Mnemonic verse of monarchs in England

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A mnemonic verse listing the monarchs ruling in England since William the Conqueror was traditionally used by English schoolchildren in the era when rote learning formed a major part of the curriculum.^[1]

The verse as it is commonly set out lists the monarchs ruling in England since the Norman Conquest, with some omissions (see below). The failure to mention any pre-Conquest Saxon kings, and the presentation of the monarchs of a variety of kingdoms (England, then the joint crown of England and Scotland, then Great Britain, then Great Britain and Ireland, then Great Britain and Northern Ireland) as existing in one unbroken line arrogated to a nonexistent "English" or "British" throne, ensure the simple flow of the mnemonic but also reflect a Whiggish view of history.

The main part of the verse is largely constant, but the stanza from the 20th century has many variations, of which some are presented below. Alan Bennett's staging of the verse in Forty Years On cleverly works around the issue by stopping at Victoria.^[2]

Contents 1 The verse 1.1 Alternate (shorter) endings 2 Notes and references 3 See also

[edit] The verse

Willie, Willie, Harry,^[3] Steve,

Harry, Dick, John, Harry three;

One, two, three Neds, Richard two

Harrys four, five, six... then who?

Edwards four, five, Dick the bad,

Harrys (twain), Ned six^[4] (the lad);

^[5]Mary, Bessie, James you ken^[6],

(Then) Charlie,^[7] Charlie, James again...

William^[8] and Mary, Anna Gloria,

Georges four¹²³⁴, Will four, Victoria^[9];

Edward seven next, and then

Came George the fifth in nineteen ten;

Ned the eighth soon abdicated

Then George six was coronated;

After which Elizabeth

And that's all folks until her death.^[10]

[edit] Alternate (shorter) endings

Edward seven, George and Ted,

George the sixth, now Liz instead.

Eddie, Georgie, Ned the Eighth;

George the sixth, Elizabeth.

[edit] Notes and references

1. ^ British Monarchs: Kings and Queens of England, Scotland and Wales
2. ^ English Monarchs -- Anon
3. ^ omitted: Maud (Matilda) (deposed)
4. ^ or "then Ned"
5. ^ omitted: Lady Jane Grey (uncrowned)
6. ^ or "the Vain"
7. ^ omitted: the English Interregnum; republicans may cough at this point
8. ^ or just "Will"
9. ^ or "Then four Georges, Will, Victoria"
10. ^ or "Has the throne, until her death."

[edit] See also

• List of English monarchs