ABSTRACT
Anne was the last Stuart to wear the crown of England, and she had all the pride and stubbornness that typified her family. She was only thirty-seven when she came to the throne, but youth had long ago deserted her. Anne was crippled by gout and dropsy, which made public appearances agony for her, yet she believed that God had given her the throne and she was determined not to evade the responsibilities that went with this high trust. The fact that Anne was a Stuart was not simply a matter of interest; it was a political factor of the first importance. Anne seemed to fit their requirements perfectly. In spite of her size and limited intelligence she had a natural dignity, and she emphasised her hereditary right to the throne by once again exercising those sacred functions that her predecessor had thought prudent to dispense with.
