I’d like to welcome Tony Riches, not only as a guest author today, but to the Stuart Era! I have enjoyed Tony’s brilliant series of novels set during Tudor times, and when I heard of his newest book, Queen Anna, I couldn’t wait to read it. I’m about halfway through, and enjoying it immensely. I’ll post a review shortly, but in the meantime, please enjoy a word from Tony.
Queen Anna is on sale through Amazon UK and US, Details on Tony’s new release and the rest of his books are available on his website TonyRiches.com
Five things you probably didn’t know about Anna of Denmark,
by Tony Riches,
author of ‘Queen Anna’,
Book One of the Stuart Queens Trilogy
When people think of the Stuart monarchy, I expect they picture King James VI of Scotland and I of England, or perhaps the drama surrounding their ill-fated son, King Charles I.
Anna of Denmark, James’s queen, was a fascinating woman in her own right. Intelligent, determined, and surprisingly modern in the ways she stepped out of the traditional role expected of a royal consort. Fiercely independent and constantly stirring up drama at court, I think Queen Anna is one of Stuart history’s most underrated and unconventional royal figures.
Here are five good reasons why I believe Anna deserves to be remembered for more than simply being the wife of a king:
Reason One: She fought for the right to raise her children
It seems unbelievable today, but King James believed royal children should be raised under the care of trusted nobles (as he was), rather than their parents. Their son, Prince Henry, was placed in the household of the Earl and Countess of Mar at Stirling Castle.
Anna demanded her son be returned to her care and travelled to Stirling while heavily pregnant to confront those refusing her access. The stress of the dispute may have contributed to her miscarriage, and caused a dangerous political crisis, yet although she never regained custody of Prince Henry as a child, the episode illustrates how protective she was as a mother.
Reason Two: Anna loved the theatre more than anyone at court
Anna championed the lavish court entertainments known as masques before they became a major part of royal life. She commissioned and starred in masques wearing magnificent and revealing costumes (some made from the remodelled gowns once worn by Queen Elizabeth I). These productions featured spectacular scenery, music and dancing, with scripts written by the playwright Ben Jonson and imaginative stage effects and costume designs by Inigo Jones.
Her critics disapproved of the queen appearing on stage, but Anna ignored them. Her enthusiasm helped transform the English court into one of Europe’s leading centres of artistic innovation.
Reason 3: Anna helped shape the look of the Stuart court
Anna had an excellent eye for style. She commissioned Inigo Jones to create beautiful buildings, including the Queen’s House at Greenwich. She redesigned royal residences, such as her beloved Denmark House, and filled them with paintings, sculptures and luxurious furnishings.
She also supported leading artists from across Europe, encouraging them to work in England. Her patronage helped introduce continental fashions and artistic ideas that influenced British culture for generations.
In many ways, Anna was not simply collecting art. She was creating an image of the Stuart monarchy that projected elegance, sophistication and power.
Reason Four: Anna was more politically astute than many people realise
Anna has been dismissed as ‘frivolous’, with little interest in politics, but the truth is more complicated. She built relationships with visiting foreign ambassadors and influential nobles. She understood how conversation, hospitality and personal connections could be more powerful than public speeches.
Queen Anna and King James often held conflicting views, particularly over foreign affairs and religion. Although she rarely challenged the king openly, she found subtle ways to influence events behind the scenes, demonstrating effective political judgement.
Reason Five: Anna left a lasting legacy through her children
Anna’s greatest legacy may be her remarkable children. Her surviving son became King Charles I, whose reign led to the English Civil War. Her daughter, Princess Elizabeth, married Frederick V, Elector Palatine, and became known as the ‘Winter Queen’ of Bohemia.
Every British monarch from George I to King Charles III can trace their ancestry back to Anna of Denmark, a reminder that although Anna is often overlooked, her family shaped the future of Britain for centuries.
A Queen Worth Rediscovering
Anna of Denmark was far more than a royal wife standing beside her husband. She was a determined mother, an enthusiastic patron of the arts, a woman of taste and intelligence, and an influential figure at one of the most important courts in British history. The more I learn about her, the clearer it becomes that Anna played a significant role in shaping the early Stuart age. I often find the most interesting people in history are hiding in plain sight, and Anna of Denmark is certainly one of them.
Tony Riches is a full-time UK author of historical fiction. He lives with his wife in Pembrokeshire, West Wales and is a specialist in the lives of the early Tudors. As well as his Elizabethan series, Tony’s historical fiction novels include the best-selling Tudor trilogy and his Elizabethan series. For more information about Tony’s books please visit his website tonyriches.com and his blog, The Writing Desk and find him on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and Twitter @tonyriches.
Links:
Website: https://www.tonyriches.com/
Writing blog: https://tonyriches.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonyriches
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyriches.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyriches.author
Podcasts: https://tonyriches.podbean.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5604088.Tony_Riches
