While Queen Elizabeth II can trace her ancestry back through 40 kings and queens spanning 26 generations, the line linking her to her distant ancestors is a line that is far from straightforward. That's because since the English Royal family got its start in 1066 with William the Conquerer's Norman invasion of England, getting crowned king or queen was rarely a smooth transition. From monarchs who've taken the throne by force; succeeded by chance; or lost it through either weakness, circumstance, or death; it's time to uncover the tumultuous history of England's kings and queens.

Join New York Adventure Club for a three-part series that traces the English Royal family tree through the ages, exploring everything from how these kings and queens attained the throne, how they tried to ensure the succession of their own bloodline, and where their tombs can be found. In Part One, we follow the royal line through 400 years — from the arrival of the Norman invaders to the end of the Plantagenet dynasty in the late 1400s.

Led by award winning London Blue Badge Tour Nick Salmond, this unique digital showcase will include:

• Why the sons of William the Conqueror fought over the kingdom their father had won by force
• A look at how a disaster at sea changed the course of English history and plunged the country into a period known as the anarchy
• The story behind why King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta, which forever ended the absolute power of the Monarch
• A discussion of a King who was deposed by his wife and son, angered by his reliance on male favorites
• An overview of the Wars of the Roses, which came about from a battle between the Royal Houses of York and Lancaster that dominated politics in the country
• Uncovering how a murder of a young king led to the end of the dynasty and the arrival of the new Tudor dynasty

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A session with Nick — any and all questions about the English Royal family tree are welcomed and encouraged!

Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week!

See you there, virtually!

*Once registered, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar

**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser — Google Chrome is the most compatible. Exact technical requirements and a webinar user guide will be shared in the automated confirmation email upon registration.

***A full replay will be available after the experience for all registered guests

About Nick

Nick has lived and worked in London for the last 35 years. He was a television director for BBC News for over 20 years working on such important news events as the death of Diana and the coverage of 9/11.

In 2017 he trained as a Blue Badge Tourist Guide the highest attainable qualification for tourists guiding in the UK. After two years of studying, Nick was given the prestigious prize of Guide of the Year, awarded to the best student the the qualifying group.

Since 2020 Nick has been heavily involved in training of Guides in techniques for virtual tours as well as hosting a series of live YouTube talks for other London Guides. He gave the 2021 Katrine Prince lecture to over 300 members of the Instutute of Tourist Guiding.

Kings and Queens of England Series

Part I: Normans to Plantagenets

Part II: Tudors to Stuarts

Part III: Hanoverians to Windsors

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Categories: Virtual, Moments in History