Mary of Modena

Queen Mary of Modena was the wife of King James II of England and James VII of Scotland who reigned over both countries from 1685 to 1688.

In 1688, she gave birth to the Prince of Wales James Stuart. There was a rumour that the baby had been smuggled into her bedchamber in a warming pan and therefore had no right to the throne. She was the grandmother of Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Shortly before James II was overthrown by his daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange in the Glorious Revolution in November 1688, she and her infant son went into exile in France. The Second Doctor, Jamie McCrimmon and Zoe Heriot helped her to evade from a mob of Protestant supporters of William. The Queen then requested that the Doctor travel to the Palace of Whitehall and inform James II that she had escaped, giving him her ruby ring as proof. (AUDIO: The Glorious Revolution)