problems when she became queen

• she was young {21 years old}
• the crown was £300000 in debt
• her legitimacy was in doubt as people refused to recognise Anne Boleyns marriage to Henry VIII
• catholics refused to acknowledge elizabeths right to rule England
• to pass laws she needed parliament support
• she was unmarried
• it was widely expected that Elizabeth would marry. However, this would reduce Elizabeths power as her husband would be expected to govern the country and deal with parliament
• Elizabeths inexperience meant that she needed the support and advice of her privy council especially her Secretary of State Sir William Cecil
• Elizabeth could issue royal proclamations and had prerogative powers enabling her to govern without parliaments consent especially in foreign policy however laws could only be passed with parliaments approval as Acts of parliament
• if Elizabeth married a protestant it would anger the catholics
• if she married a catholic it would upset the protestants
• Marriage could involve England in expensive war damaging royal finances and require taxation
• Marriagewould important as the queen needed a heir to the throne if she died without one it would leave the throne vacant this could lead to a civil war