Famous English Queen Regnants
Learn all about England's Famous Female Rulers.
When you think of female rulers of England how many can you name? There is of course Elizabeth the Second, the most recent Queen of England. At school many of us will have studied the Tudors, a dynasty which lasted over one hundred years and saw more than its fair share of Queens. The six wives of Henry the Eighth, Lady Jane Grey (Queen for nine days), Bloody Mary and of course Elizabeth the First. In English history there have been only eight Queens who have ruled over England in their own right. But how much do we really know about the Female Rulers of Great Britain? This page aims to provide a bit more information about female English monarchs.
Click on the pictures of the monarchs below to find out more!
Matilda of Scotland was also known as Good Queen Maud and Matilda of Blessed Memory. Whilst not a Queen regnant in her own right, and so not one of the 8 queens of England, she did act as regent when her husband and King of England, Henry the First, was away. She was also a member of the King's council and acted as a mediator between the church and the state helping to resolve conflict. Her daughter would go on to rule parts of England, however at the time the idea of a female ruler caused turmoil.
Queen Elizabeth the First was the daughter of Henry the Eighth and Anne Boleyn, the second Queen of England in her own right. She was the last Tudor monarch. Unlike her older sister Mary, the first Queen of England, Elizabeth's reign was rather popular and has been widely viewed as a success. She is one of the most well known Queens of England.
Mary the Second was the third Queen of England in her own right, and the second called Mary! She was joint regnant with her husband William the Third from 1689 until 1694 when she died. There is much evidence to suggest that Mary did not wish to be a regnant Queen however when William the Third was absent she proved to be a capable ruler.
Created by Ruth Mackey