14. When Anne Hyde became pregnant by her lover, Charles II’s brother, James, he married her. But she never became Queen.
Charles II never contemplated marriage to any his mistresses. However, his younger brother James was less prudent and married his mistress when he got her pregnant. James met Anne Hyde when he and Charles were in exile in Holland and Anne was a maid of honour to James’s sister, Mary, Princess of Orange. After Anne became pregnant, James decided he wanted his child to be legitimate. So he married Anne in secret in September 1660 — a month before the birth. Months later, Charles ascended the English throne. But he disapproved of James’s decision and so did not immediately make Anne and James welcome at court. Anne died in 1671 after giving birth to two living daughters, Mary and Anne — both of whom ascending the English throne.