Over the centuries iconic women have ascended to power, built empires, and ruled kingdoms, often surpassing their male counterparts. Now Channel 4's new six-part documentary series, Queens That Changed the World, puts six powerful queens — trailblazer Elizabeth I, standard-setting Anne, formidable queen Victoria, rebel queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, Egyptian pharaoh Hatshepsut, and legendary queen Boudica — under the spotlight, exploring what made them exceptional sovereigns.
Here’s our guide to Queens That Changed the World…
Queens That Changed the World release date
The opening episode of Queens That Changed the World season 1 aired on Channel 4 on Saturday 5 August 2022 at 7.15pm, with the five following episodes showing weekly at the same time.
All episodes are available on channel4.com after episode one airs on TV.
Queens That Changed the World premise
Each episode focuses on one monarch and brings her story to life with the use of actors, recreations, on location filming, and contributions from historians, psychologists and experts from the world of art, who examine the facts, physical evidence and contemporary art work associated with the featured queen of the week. The series is narrated by Foundation star Leah Harvey.
C4 Press: “In this series we discover what drove these women, how they asserted their authority, and reveal the times when, sometimes, being a woman had its advantages. Combining archive, location shooting, talking heads and stylised recreations, we trace the rise to power of each queen and investigate their reign. With analysis from historians, academics and psychologists, we will pick apart the challenges they faced and discover each monarch’s unique approach to power while understanding wider themes such as women’s changing position in society and what it meant to be the ‘fairer sex.’”
Episode guide
Queens That Changed the World
Episode 1
The Virgin Queen: Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I is in the spotlight for the opening episode of this arresting new series examining the life and times of iconic queens.
Ascending to power in 1558 after the death of her half-sister, Mary, young Elizabeth privately vowed to never marry, but the canny monarch played the game and appeared single and ready to mingle, counting the King of Spain, Phillip II, Charles Archduke of Austria, and Eric XIV, King of Sweden among her suitors
Later in life, she proudly promoted her image as the Virgin Queen, and concentrated instead on establishing the English empire on the world stage. Not afraid to break the rules, in 1577 she sent Francis Drake on a secret mission to raid Spanish ships of their riches from the New World.
By 1588 she had cemented her place in history by defending England against a Spanish Armada attack, headed up by her former beau, Phillip II. Not bad for someone who was declared illegitimate at two-years-old after her father Henry VIII had her mother Anne Boleyn beheaded…
"As a female ruler she had to work so much harder than a man," says historian Tracy Borman. "Yet, Elizabeth emerged as one of the greatest monarchs that Britain had ever seen."
Queens That Changed the World episode 1 contributors: Historian and author Dr Tracy Borman, historian Dr Elena Woodacre, psychologist Honey Langcaster-James, historian Montaz Marché, cultural historian Dr Katrina Marchant, historian and author Dr Estelle Paranque, art historian Madeleine Pelling, and historian Dr Onyeka Nubia.
Episode 2
The Forgotten Queen: Anne
In the second episode of Queens That Changed the World the experts blow away Queen Anne’s dull and dusty reputation and reveal that rumours and scandal were instrumental in her queenship. Coming to the throne in 1702, Anne set the standard for future royal rulers. She also achieved the unification of England and Scotland. But back to the goss!
The short version: From wild whispers about her sexuality to Anne herself starting malicious, history-altering lies about her newborn half-brother, she could have given soap scriptwriters a run for their money… Ironically, it was a vengeful smear campaign against her that led to her lasting reputation as a sickly and stupid sovereign.
The longer version:
By the time Anne was crowned queen in 1702 she’d already proven herself a woman-to-watch. Fifteen years previously, at the age of 22, Protestant Princess Anne embarked on a smear campaign against her Catholic father, James II, claiming his newborn son, James Francis Edward, was an imposter.
"She supported a rumour that her half brother was switched at birth, her father's real son died, and he had no right to the throne and spread it far and wide," reveals historian Dr Tracy Borman. ‘"t's a remarkable tactic. Anne could play dirty when she wanted!"
When finally in power Anne surrounded herself with female advisors and enjoyed intense friendships with Sarah Churchill and Abigail Masham, leading to scandal about her sexuality… A subject that earned Olivia Colman an Oscar when she played a tragicomic version of Queen Anne in The Favourite in 2018!
In real life, a very public fallout with a vengeful Sarah in 1708, led to Anne being discredited as a sickly and stupid sovereign. In fact, she not only set the standard for future royal rulers, but also achieved the political unification of England and Scotland.
"We need to stop being obsessed with Queen Anne’s relationships with the women of her household," says Tracy. "That's only part of the story. She got things done and was one of Britain’s most effective rulers."
Queens That Changed the World episode 2 contributors: Historian and author Dr Tracy Borman, historian Dr Elena Woodacre, psychologist Honey Langcaster-James, cultural historian Dr Katrina Marchant, art historian Madeleine Pelling, historian Dr Onyeka Nubia, author Mina Moriarty, historian Alice Loxton, and historian and author Rebecca Rideal.
