How It Works:
Both Kings and Queens have ruled over the Castle, but in marriage only the eldest by birthright remains the Supreme Ruler. This means that if a King and Queen have a daughter, when she is of age (21 is when the throne is passed to the heir), then the Supreme Ruler is Queen. When she marries, her husband will be King, but she will still have Supreme Rule. Her firstborn - whether boy or girl - will then be Supreme Ruler at 21. Often the Royals will have three children, and therefore there are many extensions of the royal family. These offshoots of royals become Princes, Dukes and Earls, but not Lords, which is a title of nobility, not of royalty.
Currently:
The Supreme Ruler is King (Morgan), and he has a wife (Katherine) and three children. The firstborn is a boy being preened to be King (Mayhew) - currently 17 years of age. The other two are twin girls 2 years younger (Brita and Annabeth).
Family Name:
The Royal surname is Kestrel.
Wealth:
The Monarchy gets money from taxes. At the moment the taxes are reasonable and though there is some whingeing, most citizens are happy to pay because they feel as though the royals are giving services back to the community in the way of lamp-lighters, gardens, clean streets, and a lowered crime rate due to the many guards hired. The claim is that there are 200 guards. Many dormitory rooms are empty in the guardhouse, but there are so many guards that nobody bothers to challenge this amazing number.
Nobility:
Some nobles, who own land and relinquished it to the King\'s Land are on the \'tax payroll\' which means they get a tiny percentage of the tax. But a tiny percentage from tens of thousands of people means that the nobility find themselves in a rather tidy position. Royals will allow nobles to enter the castle and will meet and befriend them (and even consort and marry them).
Enemies:
There are natural enemies to the royals, and therefore Palace Guards are screened very carefully for their loyalty and character. These guards are not easily bribed or manipulated, and are fiercely devoted to their King. They are often favoured by the King, and are usually rewarded and reminded that their devotion is appreciated. These guards are also trained to a higher skill level than other guards - unbeknownst to most citizens.
