TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER The Bookworm Sez Advertisement

Picture this: a much-beloved Princess, a "breath of fresh air" to the British throne, dies.

There is an immediate outpouring of grief as conspiracy theories buzz all over England. Tributes are hastily made. Songs are devoted to her memory.

Sound familiar? Then you might be surprised that it happened in 1817 when George IV's daughter, Princess Charlotte of Wales, died giving birth to a stillborn child.

Imagine if the new leader of our country got into power by virtue of his or her birth. The idea might make you shudder, but it happened that way in Great Britain for centuries.

In the new book "On Royalty" by Jeremy Paxman, Anglophiles and Anglophobes alike will get a detailed, first-hand peek inside the castle walls of the Royal Family.

According to some sources, over 700 million people watched as Charles, Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer over 20 years ago. It was, some sighed, a real-life fairy tale. But others wondered what all the fuss was about. The Monarchy doesn't do much anymore.

Politically, the Queen is just a figurehead. Surely, she's not as powerful as, say, Henry VIII or even great granny Victoria.

Paxman says that, over the years, there have been polls and movements to abolish the British Monarchy but the truth is, only about a fifth of the Queen's British subjects believe that the Royal Family has worn out its welcome. How has such an institution survived the centuries and what good is it, anyhow?

By weaving history and Royal biography, Paxman shows how the Monarchy has morphed from one of absolute power to one that is infinitely less politically potent. In between, he writes of a King who invited his mistress to his crowning ceremony while his wife stood outside the door, knocking.

He writes with great drama of the execution of a King who was considered a near-saint (and the subsequent executions of his executors). He admits the frailties of today's Monarchy as he examines Prince Charles' future and that of Charles' sons. He looks at the rumors that refuse to die, the possible murder of a modern-day King, and the life and death of a Princess.

It has been said that George Washington refused the title of "King", instead preferring that of "Mr. President". After reading this book, you'll never wonder why.

"On Royalty" is a Brit-watcher's dream, filled with who-was-who history, dishy details, scandalous situations, and plenty of little-known facts about the House of Windsor (the Queen, for instance, once got a small live alligator in a biscuit tin as a gift from an admirer).

Royal-watchers know that the British Monarchy is notorious about closing ranks, but author Jeremy Paxman was given an amazing amount of accessibility to the throne. It shows in this easy-to-read, easy-to-enjoy book.

If you'd pay a king's ransom to visit Buckingham Palace, if you ever dreamed of being a princess, or if the death of Diana has throne you into a tizzy, pick up this book. For Windsor watchers, "On Royalty" is queen of the pack.

"On Royalty" by Jeremy Paxman c.2007, Public Affairs $26.95 370 pages, includes index.