All British Queens

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Category: History

  • 2 Movies That Opened Up A Window For Elizabeth I

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    There are 2 remarkable movies that reflect the mind and heart of Queen Elizabeth: “Elizabeth” and “Elizabeth – The Golden Age” These movies portray a strong, and observant woman who is proud of her country, but also dealt with many trust issues at court during her reign. I feel that I finally get to see what Queen Elizabeth’s personality could’ve been like during the Tudor-Era.

    Disclaimer: There are some spoilers in this article so I’d recommend you watch both first. Both movies are available on Amazon Prime Video  and free with ads.

    Elizabeth

    Elizabeth: The Golden Age

    Personality

    We’ve read the stories, watched the documentaries, but my inclination was about her personality, how she spoke, her tone and demeanor. Actress Cate Blanchett helped me see an aggressive, passionate, yet young and fearful woman who’s full devotion was to her reign and rule of England.

    In the beginning, the young Elizabeth was strong willed, yet still wanted to come to an understanding of her role. She was constantly persecuted for her beliefs being protestant, but never converted to Catholicism like her half-sister Queen Mary. The majority of the countries Queen Elizabeth had to deal with like Spain, France, and Scotland were Catholic, but the Queen stood her ground.

    Leadership

    Elizabeth I was raised by her mother Anne Boleyn, but watched and observed the roles and duties of her Father King Henry VIII and his councilman. She understood the power that her father had, and carried that knowledge with her to the Throne. She was cunning, incredibly smart, and forgiving to many of those closest to her. Cate Blanchett showed a very shy side of the Queen when dealing with her council. Mainly due to her being a woman as head of state, head of country. The council was small, unlike what England has today: A Prime Minister and Parliament (Like United States, A President and US Congress). During this time, decisions were able to be made at the table instead of waiting until a certain date for the law to potentially be passed. As she grew into her role in the second film, her words were firm and powerful…leading to every woman wanting to be her, and every man wanting to be with her.

    Romance

    Elizabeth felt that she could turn to her one and only true friend and companion,  Lord Robert Dudley. Robert Dudley was later brought on to the privy council, but suffered a bad parental reputation due to his father unable to prevent Mary I to accession. However, Dudley was able to move up in ranking and was becoming the Queen’s favorite. In the first movie we see Dudley and Elizabeth before she was Queen that he would spend time with her and praise her very much, but she later discovers that he was married and that fueled her anger that she decided to never marry and Cate stated the famous quote “I am married to England”. For factual sake, the Queen’s decision to not marry is unclear, but she did want a Mistress than a Master, and was named “The Virgin Queen”.

    The second movie, you see Elizabeth well into her role as Queen, and many suitors are still looking to marry her, however, Cate provides the viewers a glimpse of her wise, powerful mindset of Queendom. She meets a pirate and is enamoured with this stories of the sea. However, he falls for the woman closest to her…her Mistress Beth, which gave the insight and finalization that the Queen remained unmarried.

    Enemies

    Nothing can be more clearer than the multiple enemies Queen Elizabeth had during her reign. Everyone wanted her throne, including her cousin Mary Queen of Scots. Mary was born and raised a Catholic and was destined to take the throne once she became of age. She was also set to marry Elizabeth’s half brother but passed King Edward VI. In the second film, you can see the Queen Of Scots locked away under Elizabeth’s supervision. Their storyline rivalry was not much shown in both movies, but in the first one, the Duke Of Norfolk was beheaded for treason because of his plot to marry The Queen Of Scots, and overthrow the crown of the English Queen. In the end, Queen Mary was beaded as well for treason, her title as Queen has been long gone, and Elizabeth remains victorious.

    I think Cate Blanchett did a great job in both of these movies. It seems as though she enjoyed playing the role, but she definitely brought Queen Elizabeth I into what some think her life would’ve been like.

    If you just spoiled yourself, I still suggest you watch them!

  • From A King To A Queen: The State Diadem Crown

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    State Diadem Crown

    You may have seen this beautiful, and exquisite crown before worn by Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II, or photos and time reels of Queen Victoria. This crown was created with passion, beauty, and the desire to have a glamorous lifestyle. With looks of this fabulous crown, it also signifies its duty and service to the state provinces of England, Ireland and Scotland. However, the question remains: How did it go from a King’s head to a Queen? We’ll get into the breakdown of this spectacle of a crown and its creation, but first, we have to take a look into the eyes of its creator.

    “The First Gentleman Of England”

    King George IV (the oldest Uncle of Queen Victoria), became Prince Regnant in 1811 due to his father, King George III being in the state of insanity, then officially began his reign from 1820 after his father died, until 1830. During this time as King, George IV fancied the lifestyle of lavish things: fine jewelry, furniture, paintings, and of course, the State Diadem Crown. With the palace already in trouble with debt from the past interior designs and exterior expenses from the regnant at the time, King George IV had made way to wear this crown on his Coronation day.

