The Real Face of Elizabeth I

When you picture Elizabeth I, you probably imagine the Armada or Ditchley portraits - alabaster skin, red wig, pearls, and poise. But how close were those famous images to the real Elizabeth? In this episode, I trace the evolution of her image, from the poised princess of the 1540s to the ageless Virgin Queen of legend, using eyewitness accounts, surviving portraits, and the propaganda that shaped her face for history. Who was the woman beneath the heavy makeup and myth? Discover the features that never changed, and meet Elizabeth as her contemporaries saw her: intelligent, complex, and utterly human. Watch until the end to see how artists and ambassadors together shaped one of history’s most iconic faces. And tell me in the comments: which Elizabeth feels most real to you - the young scholar, the new queen, or the ageing monarch behind the mask? #ElizabethI #VirginQueen #TudorHistory #AnneBoleynFiles #ClaireRidgway #TudorPortraits #RenaissanceArt #BritishHistory #TudorMonarchy #HistoryDocumentary #WomenInHistory

Feeling rushed and over-screened? Author Laura Loney joins me to share Tudor-inspired ways to slow down—from cosy crafts and communal rituals to simple “micro-swaps” you can try this week. We talk about her festive collaboration with illustrator Kathryn Holeman on ’Twas the Night Before Tudor Christmas, and her witty, useful new book In Praise of Tudor (100 ideas to bring Tudor calm to modern chaos). In this conversation: How a Canadian fell for the Tudors, and who hooked her first 'Twas the Night Before Christmas - story + Tudor-Christmas primer + activities for families & classrooms Creative teamwork with Kathryn Holeman: mood boards, references, division of labour Tudor micro-swaps for work, rest, and connection Favourite crafts/recipes/games, and one tradition she’d revive today What In Praise of Tudor really is Writing life: routines, research vs. word count, notebooks vs. digital Tudor health & hygiene: what holds up… and what to avoid! Quickfire: 3 words for Tudor Christmas, 24 hours in Tudorland, carols, what’s next And Anne Boleyn! Question for you: Which Tudor habit would you try first? If you enjoy Tudor history goodies like this, then please do like, subscribe and ring the bell!   #TudorHistory #LauraLoney #InPraiseOfTudor #TwasTheNightBeforeTudorChristmas #CalmNotChaos #CraftsAndActivities #CosyHistory #KathrynHoleman #MindfulLiving

On this day in Tudor history, 17 October 1592, Frances Brooke, Lady Cobham died and was buried at Cobham in Kent. You may already know her face: she appears in the famous Cobham Family Portrait of 1567, that beautiful Elizabethan painting capturing an entire household, from Frances and her husband to six of their children. I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and in today’s episode I’ll introduce you to the woman behind the portrait: a loyal attendant who moved through the very heart of Elizabeth I’s court. Frances served as Mistress of the Robes and Lady of the Bedchamber, rose high, briefly fell after her husband’s involvement in the Ridolfi Plot, and was later restored to favour. Her story is one of quiet endurance, family alliances, and a life spent in the Queen’s shadow, from Cobham Hall to the privy chamber itself. Like, subscribe, and ring the bell for more daily Tudor history, and tell me in the comments: Do you love the Cobham Family Portrait as much as I do? Link to portrait - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/William_Brooke%2C_10th_Baron_Cobham_and_family.jpg   #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #ElizabethI #FrancesBrooke #LadyCobham #CobhamHall #TudorCourt #BessOfHardwick #TudorWomen #16thCentury #WomensHistory  

On this day in Tudor history, 16 October 1594, Cardinal William Allen died in exile in Rome. To Catholics, he was the shepherd who kept the old faith alive. To Elizabeth I’s government, he was a traitor who conspired with England’s enemies. I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and today we’re exploring the life of the man who founded the English colleges at Douai, Reims, and Rome; who helped bring the Douai-Reims Bible into print; and who sent secret missionary priests back to England, knowing that discovery meant death. But Allen’s story darkened when he threw his support behind Philip II of Spain and justified Elizabeth’s deposition as a heretic. Was he a man of faith or a man of treason? Judge for yourself as we trace the choices that made him both hero and villain in Tudor eyes. Like, subscribe, and ring the bell for more daily Tudor history, and tell me in the comments: Was William Allen a saintly reformer… or a danger to his queen?   #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #ElizabethI #WilliamAllen #SpanishArmada #CounterReformation #DouaiReimsBible #16thCentury #Tudors #EnglandVsSpain #CatholicPersecution

Before Henry VIII, there was another heir. Prince Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales, married to Katharine of Aragon, and dead at fifteen. In this interview, Gareth Streeter (author of Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII’s Lost Brother and founder of Royal History Geeks) explores the prince’s real life beyond the footnotes. We discuss: - Why Arthur, not Henry, was central to Henry VII’s vision & propaganda - Reconstructing the Arthur–Katharine marriage - The big one: consummation, weighing contemporary evidence vs later “Great Matter” claims - Education, character & the king Arthur might have become - Illness and cause of death: what we know, what remains mystery - Gareth’s research process, sources that changed his mind, and advice for new history writers Find Gareth & the book: Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII’s Lost Brother - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Arthur-Prince-Wales-Henry-Brother-ebook/dp/B0C6NLT7NJ/, https://www.amazon.com/Arthur-Prince-Wales-Henry-Brother-ebook/dp/B0C6NLT7NJ/ Royal History Geeks - https://www.royalhistorygeeks.com/ If you enjoy deep dives into Tudor history, please like, subscribe, and tell us in the comments: What kind of king do you think Arthur would have been, and why? #ArthurTudor #PrinceOfWales #TudorHistory #HenryVII #KatharineOfAragon #WarsOfTheRoses #GarethStreeter #HistoryInterview

