The oligarchic tendency within the nobility which had shown itself in Edward II's reign was intensified by the practice of granting new earldoms, and regranting old ones, in tail male.

These qualities showed up early in her reign when, at the age of 20, Queen Wilhelmina ordered a Dutch warship, HNLMS Gelderland, to South Africa to evacuate Paul Kruger, the embattled President of the Transvaal.

What all of the successful England managers showed in their reign, was the ability to find a team to win a match.