Who is your favorite English or British royal of all time and why?

[tudorfan]

My favorite is Queen Elizabeth I (1533 - 1603) because she put England first, and not her feelings.  She was a political genius, especially as a woman in a man's world, and put England on the map as a formidable European power.  She was also very very brave having to deal with several life threatening crisis during her youth, and from the Catholic Church who wanted her dead so that Mary Stuart could take over her throne.  I also admire that she was not brought up with a silver spoon in her mouth as she was bastardized by her father, and her mother was executed.  Most children today never have such dysfunctional and sad childhoods, but it made her a very strong woman who learned from her mistakes and used them to better herself.  She also never married, which I find remarkable in her day and age.  She was truly an independent mind and a woman who even made the Pope fear her. 

[tigerben]

Queen Mary consort of King George, love reading about her life , love the descriptions of her mother, and how her style never changed. She was stalwart , strong woman.

[Miss Hathaway]

My favorite is Queen Elizabeth I (1533 - 1603) because she put England first, and not her feelings.  She was a political genius, especially as a woman in a man's world, and put England on the map as a formidable European power.  She was also very very brave having to deal with several life threatening crisis during her youth, and from the Catholic Church who wanted her dead so that Mary Stuart could take over her throne.  I also admire that she was not brought up with a silver spoon in her mouth as she was bastardized by her father, and her mother was executed.  Most children today never have such dysfunctional and sad childhoods, but it made her a very strong woman who learned from her mistakes and used them to better herself.  She also never married, which I find remarkable in her day and age.  She was truly an independent mind and a woman who even made the Pope fear her. 

You took the words from my mouth, tudorfan!   Elizabeth I was a remarkable person in any time, of any gender.

[bumbershoot]

George III, the king who lost America. Because without the madness of King George, we'd still be a colony.

[BessieWallis Warfield]

Oh, why, Pippa of course!  PIPPA!



What?   

[Leesa]

Oh well, I like Diana, though she was a person with problems and might even have brought the monarchy down had she lived longer. But I like her, for shallow reasons such as she was very approachable and kind-jearted. Blah, it sounds blah. But she's still my fave.

[getafix]

Oh well, I like Diana, though she was a person with problems and might even have brought the monarchy down had she lived longer.  

Lees...for that reason, she has my eternal support  

G

[Molly2101]

This is a tough decision but I think I am going to choose Prince Albert, Prince Consort.  Of course the love story of Albert and Victoria pulls at any one's heartstrings, and the film "The Young Victoria", although not entirely historically accurate, showed this amazing relationship in a good light.  Although he initially felt constrained by his marriage to Queen Victoria, and as we all know men in history did not like being subserviant to women, Albert found himself a niche so to speak.  Albert encouraged Victoria to take an interest in social welfare and he himself helped to abolish worldwide slavery, among other great feats.  He was not overly loved by the Victoria public, but they grew to accept him once they realised he wanted to help them.  I think he, like Prince Philip of today, found it very hard to allow his wife, a woman, to dictate to them, however Albert embraced his position and allowed himself to help Great Britain.  He of course had his faults, like all people, but I think his intentions were all very good and his death shattered Victoria, which in turn shattered the nation as they were in a perpetual state of grief thanks to their Monarch.

Victoria: You don't reccommend I find a husband to play it for me?
Albert: I should find one to play it with you, not for you.
The Young Victoria

[mariepaccard]

My favorite of all times will always be Princess Diana. She was the icon when I grew up and had a lot of influence on young people back then.

Second would be Alfred the Great was King of Wessex from 871 to 899. Hesuccessfully defended his kingdom against the Viking attempt at conquest, and by his death had become the dominant ruler in England.

[TLLK]

Oh, why, Pippa of course!  PIPPA!



What?   

Do you really want to increase that required reading?

[TLLK]

My favorite is Queen Elizabeth I (1533 - 1603) because she put England first, and not her feelings.  She was a political genius, especially as a woman in a man's world, and put England on the map as a formidable European power.  She was also very very brave having to deal with several life threatening crisis during her youth, and from the Catholic Church who wanted her dead so that Mary Stuart could take over her throne.  I also admire that she was not brought up with a silver spoon in her mouth as she was bastardized by her father, and her mother was executed.  Most children today never have such dysfunctional and sad childhoods, but it made her a very strong woman who learned from her mistakes and used them to better herself.  She also never married, which I find remarkable in her day and age.  She was truly an independent mind and a woman who even made the Pope fear her. 

Her story and those of her half-siblings is a remarkable piece of history. Mary and Elizabeth Tudor had to pay a heavy price for being the daughters of two very different but fascinating women.

[TLLK]

Favorite royal would be King George VI for his devotion and duty to the nation during its darkest days. The UK had its best man wearing the crown during WWII.

[Helena]

I'd go with the Queen's grandmother, Queen Mary.  She was far more intelligent and cultured than her husband and his family.  She was "duty first".

And I cannot help but admire the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.   She played the role of the nation's granny, but behind that facade Cookie was as Machiavellian as they get, and not many realized it.

[eagle]

My favourite is Diana as well. She is the first royal I knew of. I was born around the same time as her children and she was "there" - in the papers, on TV -when I was growing up, and I didn't know much about the other royals because of lesser press coverage, I guess. My mom met her once and said her presence had to be seen to be believed.
If I had to pick a second favourite, I would pick Queen Victoria, more for the changes that took place in that era. She inherited at 18, survived a few assassination attempts, saw some 10-odd prime ministers come and go and, most importantly, curtailed the powers of the East India Company. I have read that it was pretty much of her own volition, and that the move brought in "greater tolerance for native customs" and reduced corruption.

[Hester]

QEII.

Hands down.