Rex Factor

Emily Murdoch Perkins - The Queens Who Could Have Been

Rex Factor

Show Notes

As an introduction to our series on the nearly monarchs, we speak to Emily Perkins about her book Regina: The Queens Who Could Have Been, which looks at the queens who could have ruled if first-born daughters had been prioritised in the succession.

Emily Murdoch Perkins’ book Regina: The Queens Who Could Have Been is available in all good bookshops, but if you want the gold foil shiny hardback, that’s a limited edition until June 2026, so grab it while you can! You can find out more about Emily at www.emilymurdochperkins.com

Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠

You can now watch the podcast either on Spotify or on YouTube via the link below:

https://youtu.be/l3PDsRAObME

"(00:00:00) Introduction"

"(00:02:48) Introducing Emily"

"(00:03:30) Book Overview"

"(00:10:18) Æthelflæd Lady of the Mercians"

"(00:19:53) Marie of Blois"

"(00:27:10) Margaret Tudor"

"(00:43:37) Eleanor of Woodstock"

"(00:48:38) Anne, Princess of Orange"

"(00:51:57) Princess Vicky"

"(01:01:17) Outro" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More from Rex Factor

Oct 23, 2026

William Clito was the son of Robert Curthose and a thorn in the side of Henry I. With many in England, Normandy and France seeing Clito as the rightful heir, Henry's foreign policy largely centred around dealing with Clito, who was brave, well-thought of and a genuine threat. So, as with all the Nearly Monarchs, where did it go wrong for Clito, and did he do enough for the Rex Factor?

Oct 9, 2026

Our nearly monarch this week is William Adelin, only legitimate son of Henry I and famously a victim of the White Ship Disaster. Before this, however, he was being shaped for kingship, learning governance from his mother, Matilda of Scotland, seeing high stakes diplomacy from his father and even engaging in his first battle. So what might have been for William Adelin?

Sep 25, 2026

We kick off the Norman nearly monarchs with Robert Curthose, the eldest son of William the Conqueror who managed to miss out on becoming king twice. A dramatic life story, tussling with his father and brothers, a bromance with Edgar the Ætheling and a starring role in the First Crusade. But is it enough for the Rex Factor?

Sep 11, 2026

It's our first Right to Reply of the Nearly Monarch series as we go through your messages on the Anglo-Saxons (and Viking) We hear of suggestions for other Nearly Monarchs to include, different approaches to the scoring system, plus your thoughts on all the nearly monarchs we've covered so far (including Offa).

Aug 14, 2026

This week we chat to Dr Eleanor Parker about the next generation of Anglo-Saxons in 1066 - the young men and women whose lives took a very different path with the Conquest and how they adapted. From the semi-legendary Hereward the Wake to the children of Harold Godwinson, old favourites like Edgar the Ætheling and St Margaret of Scotland, and many more!

See all episodes →