Alan Steppe
Queen Elizabeth I of England, often referred to as “The Virgin Queen,” did not have any children. Her lack of an heir and her decision to remain unmarried are significant aspects of her reign and legacy. Elizabeth’s decision not to marry and produce an heir was a topic of much debate and concern during her lifetime.
Upon her death in 1603, the Tudor dynasty, which had begun with her grandfather Henry VII, came to an end. The throne passed to James VI of Scotland, who became James I of England, initiating the Stuart dynasty. He was the son of Elizabeth’s first cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, making him Elizabeth’s closest living relative.
