If someone asked you to name a Queen of England, Anne is unlikely to be your first answer. The last Stuart monarch she has been somewhat overshadowed by her dynasty, her sister and brother-in-law and numerous male predecessors. Yet, Anne’s story is one I would like to shed some light on; one of the reasons I wanted to write this series.
Born in 1665, Anne was the daughter of King James II and his first wife Anne Hyde. Her parents had eight children, with her and her elder sister Mary being the only ones to reach adulthood. Upon Charles II’s death, her father succeeded the throne, yet this did not come without problems. He had recently converted to the Catholic faith and had remarried. James and his new wife had no children which survived into adulthood, securing Mary and Anne’s place within the British line of succession.
Mary and her husband William of Orange succeeded the throne in 1689 in what historians deem to be the ‘Glorious Revolution’ as they deposed James II. At this point, it was unlikely that Anne would succeed the throne, the possibility of William and Mary having children thwarted that. Attention then turned upon Anne’s marriage status, eventually marrying Prince George of Denmark in 1683. Historians argue that Anne and George were very much in love and were dedicated partners to each other, surprisingly considering the history of ‘loveless’ royal marriages.
When shedding light on Anne, it would be impossible to talk about her without mentioning pregnancy. Throughout Anne’s life she had numerous pregnancies, with no child surviving past the age of 11. Most of her children were in fact stillborn or miscarried. It is estimated that Anne had 17 pregnancies throughout her lifetime, showing her desperation for a child. As a result of these pregnancies, it is unsurprising to learn that Anne suffered from numerous health issues, often having bouts of gout and immobility. When she ascended the throne in 1702, it had been widely accepted that she was past child-bearing age.
Anne was extremely active within state affairs and ruled during the Act of Settlement which united the kingdoms of England and Scotland. Her husband died in 1708, leaving her a widow. Now, if you are a fan of historical drama, you will have noticed that people love examining the relationship between Queen Anne and her friend Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. There has often speculation that their close friendship was actually covering up a sexual relationship.
Reigning alone for many years and in poor health, Anne began to reduce herself from state involvement. She suffered from multiple bouts of illness leading to her death in 1704. What strikes and saddens me about Anne’s story is pre- and post-death, she was mocked for her weight, for being constantly pregnant, for being ill and for her friendships. These are aspects of everyday life which many women struggle with and it is heart-breaking to see the effects this had on Anne. Her desire for a child, the death of her husband and turmoil of family life helps humanise these women and the common problems we all face, regardless of social position.
For more on Anne’s life check out Queen Anne: The Politics of Passion by Lady Anne Somerset
Note: *if you would rather check out a movie, I suggest The Favourite (2018) with Olivia Coleman. But please please please remember how the media LOVES to sometimes spice up and ‘recreate’ some historical fiction and drama*