Short course
The Evolution of the British Monarchy Since George III
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates:
29/09/2026 - 01/12/2026
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£315.00
George III's reign of 59 years encompassed the Industrial Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, the first great expansion of the British Empire and the loss of the American colonies. The role of the monarch changed comparatively little. After the brief reigns of two of his sons, there came Queen Victoria, whose reign of 63 years encompassed further tumult, both at home and abroad, and the beginnings of the monarchy in its modern form, where the monarch is no longer actively involved in politics, but mainly a figurehead and focus for national unity, and members of the royal family are expected to dedicate themselves to public service. The process continued under George V, where the royal family had to divest itself of its German ties in the midst of the First World War. The abdication of Edward VIII brought crisis, resolved unexpectedly by his reluctant successor George VI. Finally, the 70-year reign of Elizabeth II brought further huge changes, Britain's loss of Empire and search for a role in the world, and, more recently, increased questioning of whether the monarchy should continue to exist at all.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Programme details
Course starts Tuesday 29 September 2026
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Tuesdays, 2.00-4.00pm.
Week 1: The Final Days of George III, and the Reigns of George IV and William IV
Week 2: The Accession and Early Years of Queen Victoria 1837-61
Week 3: Family Foreign Policy under Queen Victoria
Week 4: The Beginnings of Public Service Monarchy
Week 5: Monarchs and Politicians – Victoria, Edward VII and George V
Week 6: The Epitome of Public Service Monarchy – Arthur, Duke of Connaught (1850-1942) and His Family
Week 7: Royalty and the First World War
Week 8: The Abdication Crisis and the Reign of George VI
Week 9: The Monarchy Under Elizabeth II, Part 1
Week 10: The Monarchy Under Elizabeth II, Part 2
Teaching methods
Combination of pre-reading, lectures and group discussions.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students should be able to:
1) Recognise the events, factors and personalities which have influenced the development of the British Monarchy since 1820;
2) Evaluate different items of historical evidence;
3) Contribute to discussions on this topic in both written and oral forms.
Assessment methods
Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation, in advance of the course start date, can submit coursework/assignments for assessment.
Assessment
You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.
Level and demands
The Department’s Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.
Course aims
This course aims to enable participants to deepen their knowledge of the history of the British Monarchy from 1820-2022, and to assess the events, factors and personalities which shaped its development during this period.
Course objectives
By the end of the course, participants will have been given the opportunity to:
- develop an understanding of the history and evolution of the British monarchy between 1820 and 2022;
- develop skills in the understanding, analysis and synthesis of complex historical information
- engage with and assess a range of historical sources and evidence relating to the British monarchy
Programme details
Course starts Tuesday 29 September 2026
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Tuesdays, 2.00-4.00pm.
Week 1: The Final Days of George III, and the Reigns of George IV and William IV
Week 2: The Accession and Early Years of Queen Victoria 1837-61
Week 3: Family Foreign Policy under Queen Victoria
Week 4: The Beginnings of Public Service Monarchy
Week 5: Monarchs and Politicians – Victoria, Edward VII and George V
Week 6: The Epitome of Public Service Monarchy – Arthur, Duke of Connaught (1850-1942) and His Family
Week 7: Royalty and the First World War
Week 8: The Abdication Crisis and the Reign of George VI
Week 9: The Monarchy Under Elizabeth II, Part 1
Week 10: The Monarchy Under Elizabeth II, Part 2
Teaching methods
Combination of pre-reading, lectures and group discussions.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students should be able to:
1) Recognise the events, factors and personalities which have influenced the development of the British Monarchy since 1820;
2) Evaluate different items of historical evidence;
3) Contribute to discussions on this topic in both written and oral forms.
Assessment methods
Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation, in advance of the course start date, can submit coursework/assignments for assessment.
Assessment
You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.
Miss Ann Lyon
Ann Lyon was educated at the Universities of Newcastle, York and Durham before training as a solicitor. She has been passionate about history for, literally, as long as she can remember, and developed a particular interest in Constitutional History during the 25 years she spent teaching Law.
Assessment methods
Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation, in advance of the course start date, can submit coursework/assignments for assessment.
Level and demands
The Department’s Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee (with no assessment) | £315.00 |
| Assessment and Accreditation fee | £60.00 |
Module code: O26P402HIW
How to enrol
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.
How to register for accreditation and assessment
To be able to submit coursework and to earn credit (CATS points) for this course, if you wish to do so, you will need to register and pay an additional £60 fee. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.
Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun.
If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.
