Below are notes I took while watching the Channel 4 documentary ‘The Queens That Changed the World’, episode 2, which was on Queen Anne. The first episode was on Elizabeth I and you can see my notes here. Future episodes will be on Queen Victoria, Hatshepsut, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Boudica, all of which I will add to this blog as I watch the episodes.
Across centuries and around the world women ruled kingdoms and built empires.
Discover real stories of 6 iconic queens.
History’s most important female monarchs.
Find out how they overcome prejudices of their times, and challenges facing reigns.
How they changed their world and ours.
1 May 1707 Queen Anne making way to nearly finished St Paul’s Cathedral to give thanks for creation of new country – Great Britain.
Dr Tracy Borman Anne saw it as one of her greatest achievements.
Permanent union of England and Scotland.
Legacy of Anne’s reign is all around us and still coming to terms with consequences of union of Scotland and England.
Anne one of England’s least celebrated queens, seems to be left out almost like she didn’t exist.
Often seen as dowdy and dull, pushed around, boring, and ineffectual.
Anne deserves moment in the sun.
October 1687 Anne aged 22 as James II and Mary of Modena expecting a child.
Anne hated stepmother Mary who was only a few years older than her.
Just 2 years after mother died Anne gained new stepmother.
James II is Catholic; dangerous and big no-no – people were severely anti-Catholic but tolerated James’s Catholicism as it would be short-term.
James converted when protestant Charles II was king and Charles took safeguards to protect his nieces, Anne and Mary, to be raised as protestants.
Anne follower of Church of England, some might say indoctrinated.
Hampton Court Palace in the Chapel Royal Anne spent 4 years transforming chapel to demonstrate devotion to protestant faith using Sir Christopher Wren.
Statement about Anne’s religion with altar screen with oversized cornices and column with massive organ with gold pipes.
Anne second in line to throne after sister Mary but with Mary of Modena pregnant and if she has a son, he will push Mary and Anne down line of succession.
England in danger of turning Catholic.
Anne takes action and writes to her sister, Mary, not sure that Mary of Modena is really pregnant, perhaps wearing a false belly.
Anne wants to convince sister Mary that something must be done to keep England protestant.
Knows Mary will tell husband William of Orange who was most devout protestant in Europe.
Said Mary of Modena looked too healthy to be pregnant and that she wouldn’t undress in front of her at all.
Asks Mary of Modena if she can touch her belly.
Morally upstanding but can play dirty when she wants to.
June 1688 Anne in Bath taking the waters and learns that Mary of Modena gave birth to baby boy James Francis Edward Stuart who will be raised catholic.
Doesn’t stop rumours.
Anne says half-brother is imposter or changeling and was switched at birth as real boy died at birth.
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