Queen Anne (6 February 1665 – 1 August 1714) ascends the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702, succeeding her brother-in-law and cousin, William III of England and II of Scotland.

Her Catholic father, James II and VII, had been deemed by the English Parliament to have abdicated when he was forced to retreat to France during the Glorious Revolution of 1688/9; her brother-in-law and her sister had then become joint monarchs as William III & II and Mary II.

After Mary's death in 1694, William continues as sole monarch until his own death in 1702.

On 1 May 1707, under the Acts of Union 1707, England and Scotland are united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Anne becomes its first sovereign, while continuing to hold the separate crown of Queen of Ireland and the title of Queen of France.

Anne reigns for twelve years until her death in August 1714.

Therefore she is, technically, the last Queen of England and the last Queen of Scots.

Queen Anne's life is marked by many crises, both personal and relating to succession of the Crown and religious polarization.

Because she dies without surviving children, Anne is the last monarch of the House of Stuart.

She is succeeded by her second cousin, George I, of the House of Hanover, who is a descendant of the Stewarts through his maternal grandmother, Elizabeth, daughter of James I and VI.