"Favorite British monarch?" Topic

Who is your favorite monarch from the British Isles? This encompasses every reigning (or de jure, or pretend) monarch since the historical beginnings of the realms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, plus Wales as well. Bits of England also count (i.e., pre-unification; if your fave is one of the Mercian kings, go for it!) Claimants also count, so stick out your chest for Bonnie Prince Charlie if you want! Perkin Warbeck, sure, why not? Limit: one "Arthur, King of the Britons" vote per person!

Richard III was misunderstood, and slandered by that Tudor toady Shakespeare. Harrumph. Talk about Mainstream Media!

I'm going to shout out for Robert the Bruce, James IV (Scotland), Owain Glyndwr (Wales), Charles II, Victoria.

Tempted to add Alfred the Great and Richard Lionheart and Brian Boru… sentimental choices.

Edward the Great, aka, the English Justinian, the Lawgiver, the Father of the Mother of Parliaments, Flower of Chivalry, Hammer of the Scots and, more informally, Longshanks.

Elizabeth I

Our dear late Queen Elizabeth II of course. A shining example of what a head of state should be.

Amongst historical ones, Henry VIII for the LOLs and Alfred the Great for his vision of England.

Honourable mention for Athelstan, the first King of England. He was buried near where I live and his legacy lives on locally through the Malmesbury commoners.

I agree with Martin Rapier on Queen Elizabeth II (of happy memory).

My second place goes to George V.

Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Elizabeth II. Whenever I read John of Salisbury's idea that A true prince should have no will of himself separate from that of the interest of his people, I can not help but think that this is a perfect description of Queen Elizabeth II. In fact, I have trouble thinking of another monarch (of any country) who lived up so well to Salisbury's standard.

Queen Elizabeth II

Hmmm, the question was, which is your favourite – they don't have to be successful or very nice for you to pick them. Indeed in the medieval period and earlier, if you weren't a murdering b*std, you were weren't going to last long let alone succeed.

Queen Elizabeth II (even as a staunch Republican).

Second would be Charles I, for sticking his neck out, and third Alfred the Great.

Richard the Lionheart

Grudgingly, 'cause I likes me a warrior king kicking foreign b---, the two Elizabeths for gracefully navigating the vicissitudes of their eras. Points to Charles I for valiantly fighting the two-headed monster of Parliament and Charles II for learning to co-exist with the same beast.

Ceolwulf II, King of Mercia.

Written out of the history books by Alfred the Great. Ceolwulf II and Alfred worked together to create modern kingdom of England.

George II because he was the last monarch to lead troops in battle. It was some time in the mid 1700's I think. Can anyone picture Charles really commanding an army? It's so silly thast he wears a uniform sometimes with a bunch of medals on it.

Æthelflæd of Mercia is mine, although Alfred's daughter, and less famous than Æthelstan, she did very well indeed!

Elizabeth II
Henry V
Erik Bloodaxe

Arthur, King of the Britons, wielder of Excalibur— the Once and Future King!

Let's go for the Yorkists!

Edward III & Edward IV (there's a warrior king)

Throw in Henry V He had the best speech! Ok it is fictional but still!

DeRuyter, Henry V is a Lancastrian, and EIII is not a Yorkist.

Harold Godwinson and Stephen

Mary I.

Knute. The whole bit with ordering the tides not to come in was to refute the flatterers who insisted a king could do anything by issuing a decree. Would that elected rulers heeded the warning!

After him, Elizabeth I and Richard III--Elizabeth for navigating her country through very dangerous times, and Richard III for being the last and maybe the best of the sort of king he was and wanted to be--the warrior monarch.

Queen Victoria.For modern times Queen Elizabeth II

I am with Bismark athough I do have a soft spot for George VI

George III

Should add that I meant no disrespect to Elizabeth II. In fact, I habitually carry a "young head" EII coin in my pocket. (Churchill is on the reverse, and Ike on the accompanying dollar coin.) She was the perfect symbolic monarch. But she never had the burden of command.

No support for Charles II? The story of him catching the young John Churchill in bed with one of his mistresses alone should have gotten him some support.

Very interesting responses! Thanks to all who join in. Nice to see some of the Anglo-Saxons getting some push -- I always expected the Tudors will draw a crowd -- and a lot of love for the late Queen, God rest her soul, ER II (or ER I for Scotland). It's difficult to decide when a monarch is no longer a "ruler" as opposed to "reigning." But like many others, Elizabeth II is the only monarch of the UK I've ever lived under. I've known seven popes, but only one queen. And now a king again.

Essentially, this proposal for a poll would focus on monarchs who commanded armies and led the government and set policy in a way modern royals cannot strive toward. Wargaming stuff! But where to draw the line is difficult, so let those 20th century picks strut their stuff.

George VI

"No support for Charles II"

There are quite a few monarchs to choose from and we were only allowed one!

Alfred The Great, Elizabeth I and II, Victoria and William The Conqueor

Elizabeth II. I echo Kevin C's statement.

Modern – George VI although Elizabeth II was certainly close to perfect for a rapidly changing world and her role.

Ancient – Edward III was brutal when needed and effective in maintaining stability which is about all you can expect from a feudal type.

@BillyNM

DeRuyter, Henry V is a Lancastrian, and EIII is not a Yorkist.

Perhaps my post was badly worded – I wasn't putting Henry V in with the Yorkists. Whilst a Plantagenet EIII was the progenitor of the Yorkist line, I mean one of his son's became the Duke of York correct?

Old King Cole

What a merry old soul!

Time for a Boudicca lobby!

None of them. It's about time the UK followed the Russian example in dealing with the Monarchy.

None of them. It's about time the UK followed the Russian example in dealing with the Monarchy

Hmm, good job we have free speech, in the past they would have burnt you!!! :-)

Goodness me. Advocating the ruthless cold-blooded murder of an entire family, KM? Tsk-tsk.