Anne Hyde

Today in 1660, Anne Hyde, a commoner, married James Duke of York, brother to King Charles II. The wedding took place around midnight at her father’s house on the Strand, Anne was already heavily pregnant and would give birth just two months after the private ceremony.

 

Anne and James met during their exile in The Netherlands, Anne was maid of honour to James’ sister, Mary of Orange. She was attractive and stylish and had several admirers whom she dismissed when she met James. The wedding was opposed by James’ mother and Anne’s own father, who was terrified of accusations of rampant ambition in marrying his daughter to royalty.

 

But Anne had the support of her brother-in-law, the king, who thought that her strong character would do James good. He even laughed off an offer from Anne’s own father for her to be sent to the Tower to be executed.

 

Once married, the duchess was seen as both haughty and intelligent, and she was not popular at court. Samuel Pepys described Anne as "not only the proudest woman in the world, but the most expensefull", he also claimed the pair were notorious for showing their affections publicly, kissing and leaning on each other.

 

Anne seemed to tolerate James’ many mistresses, only chiding him when things went too far. Before her death Anne had eight children, though only two would survive. The two surviving girls would each go on to take the throne. The eldest, Queen Mary II, ruled with her husband William of Orange, and her youngest daughter, would become Queen Anne, the first sovereign queen of the United Kingdom.