Stories about royal women form some of our most foundational myths about femininity, and yet their legacies have been almost entirely constructed by the words and images created by men.
This book leads us deep into a world of queens, empresses, princesses, mistresses and courtiers, uncovering how their ambitions were shaped, celebrated and often thwarted, exposing a tangled web of women and power that spans thousands of years.
Ranging from the ancient civilisations of Egypt and Mesopotamia to the opulent courts of the pre-modern world and the last days of colonialism, it delves into the lives of these remarkable women, revealing both their trials and triumphs as they navigate political intrigue, family rivalries and personal sacrifices.
From Hatshepsut and Boudica, through Tudor queens Catherine of Aragon and Lady Jane Grey, to Queen Victoria’s contemporaries Yaa Asantewaa of Ghana and Queen Lili’uokalani of Hawaii, and right up to Princess Diana, this is a globe-spanning story of queens and royal woman, of female power through the ages that unlocks how we understand women, politics and power today.
Regina: A New History of Women and Power by Kate Williams is published on 4 June, 2026.
There are many more historical books in Historia’s list of over 150 new publications released in 2026.
