Not Just the Tudors Queen Anne: The Last Stuart Monarch
Mar 2, 2026
Lady Anne Somerset, historian and biographer of Queen Anne, offers a corrective take on the last Stuart monarch. She probes Anne’s poor health and public image, the tragic pattern of her pregnancies, the political maneuvering behind the 1707 Union, and the fraught relationship with Sarah Churchill. The conversation reevaluates Anne’s political activity, faith, and why her reputation has been misunderstood.
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Carried To Ceremonies To Preserve Dignity
- Anne frequently hid her infirmity but sometimes had to be carried to public events and wore splendid clothes to project majesty.
- A visitor recalled her feet bound in grubby bandages, highlighting the gap between appearance and physical reality.
Medical Explanation For Repeated Pregnancy Loss
- Lady Anne Somerset suggests Anne likely suffered from antiphospholipid (Hughes) syndrome, causing late pregnancy losses by failing placental blood flow.
- Many of her pregnancies failed late, explaining repeated heartbreak and medical pattern.
Prince George Was A Steady Political Partner
- Prince George of Denmark is often dismissed but provided steady political advice and served as Lord High Admiral with some assessments calling him competent.
- Sarah Churchill's disparaging accounts helped create his poor reputation despite touching accounts of Anne's grief at his death.
