Insights and behind the scenes from our palaces
The truth behind Elizabeth I and the 'Bisley Boy' myth
12 January 2026
Tracy Borman explores the real story behind the infamous ‘Bisley Boy’ myth – one of the more outlandish theories about Elizabeth I.
Christmas in the Tudor royal court
22 December 2025
Tracy Borman heads back to the courts of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I for a Christmas like no other.
The death and succession of Elizabeth I: claimants to the Tudor crown
11 April 2025
Elizabeth I's death marked the accession of James VI/I to her throne and the emergence of the Stuart dynasty within England. But this was certainly not a foregone conclusion at the time.
A model of queenship: Lady Elizabeth's summer with Katherine Parr, 1544
20 September 2024
Tracy Borman travels back to 1544, when Elizabeth spent a happy summer at Hampton Court Palace watching her beloved stepmother, Katherine Parr act as Regent. This visit would have an enduring impact on the young princess.
Elizabeth I's Brush with Death at Hampton Court, 1562
06 September 2024
In 1562, Elizabeth I was taken suddenly and dangerously ill at Hampton Court Palace. Her courtiers were thrown into panic; if the young Queen died, it could spell the end of the Tudor dynasty.
Elizabeth I: History's Healthiest Monarch?
15 January 2024
Elizabeth I was top of the Tudor tree when it came to health and fitness. Always a resourceful woman, she chased away ‘melancholy’ with a whole host of entertaining pursuits.
Elizabeth I’s coronation procession from the Tower of London
17 November 2022
Curator Charles Farris recalls Elizabeth’s dramatic procession from the Tower of London to Westminster the day before her coronation.
The Tragic Story of Lady Katherine Grey
08 November 2022
Chief Curator Tracy Borman takes a look at the life of Katherine Grey, who like her sister, Lady Jane Grey, was imprisoned at the Tower of London.
New Year's Day and the Tudors: A Lesson in Celebrations
17 December 2021
Chief Curator Tracy Borman explains that for the Tudors the party was only just getting started...and she's got a personal reason for agreeing with them.