Kings & Queens of Britain
The Life in the UK test frequently asks about British monarchs. Key rulers to know include William the Conqueror (1066), Henry VIII and his six wives, Elizabeth I and the Spanish Armada (1588), Queen Victoria (1837–1901), and the current monarch King Charles III. Henry VIII broke with Rome and established the Church of England. Elizabeth I's reign saw the defeat of the Spanish Armada and the golden age of English literature, including William Shakespeare. Queen Victoria presided over the British Empire at its height. Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning monarch (1952–2022).