Elizabeth Norton (author of ‘The Lives of Tudor Women’)
British history does not have enough reigning queens, so I’m all for including both Jane and her distant predecessor, Empress Matilda. It is always pleasing to see one, or both of these remarkable women included in lists of monarchs. Jane’s reign was, of course, brief, and her legitimacy highly debatable, but for a brief moment she wore the crown. If we include Edward V (another uncrowned monarch whose claim to the crown was challenged) then there is no reason not to include Jane. For that reason, I think we should call her Queen Jane.
Joanne Paul (author of ‘The House of Dudley’)
Jane was proclaimed queen by the Council and recognised by (at least some) foreign powers. That is enough to make her queen (the precedent of Edward V is helpful here).
