She was England’s first queen regnant (3/8)

Though there were disputed claims by English noblewomen to the throne prior to Mary’s own reign, such as those by Empress Matilda and Lady Jane Grey, Mary was the first undisputed queen regnant of England. The term ‘queen regnant’ refers to a female monarch who rules the country in her own right, as opposed to a ‘queen consort’ which refers to the subordinate wife of a king.