On this day in Tudor history, 15 October 1542, William Fitzwilliam, Earl of Southampton, died on campaign at Newcastle, serving Henry VIII one last time. He’d been by the king’s side since childhood; a boyhood companion who became a soldier, sailor, ambassador, and royal enforcer. From the naval battles of 1512, to the splendour of the Field of Cloth of Gold, and even the downfall of Wolsey, Anne Boleyn, and Cromwell, Fitzwilliam’s career ran through the heart of Tudor power. I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and in today’s episode, I uncover the life of the man who was always there when Henry VIII needed something done - on land, at sea, or in the shadows of court politics. #TudorHistory #WilliamFitzwilliam #HenryVIII #TudorCourt #HistoryTok #BritishHistory #OnThisDay #TudorNavy #AnneBoleyn #ThomasCromwell

On this day in Tudor history, 14th October 1593, Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey of Wilton, died at his Buckinghamshire home. He’d served Elizabeth I as a soldier, statesman, and staunch Protestant, but his career left a stain that history has never quite erased. In this episode,I explore the life of the man behind one of the most brutal episodes of Elizabeth’s rule, the Smerwick massacre, and ask how such a devout reformer became known for such ruthless acts. From the battlefields of France and Scotland to the rebellion-torn lands of Ireland and the muster fields of Tilbury, Arthur Grey’s life reveals both the heroism and harshness of Tudor power. Was he a commander doing his duty, or a man who crossed a moral line in the name of faith and crown? #TudorHistory #ArthurGrey #ElizabethI #Smerwick #TudorIreland #HistoryTok #BritishHistory #OnThisDay #TudorDrama #Reformation  

On 13 October 1549, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, the man who had ruled England as Lord Protector for young Edward VI, lost it all. By the next day, he was in the Tower. How did the most powerful man in Tudor England fall so fast? In this episode, I uncover the character flaws, bad decisions, and political missteps that doomed Somerset’s rule. He was a soldier, reformer, and visionary, but also proud, volatile, and deaf to counsel. Discover: - The letter that warned Somerset he was heading for disaster - How anger and obstinacy turned allies into enemies - Why his leadership failed both at home and abroad - And how ambition finally led him to the scaffold in 1552 Was Somerset a well-meaning reformer crushed by politics, or an arrogant ruler who couldn’t share power? Tell me what you think in the comments. #TudorHistory #EdwardSeymour #DukeOfSomerset #EdwardVI #HenryVIII #Reformation #TudorDrama #OnThisDay #HistoryTok #BritishHistory

Did England’s boy-king really tear his pet falcon to pieces? In 1551, a foreign ambassador claimed that thirteen-year-old Edward VI, Henry VIII’s only son, plucked and ripped apart his own falcon, saying he was that bird “whom everyone plucked.” Some at court swore it happened. Others called it lies. Was this a violent outburst, a misunderstood symbol of royal power, or pure Tudor gossip? Join me,  historian Claire Ridgway, as I unpack the evidence, the politics behind it, and what this strange rumour reveals about the young king determined to rule, not be ruled. Listen to the end and decide for yourself: was Edward’s falcon moment real, or a tale that flew out of control?   #TudorHistory #EdwardVI #HenryVIII #TudorMystery #BritishHistory #TudorEngland #ClaireRidgway #Reformation #OnThisDay #RoyalHistory #TrueCrimeHistory #TudorDynasty

On this day in Tudor history, 10 October 1530, Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset, died. Soldier, jouster, courtier, and grandfather of Lady Jane Grey, he lived a life that perfectly captured the dangers and rewards of Tudor ambition. Born into royalty - grandson of Elizabeth Woodville and Katherine Neville, sister of the Kingmaker - Thomas grew up in the shadow of shifting alliances and rebellion. He was imprisoned by Henry VII, restored under Henry VIII, and rose again through charm, courage, and sheer survival instinct. - He dazzled at court tournaments, fought in France in 1513, escorted Mary Tudor to her French wedding, and bore the sword of state at the Field of Cloth of Gold. - He sat in judgment on the Duke of Buckingham, backed Henry VIII’s annulment, and—when the tides turned—joined the charges against Cardinal Wolsey. - Yet behind the glitter was a man who fought feuds, faced imprisonment, and watched power slip as easily as it came. By his death, he was one of England’s wealthiest nobles—and the patriarch of a line that would end in tragedy with Lady Jane Grey. Join me,  historian and author Claire Ridgway, for the remarkable story of a Tudor magnate who lived, fought, and schemed at the heart of power. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring the bell for more daily Tudor history. #OnThisDay #TudorHistory #ThomasGrey #LadyJaneGrey #HenryVIII #TudorCourt #TudorDynasty #EnglishHistory #FieldOfClothOfGold #ClaireRidgway