, the world had watched with bated breath as the charming Prince William and his future bride overcame the struggles of university, rumours and a brief break-up before finally reconciling and becoming engaged. Their ceremonial wedding in 2011 - watched by an incredible estimated 2 billion people worldwide - was a defining moment, not only in their young lives, but also for the perception of the monarchy. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have come to embody the spirit and hope of their nation, and their deserved popularity has had a profound effect upon the future of the royal family. As well as a history of the young couple's romantic relationship, this in-depth book chronicles the next chapters in this modern fairy tale, backed by beautiful photographs, fascinating facts and expert analysis. Now completely revised and updated to cover the period from the birth of Prince George to the arrival of the new prince or princess in April 2015, the book is both an intriguing insight into modern royalty, and an unrivalled souvenir.

With the world watching, Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, third in line of succession to the throne, was born on 22nd July 2013. The next day, his proud parents stepped out of St Mary's hospital, London, to present their baby to the excited crowds. From the beginning, the world had watched with bated breath as the charming prince and his future bride overcame the struggles of university, rumours and a brief break-up before finally reconciling and becoming engaged. The royal wedding in 2011 - watched by an incredible estimated 2 billion people worldwide - was a defining moment, not only in their young lives, but also for the perception of the monarchy. When the Palace announced the Duchess's much-anticipated pregnancy in 2012, a public frenzy surrounded the arrival of the heir to the throne. Now that the Duke has left the military to focus on his royal duties and charity work, there is already speculation as to whether George will follow in his father's footsteps, with a passion for wildlife and conservation. Packed with expert analysis and exclusive photographs, this is an essential read for royalists and romantics alike.

On February 28, 2008, to great international surprise, the British Ministry of Defense released a statement acknowledging that Prince Harry, son of the late Princess Diana and third in line to the British throne, had secretly been deployed to Afghanistan. Subsequent reports revealed that the prince had killed up to thirty Taliban insurgents in directing at least three air strikes, and that he had helped Gurkha troops repel a ground attack of Taliban insurgents using a machine gun. On February 29, Prince Harry was withdrawn from the country with distinction via a covert SAS deployment. This is the amazing story of the first British royal to serve his country in 25 years and his 10 heroic weeks of combat.

Having courted throughout his time at St. Andrews University,nbsp;Kate Middleton and Prince William are now a permanent item. Having managed to maintain a rather low profile so far, Kate has recently been issued with her own security force, similar to that of Camilla, Prince Charles’s consort. This move has been widely interpreted as the beginning of getting Kate accustomed to the media spotlight into which she will step by marrying Prince William. From an upper-middle class background, she is seen as a much-needed breath of fresh air by the monarchy, and her grooming has already begun in earnest—and crucially, with Her Majesty’s approval.

"The royal encyclopedia is a unique reference book about the modern British monarchy"--Jacket.

The Book of the Courtier, Baldassare Castiglione's classic account of Renaissance court life, offers profound insight into the refined behavior which defined the era's ruling class. The courtly customs and manners of Italy to a great extent characterized the Renaissance, which elevated art and expression to new heights. Baldassare Castiglione published this book with the intention of chronicling the manners, customs and traditions which underpinned how courtiers, nobles, and their servants, behaved. Although ostensibly a book of etiquette and good conduct, Castiglione's treatise carries enormous historical value. He derived his observations directly from the many gatherings and receptions conducted by society's elite. Conversations with the officials, diplomats and nobility of the era further enhanced the accuracy of this book, imbuing it with an authenticity seldom seen elsewhere.