Expert: Mark Smith - 5/3/2007

Question
who was the first beheaded queen of England

Answer
Hello Samantha. The only reigning Queen of England to be beheaded was the nine-day Queen, Jane, better known as Lady Jane Grey. She was declared Queen on 10 July 1553 instead of the rightful heir, her cousin Mary Tudor. But Jane had very little support and after just nine days on 19 July she was deposed. Mary then became Queen and imprisoned Jane in the Tower of London. Seven months later there was a rebellion in England and Mary thought that Jane was involved, so she was beheaded on 12 February 1554, she was just 16 years old.
The first wife of a King (therefore a Queen) to be beheaded was Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII. She was tried for treason and beheaded on 19 May 1536.
Mark