Charles II – the star king
"Charles II had to appeal to public opinion more than his predecessors did": Clare Jackson talks to Matt Elton about her new biography of Charles II, which explores how his early experiences shaped his reign – and why he was uniquely aware of his own image...
This article was first published in the April 2016 issue of BBC History Magazine
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![Evening Party - Time of Charles II, 1850. A satirical illustration of King Charles II (1630?1685). King Charles II (163-?1685) was know as the 'Merry Monarch'. He had a great fondness for women and had many mistresses. From The Comic History of England by Gilbert Abbott A. Beckett, illustrated by John Leech [Bradbury, Agnew & Co., London, 1850.] (Photo by The Print Collector/Getty Images)](https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/7/2018/01/GettyImages-533496763-a89f7d6.jpg?quality=90&resize=620,413 "Evening Party - Time of Charles II, 1850. Artist: John Leech")
