Anne, Queen of Great Britain

NAME: Anne, Queen of Great Britain

WHAT FAMOUS FOR: Anne is primarily famous for being the last monarch of the Stuart dynasty and the first monarch of Great Britain. She ascended to the throne in 1702 and didn't just inherit a crown; she crafted history, threading the Acts of Union in 1707 that did this remarkable jig of uniting England and Scotland into one big, complicated family – the United Kingdom.

BIRTH: Anne was born on February 6, 1665, at St. James's Palace in London, England.

FAMILY BACKGROUND: Anne hailed from a lineage that could put any soap opera to shame. James, Duke of York (later King James II), and Anne Hyde were her folks, and their house was like a mixtape of political and religious turmoil.

CHILDHOOD: Now, Anne's childhood was no walk in Hyde Park. Political unrest, coupled with the Glorious Revolution of 1688, had her family on a perpetual house-hopping spree. And just to spice things up, she had this eye thing called "defluxion." Imagine tearing up like you just watched the final scene of a tearjerker – that was Anne's daily gig. The remedy? Off to France she went, shacking up with her grandma, Queen Henrietta Maria, at the Château de Colombes near Paris. That's like sending your kid to grandma's, but in a palace. Nice.

EDUCATION: Yeah, she got some – the regular history, languages, and arts – though it was like trying to read Shakespeare during an earthquake, thanks to the political rollercoaster of the time.

CAREER RECORD: Come 1683, Anne puts on the queen's robes by marrying Prince George of Denmark. This kickstarts her career rollercoaster – queen consort, queen regnant, and juggling political grenades during the War of the Spanish Succession. Toss in a couple of coronations – 1702-1707 Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland; 1707-1714, Queen of Great Britain – and you've got Anne's CV.

APPEARANCE: Short with dark hair and eyes. Anne was described as having a fair complexion, with a full figure and a warm, approachable demeanor. 

Portrait by Michael Dahl, 1705

FASHION: Anne's fashion choices were influenced by the trends of the time, characterized by elaborate gowns, corsets, and accessories. She played a role in popularizing the mantua, a loose-fitting gown with a flowing train.

CHARACTER: Queen Anne was known for her kindness and compassion. She was deeply affected by personal tragedies, including the loss of many children, which contributed to a somewhat melancholic disposition.

SENSE OF HUMOUR: Anne had a keen sense of humor, and her contemporaries often noted her ability to find laughter even in challenging situations. Her wit and charm endeared her to many.

RELATIONSHIPS: Anne married Prince George of Denmark (1653–1708) on July 28, 1683 in the Chapel Royal. She gave birth to 17 children, but the majority did not survive infancy, with only six being born alive. Tragically, the sole child to endure past infancy was William, Duke of Gloucester, who succumbed to smallpox at the age of 12 in 1700. 

Anne and Prince George of Denmark, painted by Charles Boit, 1706

Anne's relationships were a mixed bag. Prince George of Denmark? Genuine affection but plagued by the tragedy of lost children. Then there's her BFF, Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough – friends turned frenemies. The Duchess, a bit of a strong-willed one, dominated the friendship like she was playing chess with human pawns.

MONEY AND FAME: Now, let's talk money. Anne had financial storms during her reign – wars and political squabbles tend to drain the royal coffers. But hey, she kept her royal head high and responsible.

FOOD AND DRINK: Anne had a particular fondness for sweets. She had a sweet tooth big enough to give the entire kingdom a sugar rush. Chocolate, a royal favorite, made its grand entrance to court life courtesy of Anne.

MUSIC AND ARTS: Anne was a patron of the arts, supporting composers. Her reign saw the flourishing of English Baroque music, with George Frideric Handel's compositions gaining royal favor. She subsidised Handel with £200 a year.

LITERATURE: Anne was an avid reader and a supporter of literature. She especially enjoyed reading religious texts and historical accounts. The period saw the emergence of famous writers like Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope, who found patronage in her court.

NATURE: Nature-loving Anne had a soft spot for gardens, retreating to her rural havens like Hampton Court Palace when city life got too much.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: Anne enjoyed hunting and outdoor activities. She also took pleasure in needlework and embroidery, engaging in these activities during leisure moments.

A passionate enthusiast of horse racing, Queen Anne established the inaugural Royal Ascot race meeting on August 7, 1711, cementing her legacy as a key figure in the history of this prestigious sporting event.

SCIENCE AND MATHS: Now, science and maths weren't exactly Anne's jams, but she was the cool aunt who supported intellectual endeavors without throwing a calculus book at your face.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY: Despite her father's conversion to Roman Catholicism in 1672, Anne steadfastly adhered to Protestantism. She concurred with the events of the anti–Roman Catholic Glorious Revolution of 1688, leading to the overthrow of her father, James II. This pivotal moment ushered in her sister Mary and Mary's husband, William of Orange, to the throne.

Anne held a strong sense of duty, guided by her religious beliefs. She was a devout Anglican and valued moral principles, seeking to govern with a sense of responsibility.

SCANDAL: Anne's reign had its fair share of scandals – squabbles with Sarah Churchill and financial whispers. Like any good drama, it had juicy bits.

MILITARY RECORD: Anne's reign coincided with the War of the Spanish Succession, and she actively supported military efforts. The Duke of Marlborough, the husband of her ex-BFF, scored victories like he had cheat codes.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS: Gout was Anne's uninvited companion. So bad that she needed a royal lift to her own coronation. Such was the severity of her condition that she had to be carried to her coronation in 1702, highlighting the significant impact of her health struggles on her royal duties.

Anne's health declined in her later years, exacerbated by various illnesses and the strain of personal losses. She was often in pain from her gout, impacting her physical well-being.

HOMES: Anne had several residences, including St. James's Palace, Hampton Court Palace, and Kensington Palace. These locations played significant roles in her life, both as places of political activity and personal retreat.

TRAVEL: Anne's mobility was limited due to health concerns, but she undertook occasional journeys within England to visit her various residences.

DEATH: On the anniversary of Prince William's death, July 30, 1714, Anne was left unable to speak after suffering a stroke. Her passing occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. on August 1, 1714. She was laid to rest alongside her husband and children in the Henry VII chapel on the South Aisle of Westminster Abbey on August 24th.

With no surviving children, Anne's successor to the throne was her German cousin, George, elector of Hannover, who ascended as King George I of Great Britain, beginning the era of the House of Hanover in Britain.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA: Queen Anne has been portrayed in various films and television series, with notable depictions in works such as The Favourite (2018) and historical dramas set in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

Olivia Colman's portrayal of Queen Anne in The Favourite won her the Academy Award for Best Actress.

ACHIEVEMENTS: Acts of Union in 1707 – Anne's mic-drop moment, uniting England and Scotland. She laid the foundations of the United Kingdom, and for that, we salute Queen Anne – the quiet storm in a royal teacup.