September 28 - Essex sees Elizabeth I without her mask of youth

On this day in Tudor history, 28th September 1599, Elizabeth I’s favourite, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, strode into the queen’s bedchamber unannounced and saw her without her makeup or wig, without her "mask of youth".

 

Why would he do such a thing?

 

Find out why Devereux was troubled and wanted to see the queen urgently and how Elizabeth I reacted to his visit, and what happened next, in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway.

 

You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:

https://youtu.be/m4Zlq8Ctm4w

 

Also on this day in Tudor history, 28th September 1553, thirty-seven-year-old Queen Mary I, daughter of King Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, travelled in a decorated barge to the Tower of London. She was accompanied by her half-sister, Elizabeth, daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Mary was going to the Tower to prepare for her coronation, which was scheduled for 1st October 1553. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/N7ggywf__Rk