Theory:Timeline - British monarchy

This page lists the British monarchy in chronological order. This timeline is based upon observations of the Doctor Who universe and the events that occur during each of these stories.

Years given for their reign are the ones confirmed by DWU stories.

Implied by regnal names
Occasionally, the names given for monarchs in the Doctor Who universe imply the existence of further monarchs who have never explicitly been identified. For example, the appearance of Elizabeth X in The Beast Below suggests that nine of her predecessors were also called Elizabeth despite only Elizabeth I, Elizabeth II and Elizabeth IV appearing in DWU sources.


 * : between 1087 and 1688 (PROSE: Vampire Science, AUDIO: The Glorious Revolution) In the real world, he was the immediate successor of William the Conqueror and reigned from 1087 to 1100.
 * , and : between 1087 and 1483 (PROSE: Vampire Science, AUDIO: The Kingmaker) In the real world, they succeeded Henry III and reigned from 1272 to 1307, 1307 to 1327 and 1327 to 1377.
 * : between 1415 and 1485 (PROSE: The Reign Makers, TV: The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo) In the real world, he immediately succeeded Henry V and reigned from 1422 to 1461 before being deposed by Edward IV and briefly retaking the throne from 1470 to 1471.
 * : between 18XX and 20XX (AUDIO: Phantasmagoria, Doctor Who and the Pirates, PROSE: The Highlanders, The Adventuress of Henrietta Street, Revenge of the Judoon) In the real world, he succeeded George IV and reigned from 1830 to 1837.
 * Henry IX, Henry X and Henry XI: between 1666 and 28XX (TV: The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo, The Beast Below, WC: Case File Eight, PROSE: The Roundheads, AUDIO: The Glorious Revolution) In the real world, there has not yet been a Henry IX.
 * Elizabeth III, Elizabeth V, Elizabeth VI, Elizabeth VI, Elizabeth VII, Elizabeth VIII and Elizabeth IX: between 20XX and 28XX (PROSE: The Edge of Glory, TV: The Beast Below) In the real world, there has not yet been an Elizabeth III. Although Elizabeth IV was identified in PROSE: Time Traveller's Diary, the years of her reign were not given.

Monarchs of Mercia

 * 785-?: King Egfrith
 * 'I dab oil onto your er, hands, your breast and the crown of your head. This is the most sacred part of the ceremony. It was first performed in 785 on Egfrith, King of Merc-' (PROSE: The Dying Days)


 * fl. late 8XX: King Guthrum
 * ALFRED: "After all, they already have Mercia and Northumbria." (PROSE: The Man Who Wouldn't Give Up)


 * ?-911: Æthelred of Mercia
 * Æthelfrid: "All these wayward northern lands were pulled together into union by my husband, Æthelred. And they were the death of him. It wore him ragged, holding the country together. All these seven years since I have stood in his stead." (AUDIO: The Lady of Mercia)


 * 911-918: Æthelfrid of Mercia (AUDIO: The Lady of Mercia)

Monarchs of Northumbria

 * fl. late 8XX: King Guthrum
 * ALFRED: "After all, they already have Mercia and Northumbria." (PROSE: The Man Who Wouldn't Give Up)

Monarchs of Scotland

 * ?-c. 1237: Alexander II
 * "He died five or six years ago". (PROSE: Sanctuary)


 * c. 1237-after 1242: Alexander II of Scotland's son
 * "His son has succeeded him. Of course the Bruce family still claim that they have right of succession, but Baliol is keeping them at bay." (PROSE: Sanctuary)


 * Although John Baliol is mentioned in regard to Alexander II and his son, his reign as king in his own right from 1292 to 1296 is not. The Bruce family are also mentioned but the reigns of and  from 1306 to 1329 and 1329 to 1371 respectively go similarly unstated. (PROSE: Sanctuary)


 * fl. 1540: James V
 * ROBERT: In the year of our Lord 1540, under the reign of King James the Fifth, an almighty fire did burn in the pit. (TV: Tooth and Claw)


 * fl. mid-15XX: Mary Stuart (TV: The Witchfinders, PROSE: Girl Power!)
 * Mid-15XX-1625: James VI (TV: The Witchfinders, WC: Case File Eight)
 * See for further monarchs

Monarchs of Wessex and England/Great Britain

 * The Doctor
 * ‘Apparently,’ he said as he chewed, ‘Arthur was supposed to take the sword out of the stone himself. Lot of fuss about nothing, if you ask me. But I did get to be King of England for a day before I abdicated in his favour. No real harm done.’ (PROSE: Silhouette)


