Mary went to live at the French court and at the age of fifteen married Francis, heir to the French throne. She landed on English soil ready to meet her fellow Queen. Mary was immediately taken to stay at Carlisle Castle by one of Elizabeth's ministers but as days turned into weeks, she became suspicious. This was clever talk from the Queen. Marriage was a political necessity and a way of forming a useful alliance with a European power. She was third in line to the throne. Elizabeth, meanwhile, was paralysed by indecision. Elizabeth R is a 1992 television documentary film about Queen Elizabeth II.It was produced by the BBC and directed by Edward Mirzoeff.It was the first officially approved documentary about the British monarchy since Royal Family (1969). She was the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. But there was no announcement, no wedding bells. Elizabeth helped create a Church of England that, although Protestant, allowed some of the old Catholic traditions to continue. Francis II reigned for only a few months with Mary as his Queen and, when he died in 1560, Mary was left without a role. She relied upon the ministers close to her but would infuriate them with her indecision - 'It maketh me weary of life,' remarked one. In February 1587 the warrant was finally signed and the execution took place before the Queen could change her mind. The people had lived through the unpopular reign of Mary I, known as 'Bloody Mary' for her merciless persecution of Protestants. Worse still, Elizabeth had herself been declared illegitimate in a statute which had never been formally repealed, and knew that many Catholics considered Mary to be the rightful Queen of England. She insisted that she was ‘married’ to her country. With Francis Walsingham’s help, Elizabeth imprisoned Mary and kept her under constant surveillance for 19 years. But Walsingham had reckoned without the Queen's reluctance to sign the execution warrant. Their anxiety amused Elizabeth, and this gave her an excuse to exert her independence every now and then. More than 14 million viewers watched the Queen's message on BBC One, with about five million viewing it on ITV. A year later Darnley himself was murdered, his residence in Edinburgh blown apart by an explosion. But when Elizabeth heard the bells pealing to celebrate the death of Mary Queen of Scots, she was horrified. But the ability to address a large number of people, from ministers in Parliament to troops on the battlefield, stood Elizabeth in good stead for the future. She was nicknamed 'Gloriana' and the 'Virgin Queen' and overcame many challenges at home as well as threats from abroad. The Queen asserted her virginity throughout her life, but was also an attractive woman who thrived on male attention. Mary's execution would be one of the factors contributing to the Spanish Armada the following year. As the weeks passed, Elizabeth procrastinated. As she had feared, Catholic Europe reacted swiftly to the news and the Pope urged Philip of Spain to invade England.  © She was well aware that plots were being hatched against her and that she needed the undivided loyalty of those around her as protection. Elizabeth became queen at the age of 25, but her reign was far from safe. She decided to return as Queen to Scotland, agreeing to recognise the Protestant Church as long as she could privately worship as a Catholic. It had all happened too quickly. On the contrary she thrived on the adoration of her ministers and knew that flirtation was often the easiest way to get things done. The monarch said she was reminded of her first radio broadcast, in 1940, when she and her sister Princess Margaret spoke to child evacuees In … Were women fit to rule the country? Despite pressure from her advisers, particularly Lord Burghley, Elizabeth always refused to marry and provide an heir. Leicester, to whom she had remained close, died in 1588 and Elizabeth kept his last letter beside her bed until her own death. Elizabeth remained, however, fascinated by the Scottish Queen. With Glenda Jackson, Ronald Hines, Robert Hardy, Stephen Murray. Similarly Mary would ask after Elizabeth. The Queen cut a "lonely figure" as she marked the centenary of the tomb of the unknown warrior. A new era was dawning, the age of Elizabeth I. So was he right? Her health deteriorated and, when death came on 24 March 1603, it was: 'mildly like a lamb, easily like a ripe apple from the tree'. She had a formidable intellect, and her sharp tongue would quickly settle any argument - in her favour. But her reluctance to marry was to become one of her biggest headaches and would cause her ministers, particularly the anxious Lord Burghley, sleepless nights. Day next week with a televised address in the U.K. But she was not allowed a lawyer and, attempting to defend herself, was not even permitted to consult her own papers. Princess Beatrice, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, has married her fiancé Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a small private ceremony in Windsor.. But by now Elizabeth was nearly seventy. The crown passed to the Protestant King James VI of Scotland who became King James I of England. As the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II has seen Britain change dramatically over the years. She was a prisoner. But Elizabeth was careful not to erase all traces of Catholic worship and retained, for example, the traditions of candlesticks, crucifixes and clerical robes. Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, born 21 April 1926) is Queen of the United Kingdom and 15 other Commonwealth realms.. Elizabeth was born in Mayfair, London, as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth).Her father ascended the throne on the abdication of his brother King Edward VIII in 1936, from which time she was the heir presumptive. Walsingham's spies discovered that she was secretly corresponding with a group of Catholic plotters and, having intercepted her letters, they forged a postscript in her hand asking for the identities of those involved. The Queen herself was not as sharp as she once had been. In March 1566 Darnley and his accomplices burst in on Mary at Holyroodhouse and stabbed Riccio to death. But problems remained. Elizabeth was an instant hit. The Tower of London It was a girl, Elizabeth. She knew that, in political terms, she needed their support but she also felt a deep sense of responsibility for their welfare. Elizabeth the Queen by Alison Weir (Pimlico, 1999), The Virgin Queen by Christopher Hibbert (Viking, 1990), The Word of a Prince by Maria Perry (The Boydell Press, 1990), Elizabeth: Apprenticeship by David Starkey (Chatto and Windus, 2000), Gloriana: The Portraits of Queen Elizabeth I by Roy Strong (Thames and Hudson, 1987), Mary Queen of Scots by Rosalind K Marshall (HMSO, 1991), Tudor England by John Guy, (Oxford University Press, 1988), Elizabethan Essays by Patrick Collinson (Hambledon Press, 1994), Princes, Pastors and People: The Church and Religion in England, 1529 - 1689 by Susan Doran and Christopher Durston (Routledge, 1991), Defeat of the Spanish Armada by Garrett Mattingly (Cape, 1983). The Ridolfi Plot of 1571 went further by enlisting Spanish support to depose Elizabeth and place Mary on the throne. In a famous speech to troops at Tilbury, she said: ‘I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king - and of a King of England too.’. The new Book of Common Prayer was introduced, adapted from earlier Books used under the Protestant Edward VI. 'This I account the glory of my crown, that I have reigned with your loves,' she said in her Golden Speech of 1601. It was not, however, until she married Lord Darnley in July 1565 that things took a turn for the worse. He had shown the Queen how much he adored her and, just as he had hoped, eclipsed everyone else. Ministers often dealt with matters without consulting her, and she became paranoid about the threat of assassination. Agnes Brown, who is played by Brendan, was set to have a storyline involving Queen Elizabeth II but at the last minute, the plot changed. In 1568 Elizabeth's cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots - a Catholic with a strong claim to the English throne - sought exile in England. Another 2.5 million watched the … Her presence in England could spark a Catholic uprising. The Scots regarded this with some suspicion and John Knox stirred up anti-Catholic feeling against her. Certainly, her reign had seen England prosper and become a major player in Europe. The queen was also keen to be seen by her subjects. 'If I followed the inclination of my nature, it is this,' she said, 'beggar woman and single, far rather than queen and married.'. Fotheringhay The mourning which followed her death was unprecedented. Ignoring the pleas of her advisors Mary managed to escape from Lochleven and, disguised as a man, fled the country. Lords of the Council - numbering 150 - representatives from the Commonwealth, officials from the City of London - including the Lord Mayor - and other dignitaries witnessed the accession of the deceased king's eldest daughter this morning. Â. No one told the Queen what to do and, using the skills of rhetoric she had been taught, Elizabeth addressed members of Parliament. To execute any Queen was a precedent she did not wish to set, for her own sake. Stream original BBC programmes FIRST on BBC iPlayer . Elizabeth's greatest achievement lay in the relationship she had forged with her people. Overnight, old coins became artifacts, such as this Queen Elizabeth II penny—now more than half a century old. The scene was one part of a 105-minute color documentary … There was widespread corruption amongst ministers involving the abuse of monopolies and tax evasion. It was Leicester's finest hour. She recognised how important it was to establish a clear religious framework and between 1559 and 1563 introduced the acts which made up the Church Settlement. Elizabeth remained, however, fascinated by the Scottish Queen. Kenilworth Castle She wept for days. As a high-profile Protestant monarch surrounded by Catholics in Europe, Elizabeth was pressured to marry and produce a Protestant heir, drawing the ire of her Catholic cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. More than that, Elizabeth simply did not wish to be married. In later years Katherine Parr, Henry's sixth wife, took a keen interest in the young Elizabeth and made sure that she was educated to the highest standards. He had the ear of the Queen and might poison her mind against them. The country now looked to the young Queen for salvation. The names and details were duly supplied by the plotters. Image: Queen Elizabeth I by George Gower (Getty Images). Many Catholic plots centred on putting Mary on the English throne. The Virgin Queen is a 2005 BBC and Power co-production, four-part miniseries based upon the life of Queen Elizabeth I, starring Anne-Marie Duff and Tom Hardy as Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. As Elizabeth walked along the carpet laid out for her journey to Westminster Abbey, the crowds rushed forward to cut out pieces as souvenirs. The celebrations for the Coronation, two months later, were spectacular. Faced with a dilemma - for example whether or not to sign the execution warrant of Mary Queen of Scots - Elizabeth would busy herself with other matters for months on end. Last updated 2011-02-17. ...as long as Mary Queen of Scots was alive, Elizabeth's life would be in danger. In 1553, Elizabeth's older half-sister Mary became queen. The main part of Hatfield House, built after the reign of Elizabeth I She didn't expect to be Queen. She went on 25 regional visits known as ‘progresses’ during her reign, often riding on horseback