Mary II was the daughter of King James II and served as the joint sovereign of England, Scotland, and Ireland alongside her husband, King William III. As the eldest child of James and Anne Hyde, Mary was second in line to the throne from a young age, after her father. Following the death of her uncle, Charles II, James ascended the throne as King of England. However, his pro-Catholic policies made him highly unpopular, leading to opposition that eventually invited William and Mary to take the throne in what became known as the Glorious Revolution. James's exile left the throne vacant, which Mary and William filled as joint sovereigns. Though Mary became queen regnant, she was not politically ambitious and preferred her husband William to take control. To formalize their rule as joint monarchs, Parliament issued a Declaration of Rights, which led to both being recognized as joint sovereigns. Under their leadership, the important Bill of Rights was passed, significantly reducing the powers of the monarchy. Although William held primary control, Mary governed effectively during his absences, demonstrating her abilities as a firm and capable ruler. Mary was also deeply religious, attending prayers twice daily and actively engaging in Church affairs.