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Sep 2024
30 m

Queens of England

Lindsay Holiday
About this episode

Episode originally aired in 2019, I have added a 2024 update.

Of the 66 monarchs who have ruled over England since the Norman conquest only 8 have been Queens. These women have had to fight to gain and hold power. Through most of English history men outranked women in the line of succession so the only way for a woman to inherit the throne was if she had no living brothers. The wives of Kings, while called Queens are not monarchs in their own right and are referred to as Queen Consorts. Some of these female monarchs who were fortunate enough to occupy the throne were less than brilliant rulers. But some reigned with wisdom and justice proving a woman could do the job just as well as a man. Here are their stories...

Matilda (1141-1148)

Jane (1553)

Mary I (1553-1558)

Elizabeth II (1558-1603)

Mary II (1689-1694)

Anne (1702-1714)

Victoria (1837-1901)

Elizabeth II (1952-2022)


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