Would you want to be a king or a queen?
Lots of servants would obey all your orders. You’d live in a big palace and wear fancy clothes. You’d have wealth, fame, power—almost anything your heart desires.
Now for the downside. Other people might want 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. The peasants responded by beheading both monarchs.
Kings and queens today don’t worry about losing their heads. But they do live in the public eye. That can cause its own problems. Kings and queens have ruled for thousands of years. Some were mean 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 own throne.
