On the second of May 2015, at 08:34, the newest edition to Britain’s royal family was born. Though currently unnamed, the child is a little girl, is the first blood Princess of Britain in the past 25 years. Although it is unlikely she will take the throne, if her older brother becomes a father in later life, it still provides an opportunity to look over the rule of past female monarchs, and a wondering if this little Princess will follow in any of their footsteps.
The first Queen of England was Mary Ist, daughter of Henry VIII, and part of the famous Tudor Dynasty. A highly intelligent woman, history has unfortunately assigned her a terrible reputation, which was likely first concocted by Elizabethan propaganda. Despite her executions of around 283 protestants, (whilst her father ordered the deaths of 7,200), Mary was also described as a highly intelligent woman, excelling in her childhood studies of Latin, French, and Mathematics. Moreover, the Queen was fiercely independent, ensuring a parliamentary doctrine passed which stated her husband would have no political power in England, during her life, and he would not take the throne following her death. This determination to remain in power is certainly a positive quality of a monarch, which was also undoubtedly held by Mary’s sister.
Queen Elizabeth Ist of England is received by most of history in a much more positive light. Similar to the majority of her family, she was also notably intelligent, as well as being exceedingly politically shrewd. Whilst her renowned ‘I may have the body of a weak and feeble woman’ may be slightly derogatory towards her own sex, and her worry that a husband would take her power would have easily been solved if she had copied her older sister, yet Elizabeth was still, undoubtedly, a stellar ruler. Despite the plots on her life, she did further her sister’s policies of English exploration, both women beginning what would become the British Empire. The fearlessness exhibited by Elizabeth is a good aspect of a strong ruler, whose memory deserves to last the ages.
Queen Mary II ruled side by side with her husband King William II. When offered the throne by Parliament, the couple requested a co-regency, meaning that they held equal power over Scotland, Ireland and England. Despite it having little historical significance, signing an English Bill of Rights would later inspire American colonies to rebel. It is interesting to note that they are the only couple in the history of The British Monarchy to have ruled with equal power. This exhibition of equality is certainly something, which has been carried on to have a larger influence in modern society.
The fourth Queen of England was Queen Anne. After the death of her sister, Mary II, and her brother in law, William II, she took the throne. Similar to Mary I, and later, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II, she held the royal power whilst her husband was given none. Again, she had no notable effect on the political scene, her seventeen miscarriages meant that she was the final Stuart monarch. There would be no female monarch for the next 105 years, until Queen Victoria came to power.
The longest monarch to sit on the British throne, and the longest female monarch ever to reign, Queen Victoria is certainly a national figure. Inheriting the throne at age 18, her lack of experience plunged the country into uncertainty, yet her political position brought stability during an age of explosive invention and change. Known as the Grandmother of Europe, Queen Victoria is certainly a memorable ruler, as well as the currently penultimate Queen of England.
Queen Elizabeth II of England, our current ruler, is now a great-grandmother twice over. The new addition to her family will certainly be cause for celebration, as well as her presence being a reminder of the power of a female monarch. Despite having little political power, due to the separation of state and monarchy, her presence as a figure head and symbolic leader of the country is certainly one to be admired. Hopefully she, and her female monarchical predecessors will provide examples in ruling and public image for Britain’s new Princess, allowing her to have an informed, productive, and bright future.
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