has had kings, queens, and archbishops, but only once has an Englishman become a Pope.

Pope Adrian IV remains the only Englishman to have ever held the , but despite his rise from humble beginnings, no Briton has followed in his footsteps.

Born Nicholas Breakspear around 1100 in Bedmond, Hertfordshire, he came from a poor background, initially rejected by the monastery at St Albans due to his lack of education.

Determined to pursue a religious life, he traveled to France, where he trained as a canon regular at St Rufus Monastery near Avignon.

His discipline and leadership led to his election as abbot, and soon after, he caught the attention of Pope Eugene III, who appointed him a cardinal in 1149.

Breakspear's reputation grew further when he was sent as a papal legate to Scandinavia, where he successfully restructured the church in Sweden and established an independent archbishopric in Norway.

His success paved the way for his election as pope in December 1154, taking the name Adrian IV.

His papacy, however, was marked by conflict. He imposed an interdict on Rome to suppress an uprising led by the radical reformer Arnold of Brescia, who opposed the power of the papacy.

Adrian also clashed with the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick Barbarossa, over authority in Rome and faced ongoing struggles with the Normans in southern Italy.

He is also controversially linked to granting English King Henry II permission to invade Ireland, though historians debate the authenticity of the document supposedly authorizing it.

Adrian IV died in 1159, reportedly choking on a fly in his wine, though it was likely a result of a throat infection.

His short and turbulent reign left a lasting impact, but no English pope has followed.

While the election of a pope traditionally comes from the College of Cardinals, it is technically possible for any baptised Catholic man to be chosen.

However, the vast majority of popes have been cardinals, making it unlikely for a non-cardinal to ascend to the role. As of now, there are no prominent English cardinals in contention for the position.

In the United Kingdom, the reigning monarch serves as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a role currently held by King Charles III.

This position was established during the English Reformation when Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church and created the Church of England.

As a result, the UK's religious leadership remains distinct from the Vatican, further reducing the likelihood of a British pope in modern times.

England's historical tensions with Rome, particularly after Henry VIII's break from the Catholic Church, have made it unlikely that another Briton would ascend to the papacy. Today, Adrian IV remains a unique figure in history as England's first and only pope.