The photographs of a shirtless King Edward VIII and his lover Wallis Simpson in 1936 put a spotlight on the affair that ended his reign Simon Perry is a writer and correspondent at PEOPLE.

Read PEOPLE's exclusive excerpt from royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith's new book, George VI and Elizabeth: The Marriage That Saved the Monarchy Simon Perry is a writer and correspondent at PEOPLE.

Most people know royal residences like Buckingham Palace and Balmoral, but have you heard of Ashridge House? Once home to King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, and Edwards VI, the Grade I listed ...

He was the second son of King George V who was never supposed to be crowned King, so when Prince Albert, Duke of York (the future King George VI), wed the Hon Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon on 26 April 1923 ...

Queen Elizabeth II, born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, was the sovereign monarch of the United Kingdom and 14 other commonwealth countries, including Northern Ireland. She was the longest-reigning ...

Henry VII was the only child of Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond (son of Henry V's widow Catherine de Valois and Owen Tudor) and his 13-year old wife Lady Margaret Beaufort (who died in the Abbot of ...

NARRATOR: In 1558 one of the most famous monarchs in history inherited the throne: Queen Elizabeth I. She ruled for 45 years at a time when women were thought to need guidance from men. But even ...