 * King Arthur
 * Although Alfred the Great identifies his father Ethelwulf, Ethelbald and a brother as men who died fighting the Danish invaders before he became king, they have never been identified as monarchs themselves within the Doctor Who'' universe. (PROSE: The Man Who Wouldn't Give Up)


 * fl. 871: King Æthelred I
 * "In 871, Vikings defeated an army of Saxons led by King Æthelred I in Hampshire. (PROSE: Time Traveller's Diary)


 * fl. late 8XX: King Alfred the Great
 * 'My father Ethelwulf died of his worries...' the King continued in a flat emotionless drawl. 'Ethelred... Ethelbald... All my older brothers... All have died fighting the Danish invaders before I became king. Five good men have had to lose their lives for me to stand here before you.' (PROSE: The Man Who Wouldn't Give Up)


 * ?-924: Edward, Earl of Wessex
 * BLEAK: Edward of Wessex isn’t such a disaster, you know. He unites North with South. The whole country. (AUDIO: The Lady of Mercia)


 * 924-?: King Athelstan of England
 * Doctor: "...the Court of King Athelstan in 924 AD." "It's the Cup of Athelstan, given to the first King of Britain as a coronation gift from Hywel, King of the Welsh." (TV: Planet of the Dead)


 * ?-1016: King Ethelred
 * 'Ethelred; said the Doctor sternly before Tegan could reply, 'died in the year 1016. So we know roughly when we are.' (PROSE: The Immortals)


 * King Cnut
 * Before 1055-January 1066: King Edward the Confessor
 * DOCTOR: Ah, one of my favourite times and places. London in the year 1055. The court of King Edward, known as the Confessor. During the time known as the Rule of Solomon. (AUDIO: Seasons of Fear)


 * January 1066-14 October 1066: King Harold Godwinson (PROSE: A History of Humankind, TV: Co-Owner of a Lonely Heart)
 * DOCTOR: Now, if Harold is king, and Edward was laid to rest at the beginning of the year, then it must be 1066! (TV: The Time Meddler)


 * 25 December 1066-1087: King William the Conqueror (TV: Co-Owner of a Lonely Heart)
 * DOCTOR: And King Harold will defeat them. Yes, and then in a few weeks time, he loses the battle of Hastings to William the Conqueror. Well, at least that's what the history books said happened. (TV: The Time Meddler)
 * "She had been born in Canterbury the day William the Conqueror died." (PROSE: Vampire Science)


 * fl. 11XX: King Henry I (AUDIO: Abbey of Heretics)
 * fl. 11XX: King Stephen
 * THOMAS: I am Thomas Aspley, son of Lord Godfred Aspley, my father fights for the Empress Maude, but when our lands were taken by Stephen, I was forced to flee. I hoped to make it to the Welsh border, but my horse was maimed.
 * SISTER PATRICK: The church has swung back once again, sister, and now we officially support Stephen's claim to the throne. Besides, many of the sisters were from noble families who fought for him. (AUDIO: Abbey of Heretics)


 * fl. 11XX: Empress Maude (AUDIO: Abbey of Heretics)
 * ?-1189: King Henry II (PROSE: A History of Humankind)
 * 1189-1199: King Richard I
 * "Richard I of England reigned from 1189 until his death in 1199." (PROSE: A History of Humankind)


 * 1199-1216: King John
 * DOCTOR: Oh, Tegan. 1215? King John, of course.
 * TEGAN: The one who lost something in the Wash?
 * DOCTOR: Well, you could put it like that. This particular shirt turned out to be the Crown Jewels, but that's next year. (PROSE: The King's Demons)


 * 1216-c. 1266: King Henry III
 * RUTH: In 1216, the cathedral hosted the coronation of King Henry III, and he was only nine at the time! (TV: Fugitive of the Judoon)
 * "The fifty years to come, during the reign of Henry III, John's son and successor, would see changes that would establish for ever the basic rights and freedom for all men." (PROSE: The King's Demons)


 * ?-1399: King Richard II (AUDIO: The Doctor's Tale)
 * 1399-after 1400: King Henry IV (AUDIO: The Doctor's Tale)
 * fl. 1415: King Henry V (PROSE: The Reign Makers)
 * ?-1483: King Edward IV (AUDIO: The Kingmaker)
 * 1483: King Edward V/Susan (AUDIO: The Kingmaker)
 * 1483-1485: King Richard III (AUDIO: The Kingmaker)
 * 1485-1509: King Henry VII (TV: The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo)
 * 1509-1547: King Henry VIII (TV: The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo)
 * 1547-1553: King Edward VI (TV: The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo)
 * 10-19 July 1553: Lady Jane Grey
 * Rani: On this the nineteenth day of July, 1553, Lady Mary makes just claim to the Crown of England. And she calls upon all of her subjects to reject any unlawful claimants.
 * Jane: We each have a path that we must tread, and this is mine. All I hope is that I will be remembered even though I was Queen just nine days. (TV: Lost in Time)