rather than traveling in a carriage. However, details of the legacy she left the country are open to interpretation. He altered the layout of his castle, building luxurious new apartments for the Queen and her huge entourage. Elizabeth remains a threat in her childless Catholic sister's eyes. In 1568 one such problem presented itself to Elizabeth in the shape of Mary Queen of Scots. She would marry when it was convenient and would thank Parliament to keep out of what was a personal matter. But by now the Scots had had enough of Mary and, imprisoned at Lochleven Castle, she was forced to abdicate the Scottish throne. In 1548 the French King, Henry II, proposed that the young Mary would be an ideal wife for his son, Francis, the marriage forming a perfect alliance between the two countries at a time when England was attempting to exert control over Scotland. Everyone, from court astrologers to Henry himself, was convinced Anne would give birth to a boy. She had a close relationship with Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and was not averse to using the promise of marriage for diplomatic purposes, but asserted her independence until the end of her life. Elizabeth was inconsolable and locked herself in her room. The Queen is to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe (V.E.) Her death took a heavy toll on Elizabeth, one observer noting, 'I never knew her fetch a sigh, but when the Queen of Scots was beheaded.'. And was her success down to her own skill and judgement - or an intuitive grasp of public relations? For their part, the people were thrilled with their new Queen. ...the Scots had had enough of Mary and, imprisoned at Lochleven Castle, she was forced to abdicate... From this point on, events spiralled out of control. Despite all these tactics Elizabeth was capable of falling in love, and the one who came closest to winning her heart was Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. This sense of well-being was embodied by Queen Elizabeth who liked to wear sumptuous costumes and jewellery, and be entertained in style at her court. For someone who disliked making decisions, this was torture. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, Norfolk, has made improvements but "more work is needed", a report said Improvements have been … It took years to prepare for. Found guilty of treason, Mary was sentenced to death. It was clear that, as long as Mary Queen of Scots was alive, Elizabeth's life would be in danger. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Eventually, sent to stay in the unwelcoming Tutbury Castle, the truth dawned on her. Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VIII. Elizabeth was a different kind of Queen: quick-witted, clever and able to use feminine wiles to get her own way. BBC, Queen Elizabeth II More from News. Houses were even converted into the shape of an 'E' to flatter her. Francis Walsingham, one of Elizabeth's most loyal ministers, was acutely aware of this. The sixteenth century was also a time when the poor became poorer, books and opinions were censored, and plots to overthrow the Queen were rife. Alexandra Briscoe has a background in documentary programme-making. The entertainment lasted several days with fine banquets, jousting and spectacular firework displays. Local government was inefficient. By pursuing a policy of moderation she was attempting to maintain the status quo and, although Puritans were particularly upset by the continuance of some Catholic traditions, an uneasy compromise was reached and maintained throughout her reign. Elizabeth's reign also saw England significantly expand its trade overseas and in 1580 Sir Francis Drake became the first Englishman to successfully circumnavigate the earth. As time passed it became clear to Mary that her husband was, in fact, an arrogant bully with a drinking problem. According to Deadline, Queen Elizabeth recently took in a “private viewing” of The King’s Speech, the historical drama showcasing her late father, King George VI, and his struggles with a speech impediment.She apparently “enjoyed” it and screenwriter David Seidler was thoroughly “humbled” with the news. Queen Elizabeth. But the two Queens never met. Elizabeth, aged twenty-five, was now Queen of England. As soon as her Council had been appointed, Elizabeth made religion her priority. A mysterious image of a coiled snake has appeared in a 16th century painting of Queen Elizabeth I, the National Portrait Gallery has said. There's even a candid conversation shown between the Queen and then-U.S. President Richard Nixon. The arts flourished in England during this period as Shakespeare, Spenser and Marlowe created poetry and drama while composers such as Byrd and Tallis worked in Elizabeth’s court. Elizabeth, aged twenty-five, was now Queen of England. And Mary Queen of Scots made a series of ill-judged decisions which led her to the executioner's block in 1587. Elizabeth, the last Tudor monarch, was born in Greenwich on 7 September 1533. Elizabeth was taught the art of public speaking, unheard of for women at the time. The Tudor queen was depicted with the snake clasped in her fingers in an original version of the work, but it was replaced with a bunch of roses. The dashing Earl of Leicester was something of a showman. Yet she declared that she did not want to "make windows into men's souls" and was satisfied as long as her subjects gave an outward show of conformity. However, trouble was never far away. Read more. But just how close was she to Leicester? In 1568 Elizabeth's cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots - a Catholic with a strong claim to the English throne - sought exile in England. So what influences had shaped the young Elizabeth? why so many soldiers survived the trenches. But neither proposal led to marriage. 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