Were the 'Princes in the Tower' illegitimate? Did Henry VIII really have six wives? How virginal was the 'Virgin Queen'? Was James, Duke of Monmouth the heir to the throne, or just one of Charles II's bastards? Did George IV marry a German princess or a Catholic widow? Was Queen Victoria 'Mrs Brown'? These questions are explored in the context of two broaders stories: love and marriage in the English royal family; the evolution of marriage practice in England. How were royal consorts chosen? Did