Margaret of France

Margaret of France was Queen of England through her marriage to King Edward I. She was born circa 1279 as the daughter of Philip III of France and Maria of Brabant. Her childhood was marked by the early death of her father and guidance under her mother and Queen Joan I of Navarre. The marriage negotiations for Margaret were complex and intertwined with the political tensions of the time, as her union with Edward I was part of a broader strategy to secure peace between England and France. Despite never being formally crowned, Margaret exercised her role as queen with dignity, often influencing her husband’s decisions and showing kindness and mediation skills, especially in the reconciliation between King Edward I and his heir.

Her queenship was significant for her diplomatic role and personal influence over the king, often softening his harsher judgments. Margaret’s life as queen was punctuated by the births of her children and her steadfast support for her husband’s campaigns. Despite the age difference and the initial reluctance of Edward I to marry her, their marriage was harmonious and affectionate. After Edward’s death, Margaret lived as a widow, never remarrying and maintaining her dignity amidst the political upheavals of her stepson Edward II’s reign. She died on 14 February 1318 at Marlborough Castle and was buried at Christ Church Greyfriars, Newgate.