Mary Queen of Scots

FAMILIES can often fall out if two members clash, but for Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots there were far more dire consequences than awkward ...

The two cousins are undeniably some of the most influential figures in royal history, with their rivalry becoming even more legendary than their accomplishments. Elizabeth inherited a fractured England as the country’s Catholic strongholds much favoured Mary to be their Queen, all of which Elizabeth was keenly aware of. James died when Mary was a few days old and was raised in the belief that she was the only rightful heir to the British throne. Historians have noted that Elizabeth and Mary’s rivalry may have spawned in childhood as the two could not have received a more different upbringing. As a result, her childhood was almost the polar opposite of Mary’s, although she managed to develop a clutch of supporters and servants that remained loyal to the young princess. Mary was the only surviving child of her father King James V and his wife Mary of Guise, and as a result, was destined to be queen from her very first breath.