Anne (1665–1714) reigned as Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1702, becoming the first Queen of Great Britain following the landmark Acts of Union in 1707, which merged the English and Scottish kingdoms. Born during the reign of her uncle Charles II, she was raised as an Anglican despite her father James II's controversial Catholicism. Following the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which deposed her father, Anne's sister Mary and brother-in-law William III took the throne, with Anne eventually succeeding William in 1702.
Her reign was defined by intense political factionalism between the Whigs and Tories, as well as the prolonged War of the Spanish Succession. Anne personally favored moderate Tories who aligned with her Anglican beliefs, though she frequently had to navigate the shifting power dynamics of Parliament. Her close and influential friendship with Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, eventually deteriorated due to political differences, leading to a bitter estrangement that heavily colored early historical accounts of Anne's character and intelligence.
Despite enduring chronic ill health, obesity, and the tragedy of seventeen pregnancies without surviving issue, Anne remained a dedicated monarch. Her death in 1714 marked the end of the Stuart dynasty, and under the Act of Settlement 1701, she was succeeded by her Protestant second cousin, George I of the House of Hanover. Modern historical reassessments have restored her reputation, highlighting her political pragmatism and dedication to her royal duties.