Episode 3
The Queen of Empire: Victoria
The short version: In the spotlight in this third episode is Queen Victoria, who’s portrayed as the UK’s first media savvy sovereign after her early reign was marred by scandal. Having been vilified in the press Victoria resolved to repair her reputation, and her marriage to Prince Albert provided a perfect public relations opportunity in the age of photography and empire. The couple went on to establish themselves as ‘working royals’ and an accessible family, making public appearances and releasing images of their home life. While this all provides an interesting snapshot of the now instantly recognisable monarch, it falls frustratingly short of the full picture.
The longer version: In 1837 Queen Victoria ascended to the throne when many were questioning the need for a monarchy. And at only 18 years old she had a steep learning curve ahead…
During her childhood she was stiflingly controlled by her widowed mother, the Duchess of Kent, and comptroller John Conroy. After she became queen, Victoria distanced herself from them and spread rumours that lady-in-waiting Flora Hastings was pregnant with Conroy’s child. When it emerged that Flora actually had cancerous tumours, Victoria faced her first major crisis. Vilified in the press realised she needed to restore her reputation quickly.
Her marriage to Prince Albert proved a perfect public relations opportunity. The couple had nine children and created the concept of the monarchy as a family, releasing images of their lives together. They also established the idea of ‘working royals’ making numerous public appearances.
However, visibility and positive headlines came at a price. During her 63-year reign seven assassination attempts were made on Queen Victoria’s life. Despite the danger she continued her public life. Her popularity soared and by the time her celebratory Golden Jubilee rolled around Victoria's image was iconic and adorned on mugs, plates and biscuit tins!
"She was the first celebrity monarch," says historian Dr Tracy Borman. "So much of what we see today had its origins with Victoria."
Queens That Changed the World episode 3 contributors: Historian and author Dr Tracy Borman, psychologist Honey Langcaster-James, art historian Madeleine Pelling, historian Dr Onyeka Nubia, historian Dr Fern Riddell, Dr Emma Butcher, and author and historian Shrabani Basu.
Episode 4
The Queen who would be King: Hatshepsut
Today seen as one of Egypt's most powerful and successful rulers, for centuries Hatshepsut was known as a king rather than a queen as she demanded she was represented as male complete with beard in contemporary depictions.
As pharaoh she oversaw immense engineering works, such as the building of the Temple of Deir el-Bahri and she developed important trade routes across the region. She led expeditions and brought wealth and artistry to the region.
Episode 5
The Rebel Queen: Eleanor of Aquitaine
As a young teenager, Eleanor’s father, the Duke of Aquitaine, passed away, leaving her with the title and huge wealth. She married Louis, son of the French king and became Queen of France, whilst still a teenager.
She was known for her tenacity and strongly influenced Louis’ decision-making. She even accompanied him on his Second Crusade to the Holy Land in 1147.
After their marriage was annulled, she married Henry Plantagenet, heir to the English throne. Once Queen of England, she looked after Henry’s interests whilst he was away. However, after another split, she ended up the king’s prisoner for 10 years until his death when her son Richard the Lionheart became king.
Episode 6
The Warrior Queen: Boudica
Boudica turned on her masters, Roman invaders to Britain, when, after the death of her husband Prasutagus chief of the Iceni, they beat her in public and had her daughters raped by slaves. Boudica set about planning her revenge, building an army and uniting warring tribes by focusing on a common enemy.
Boudica and her army of Britons rode to Colchester, Roman Britain’s capital, and razed it to the ground. London and St Albans followed. In all some 80,000 Romans were slaughtered, but her resistance finally came to an end at the Battle of Wattling Street where 200,000 Britons died.
Is there a trailer for Queens That Changes the World?
Unfortunately there isn't a trailer for Queen That Changed the World season one.
Additional information
Queens That Changed the World is produced by Woodcut Media and distributed worldwide by Abacus Media Rights.
Angie Cox (George Clarke's Amazing Spaces, Paranormal Captured, Murdered at First Sight, The Murder of Meredith) is the series producer.
Kate Beal and Tom Adams are executive producers for Woodcut Media.
Channel 4’s senior acquisitions manager, Polly Scates said: “It’s refreshing to see the stories of these women placed at the forefront and I’m excited for a light to be shone on their incredible impact on history.
“The women featured in this fascinating docu-series were the disruptors of the day — all standing out as towering figures in history and achieving incredible notoriety for their achievements and never shunning away from adversity in what was a male dominated era.”
Managing director at Abacus Media Rights, Jonathan Ford, said: “Woodcut Media have created a highly engaging documentary series which will resonate around the world. Many women leaders have played a ground-breaking role in global history and this takes a deep dive into some who made a massive difference to the way their countries evolved across time.”
