Elizabeth, Mary Queen of Scots, and the Line of Succession

The only son of King Henry VIII, the Protestant Edward VI, dies without heirs.

Edward's older sister, the Catholic Mary, succeeds him. She marries King Philip of Spain, but also dies without heirs.

The last child of Henry then succeeds: this is Elizabeth I, queen of England.

She is Protestant. Her father Henry once had her declared a bastard, and many Catholics believe she is illegitimate because they think Henry's marriage to Anne Boleyn was invalid. They believe the rrightful heir to the throne is Henry's niece, the young and beautiful Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots.

Elizabeth and Cecil outplot Mary Stuart. But Elizabeth has no children to succeed her. When she dies, Cecil's son Robert ensures that Mary's son James gains the throne of England.