The date is January 1690. William, Mary's husband, leaves England for long periods of time on campaign. Mary needs to rule alone. Parliament are worried she doesn't have the ability to think independently.

William was indeed away from England for long periods of time and Mary needed to get to grips with ruling alone. The words that Mary uses to describe being away from William when he left her behind in Holland are verbatim.  As is her description of the cabinet ministers, her sister and her Father's words to her.

Her Uncle did arrange their marriage and she really did cry when she found out. The description of William is accurate - what a catch! He really did have asthma and was considered to be aloof. All of William's 'orders' to her about what she was allowed or not allowed to do were true.

He was indeed unwilling to be her Consort and wanted to be King in his own right, even though it was Mary that was the heir to the throne. It was indeed an issue that he had never raised in nine years of marriage. She did obey his wishes on this. The Villiers affair is true.

A Dutch mastiff really did save the life of William the Silent. She did keep goldfish and loved reading. Henry Purcell really did create a Birthday ode to her, but the first draft version isn't true. She was responsible for what became the Royal Naval College in Greenwich and supported the Religious Toleration Act.

If you want to find out more about Mary, check out the sources and places below:

William and Mary: Heroes of the Glorious Revolution - John Van Der Kiste

Penguin Monarchs Series: William III & Mary II - Jonathan Keates