Royal Watch News

Queen Elizabeth is UK's most powerful woman

Feb 12, 2013, 12:02 GMT

Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth has been voted Britain's most powerful woman.

The 86-year-old monarch topped a poll by BBC Radio 4 show 'Woman's Hour' in what was their first ever power list.

The queen - who celebrated her Diamond Jubilee last year - beat Home Secretary Theresa May into second place while Ana Botin, CEO of Santander, UK was third.

The list was put together by a judging panel that included former newspaper editor Eve Pollard, Tory MP Priti Patel, Labour peer Oona King and crime novelist Val McDermid.

Eve said: 'Most women on our list have power because they have reached a place where they have control - of policy, of direction, of influence, of staff.

'The panel also included some women who have soft power - the ability to ­transform the way we think about ourselves.'

However, one name missing from the list was the Duchess of Cambridge despite her being pregnant with the future king or queen.

Speaking of the decision, Eve told the Daily Express newspaper: 'Inevitably not everyone will agree with our 100. There are some omissions. For example, we had long debates about the Duchess of Cambridge.

'Is she influential? Hugely. Is she powerful? Not yet.'

'What this list does is shine a light on those sectors where too few women are getting to the top, like politics, FTSE companies, the military and journalism. Our legacy, we hope, is that this list might change that.'

Britain's top 10 women with power

1. Her Majesty The Queen

2. Rt Hon Theresa May MP (Home Secretary)

3. Ana Botin (CEO, Santander UK)

4. Baroness Brenda Hale of Richmond (Supreme Court Judge)

5. Elisabeth Murdoch (Chairman, Shine Group)

6. Professor Dame Sally Davies (Chief Medical Officer)

7. Justine Roberts & Carrie Longton (Co-founders, Mumsnet)

8. Lady Justice Hallett (Appeal Court Judge)

9. Angela Ahrendts (CEO, Burberry)

10. Dame Gail Rebuck (CEO, The Random House Group)