William & Mary - A Joint Crown

On 13 February 1689, the English Convention Parliament formally offered the crown to William of Orange and his wife, Mary. This was not simply the accession of new monarchs, but a defining constitutional moment in British history.

The decision followed a period of deep uncertainty. King James II had left England in December 1688 after losing the confidence of many of his subjects and much of the political nation. His policies, particularly those seen as favouring Roman Catholic interests, had caused widespread concern in a kingdom that had been shaped by the Protestant Reformation.

When James departed, the country faced a constitutional dilemma. Had the king abdicated, or was the throne merely vacant? After considerable debate, Parliament resolved that James had effectively abandoned his government and that the throne was therefore vacant.

Rather than restoring James or inviting foreign intervention, Parliament turned to William of Orange. William was already an established Protestant leader in Europe and was married to Mary, the Protestant daughter of James II. By offering the crown jointly to William and Mary, Parliament maintained a lawful line of succession while securing Protestant leadership.

Their acceptance of the crown was not unconditional. Before doing so, they agreed to the Declaration of Rights, later enacted as the Bill of Rights (1689). This landmark legislation set clear limits on royal authority. It affirmed that laws could not be suspended without Parliament’s consent, taxation required parliamentary approval, and certain rights and liberties were to be upheld.

The settlement of 1689 strengthened the role of Parliament and helped shape the development of constitutional monarchy in Britain. It also confirmed the Protestant succession, a principle that would continue to influence the nation’s political and religious life for generations.

The events of February 1689 form part of what has come to be known as the Glorious Revolution. While conflict continued elsewhere in the kingdoms, particularly in Ireland and Scotland, the constitutional settlement reached in England proved enduring.

More than three centuries later, the principles established during this period remain central to the structure of British governance. The offering of the crown to William and Mary was therefore not merely a change of ruler, but a decisive step in defining the constitutional and religious character of the nation.

William & Mary - 1689