Queen Elizabeth has topped a list of Britain’s most powerful women while her granddaughter-in-law the Duchess of Cambridge failed to make the top 100.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given her position as head of state, the Queen came in at number one on “power list” but Kate, who can sell out whole collections of clothing in seconds, didn’t even rate a mention.
Judges decided Kate was “influential” but not “powerful”, but found room on the list for Victoria Beckham, Adele, JK Rowling, Dawn French and Joanna Lumley.
“Inevitably, not everyone will agree with the 100 we have chosen,” head judge Eve Pollard said. “There are some omissions. For example, we had long debates about the Duchess of Cambridge. Is she influential? Hugely. Is she powerful? Not yet.”
The list, compiled by Radio 4’s Women’s Hour, was judged by two former MPs, a TV presenter, a novelist and a journalist.
The top 10 most powerful women in Britain:
- Queen Elizabeth II
- Theresa May, Home Secretary
- Ann Botin, CEO of Santander Bank
- Baroness Hale of Richmond, Supreme Court Judge
- Elisabeth Murdoch, Chairman Shine Group
- Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer
- Justine Roberts and Carrie Longton, co-founders of Mumsnet
- Lady Justice Hallet, Appeal Court judge
- Angela Ahrendts, CEO of Burberry
- Dame Gail Rebuck, CEO Random House Group