 * 19 July 1553-November 1558: Queen Mary I
 * DOCTOR: You, Doctor Smythe, have to learn the responsibility of time travel. Mary shouldn't die until November 1558. (AUDIO: The Marian Conspiracy)


 * November 1558-1603: Queen Elizabeth I
 * DOCTOR: November 1558. Then Elizabeth becomes Queen, and within a few months everything's changed. The Spanish alliance, the restoration of Catholicism, gone for good. (AUDIO: The Marian Conspiracy)
 * EVELYN: But the problem is truly academic, as one of those sources is quite obviously a madman. Elizabeth died in 1603, and you certainly don't look four hundred years old. (AUDIO: The Marian Conspiracy)

After the union of the crowns

 * 1603-1625: King James I
 * 'They arrived at London in 1603 to a glorious parade, a magnificent spectacle, according to family legend. It was seen as the glorious union of the English and Scottish crowns. James the Sixth of Scotland would become James the First of the United Kingdom.' (PROSE: The Roundheads)
 * TEXT: James I - King of England - (1603 - 1625) (WC: Case File Eight)


 * 1625-30 January 1649: King Charles I
 * "King Charles was not used to such treatment. From birth, he had been pampered and indulged, both by his father, the slovenly James, and his elder brother, Prince Henry. Then, after Henry’s unexpected death, the beloved and wonderful Duke of Buckingham had taken the underdeveloped, rather sombre Charles and groomed him for the throne."
 * "The morning of January the thirtieth 1649 was a cold one and Charles Stuart insisted upon wearing an extra shirt so that his enemies would not mistake his shivering for fear." (PROSE: The Roundheads)

Lord Protectors

 * c. 1649-1658: Oliver Cromwell
 * "Oliver Cromwell, the man who was soon to become Lord Protector of the Kingdom, stared into the bright winter morning as though gazing through time itself."
 * ‘Oliver Cromwell,’ he murmured, ‘1599 to 1658.’ (PROSE: The Roundheads)


 * 1658: Richard Cromwell
 * ‘It says I will be known as “Tumbledown Dick”! That I shall rule for only a few scant months after my father’s death and I shall never be half the man he is!’ (PROSE: The Roundheads)

After the restoration of the monarchy

 * c. 1658-after 1666: King Charles II (AUDIO: The Glorious Revolution)
 * ‘The Protectorate will end with you. Your side will realise too late that they should not have used the hereditary principle and Charles the Second will be invited to take the throne.’ (PROSE: The Roundheads)


 * ?-1688: King James II
 * DOCTOR: Mary of Modena. Queen Mary of England, which means her husband must be..
 * JAMIE: King James VII!
 * DOCTOR: You see Zoe, in this year 1688, there was what they call the glorious revolution. A few miles away, William of Orange has an army preparing to march on London, hence the local unrest. (AUDIO: The Glorious Revolution)


 * 1688-8 March 1702: King William of Orange & 1688-before 1702: Queen Mary II
 * DOCTOR: In fact, William was invited here by some members of the parliament. The king has made himself rather unpopular, you see, so they've asked for William's help in persuading him to reconsider some policies. Although he would later replace him as King. His wife is King James' daughter, and they'll rule as joint monarchs, William and Mary.
 * CROWD: God bless King William the third! (AUDIO: The Glorious Revolution)
 * DOCTOR: The King's just died. How very convenient.
 * DOCTOR: No, I suppose not, but very handy for us. King William, Prince of Orange.
 * DOCTOR: It's the eighth of March seventeen hundred and two. (AUDIO: Phantasmagoria)


 * 1702-1714: Queen Anne
 * EVELYN: Queen Anne, last of the Stuarts, reigned 1702 to 1714. (AUDIO: Doctor Who and the Pirates)


 * NOTE: In the real world, the united England and Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. No known DWU source has dated this event to 1707, however.


