Imagine if England’s monarchy had been shaped by firstborn daughters instead of sons. What if it was the eldest daughters who inherited the throne, steering the course of the nation with their own unique strengths and perspectives? Regina: The Queen Who Could Have Been by Emily Murdoch Perkins, published by The History Press, delves into this tantalising question, painting a vibrant picture of the royal figures who were almost queens.
Dubbed “a fantastic, feminist dance through history” by bestselling author Julia Quinn, Regina explores the lesser-known stories of these women.
We may think of princesses as dutiful, marital conveniences to build alliances, wearing long flowing dresses, but the eldest daughters of our kings have been very different. Political intriguers. Abducted nuns who demanded divorces. Murderers, even.
As Authors’ Club member Emily will discuss on the evening, princesses have been mothers willing to risk anything for their children, wives who followed their husbands to the very ends of earth, and spinsters who demanded their intellectual and societal freedom. So, why did sons come to be valued higher than daughters? And just how would England have looked under a royal matriarchy?
Are you ready to meet the queens who should have been? Regina: The Queen Who Could Have Been hits shelves on October 24, 2024.