Would you want to be a king or a queen?
A large staff would obey your every order, and you’d live in a fancy palace and wear elegant clothes. You’d have wealth, fame, power—almost anything your heart desires.
Now for the downside. Other people just might be envious of what you have. In the past, some of those people went after the throne—and the ruler’s throat. The people of France hated Queen Marie Antoinette (1755–1793) and King Louis XVI (1754–1793). These rich, spoiled rulers lived in luxury while others suffered, so the peasants chopped off both their heads.
Kings and queens today don’t worry much about being beheaded. But they do live in the public eye, which can cause its own problems. Kings and queens have ruled nations for thousands of years. Some were uncaring and greedy. Others built great nations. You’ll meet them all—the wise, the foolish, and those in between—as you tour royalty from the comfort of your living-room throne.