 * 1714-?: King George I
 * "The English had been alienated by the autocratic Scottish Stuart Kings, and some forty years before had thrown them out of the United Kingdom, replacing them with the Hanoverian German Georges." (PROSE: The Highlanders)


 * fl. 1746: King George II
 * DOCTOR: They were singing it to drive me out of my mind, as I'm a loyal subject to King George the Second! (TV: The Highlanders)


 * Before 1762-after 1817: King George III (AUDIO: In the Year of the Cat, PROSE: Rain and Regency)
 * fl. early 18XX: King George IV
 * "She campaigned for the Whig party in the great London elections of 1784, became the mistress of the Prince of Wales (later King George IV)" (PROSE: The Adventuress of Henrietta Street)


 * 1837-c. 1900: Queen Victoria
 * "Born in 1819, Victoria became Queen of England in 1837, when she was just eighteen. Victoria's reign spanned sixty-three years and saw great change." (PROSE: A History of Humankind)
 * In an alternate timeline, Victoria marries and is ultimately succeeded by King John Hart following the premature death of her son. John's reign lasts until the end of the universe in 2017. (AUDIO: The Death of Captain Jack)


 * c. 1900-May 1910: King Edward VII
 * "I was born in 1906... Anyway Edward VII was the King. That's why I'm called Edward - did I ever tell you that?" (PROSE: Childhood Living)
 * "It was a Saturday in May, and the hotel was sombre and quiet. The King had died the day before. Edward VII had finally given out and given up." (PROSE: In Case of Emergencies)


 * May 1910-1936: King George V
 * "I listened all day to people in muted conversations, staff and guests alike, everyone discussing the new king, George V, and how the family would be coping at this tragic time." (PROSE: In Case of Emergencies)


 * 1936: King Edward VIII
 * "King Edward VIII, formerly the fantastically popular Prince of Wales, had only recently succeeded to the throne. Even so, the crowning ceremony had been mysteriously delayed." (PROSE: Players)
 * MATRIX VOICE: Humanian Era, Earth, December the tenth, 1936. Abdication of King Edward the Eighth. (AUDIO: Neverland)


 * December 1936-6 February 1952: King George VI
 * "Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne following the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952." (PROSE: A History of Humankind)


 * 6 February 1952-1997: Queen Elizabeth II (PROSE: A History of Humankind, The Dying Days)
 * 1997: King Xznaal
 * "'This is St Edward's crown, your majesty. It dates back to the time of Edward the Confessor, as far as we can tell. When I place this upon your head, you will be the rightful King of England.' Xznaal hissed his pleasure. As the crown was lowered, the first few voices were raised. 'All hail King Xznaal the First,' Greyhaven said quietly." (PROSE: The Dying Days)


 * 1997-20XX: Queen Elizabeth II
 * "Queen Elizabeth sat on the coronation throne, the Imperial State Crown on her head, restored to its former glory. The Recoronation would clear the constitutional way for the election of a new Parliament." (PROSE: The Dying Days)
 * NOTE: Varying accounts indicate that Queen Elizabeth left the throne for good by the 2000s, (AUDIO: The Longest Night) 2010, (PROSE: Mad Dogs and Englishmen) 2012, (PROSE: The Shadows of Avalon) 2020, (AUDIO: Black and White), and 2027. (AUDIO: A Death in the Family) Others stated that she was still the reigning monarch in the early 2020s. (PROSE: The Edge of Glory)


 * fl. 20XX: King Charles III
 * 'No Elizabeth the Second, God bless her, and no King Charles the Third and Queen Camilla, no King William the Fifth - no, you haven't got there yet, have you?' (PROSE: Revenge of the Judoon)
 * 2027: Unnamed King (AUDIO: A Death in the Family)


 * fl. 20XX: King William V
 * 'No Elizabeth the Second, God bless her, and no King Charles the Third and Queen Camilla, no King William the Fifth - no, you haven't got there yet, have you?' (PROSE: Revenge of the Judoon)
 * 2050: Unnamed King
 * Interviewer: Apologies to all those who complained about missing the broadcast of the King's birthday message, and to those unhappy about seeing it twice. (TV: Oroborus)


 * Queen Elizabeth IV
 * "[Lady Jane Grey's time as queen] was the shortest reign of a British monarch until Queen Liz IV's coronation space yacht passed through the Time Vortex. Her entire reign lasted thirty-six minutes." (PROSE: Time Traveller's Diary)


 * King Henry XII
 * Liz Ten: Old drinking buddy of Henry Twelve. (TV: The Beast Below)


 * 28XX-5145: Queen Elizabeth X
 * DOCTOR: Yeah, an antique made by craftsmen over two hundred years ago and perfectly sculpted to your face. They slowed your body clock, all right, but you're not fifty. Nearer three hundred. And it's been a long old reign. (TV: The Beast Below)
 * LIZ: This is the Royal Collection, and I'm the bloody Queen. What are you doing here? (TV: The Pandorica Opens)