    In 1820 the King, wanted the crown a representation England, Ireland, and Scotland in preparation of his coronation in 1821. With that being said are the 3 flowers representing each country; Roses (England), Thistles (Scotland), and Shamrocks (Ireland). Along with pearls surrounding the crown, Christian cross patte’e in between the 3 flowers, 1,333 diamonds, along with a gold and silver frame. This request of such a crown was given to the Royal jewellers Rundell & Bridge, and Rundell; of the cost of 8,216 Euros, which included 800 Euros for the diamonds (keep in mind the debt it was costing the Monarchy). Since they were jewellers respectively to the crown, and the diamonds were leased, Rundell & Bridge, and Rundell decided to sell the diamonds to the royal family, keeping the diamonds on the State Diadem Crown.

    From A King, To A Queen

    Knowing how the King was with his flashy and proud personality, how exactly did this crown go from a King’s head to a Queen?

    Once the King died in 1830, the crown was passed over to his sister-in-law, Queen Adelaide, wife of King William IV (whom is not flashy at all); taking in the theory that the King has died, with his daughter Princess Charlotte who died in 1817, his wife, Queen Caroline of Brunswick, has since passed in 1821, and his father George III, who died in a year earlier in 1820. Queen Adelaide wore this crown until the death of her husband in 1837, making the new heir, Queen Victoria the next Queen of the Monarchy to wear the Crown.

    Victoria loved this crown and wore it to many events like christenings for her children, stamps and portraits. She loved it so much that she declared the crown as an Heirloom so it will pass down from Queen to Queen.

    Queen Alexandria Of Denmark

    Modern Tradition

    Four Queens later after Queen Adelaide: Victoria, Alexandra of Denmark, Queen Mary of Teck, and today, the current Queen Elizabeth II. She has worn this crown for her coronation in 1953, in which where the crown was first worn by King George IV, keeping the traditional style of the coronation ceremony, along with the State Opening of Parliment. This crown is also set in the Queens Gallery at Buckingham Palace when not in use for fans all over the world to view and imagine that gorgeous crown on their own heads.

    Since 1952, Queen Elizabeth II has worn the State Diadem Crown all but 2 times throughout her reign The only times she has not worn the crown was in 1959 when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew, and 1963 when she was also pregnant with Prince Edward. She is the only Queen and sovereign who has worn this crown the longest in British Royal History.

    Even though King George IV was smitten, he took to lengths to remove the Imperial State Crown with the State Diadem Crown. Parliament wasted no time in saying no since it was a part of the history of the monarchy (Crown and Parliament Recognition Act of 1689), also meant to be worn at the closing of coronations, and State Openings of Parliament. 

    I find the State Diadem Crown to be a beauty in its own right with meaning and a proud representation of England, Ireland, and Scotland. King George IV may have been a little flamboyant, but he remembered how much this crown meant to not only himself, but to the Monarchy.

  • Who Were Mary, Queen Of Scots Ladies-In-Waiting?

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    Reference Here

    There is a nice poem that goes
    “Mary, Mary, quite contrary..how does your garden grow?
    With silver bells and cockel shells,
    And pretty little maids, all in a row..” This poem is said to relative to Mary, Queen Of Scots, and her Ladies-In-Waiting, all named Mary. Mary Fleming, Mary Beaton, Mary Sheaton, and Mary Livingston or famously known as “The Four Maries”. These woman played a huge role in Queen Mary’s life (you can also enjoy the show Reign on Netflix. Complete with 4 seasons).

    Mary Fleming

    Reference Here

    Mary Fleming was born in 1542 in Scotland, and the cousin of Mary Queen Of Scots. At the age of 5, Fleming and her mother accompanied Mary Queen of Scots when she went to France during Henry II’s reign. As she got older, she married a man named Sir William Maitland of Lethington; the Queen’s Secretary of State. Fleming was considered Mary’s closest friend and companion throughout the French Court and later, Mary’s turmoil. According to University of St. Andrews “Lady Lethington, she was now known, must have been tormented by the dramatic events that unfolded after she and her husband parted company from her cousin, the queen. As wife to Maitland, she now had dual loyalties, but she may have played a part in eventually persuading him to return to Mary’s side.” The quarrel between the Queen and Queen Elizabeth I had Fleming and her husband caught in the middle. Later in the years, Fleming’s husband died in 1573, and she never saw her cousin the Queen again after 1567.

    Mary Beaton

    Reference Here

    Mary Beaton was also born in Scotland in the year 1543. She was highly recommened by the Queen’s Mother Mary De Guise to be her lady-in-waiting, as was her mother a lady-in-waiting to Mary De Guise. When she was 5 she traveled with the Queen to France to accompany her at court. As she got older, she was considered “pretty and plump” for she had golden hair and brown eyes, but was a looker onto older men. Beaton married in 1566 to Alexxander Ogilvy and had a son named James in 1568. History has it that Beaton interestingly had similar style handwriting as the Queen after her execution, really not knowing if that was hers or the Queen’s due to the fact that it may have been used to incriminate the Queen.

    Mary Seton

    Reference Here

    Mary Seton was born in Scotland in the year 1541 and was also recommened by the Queen’s mother to go to the french court. She was known to be the Queen’s hairdresser. The Seton History stated “Yet, through confinement, disappointment, deprivation, sickness, discomfort, insult, and trouble, Mary Seton was always there“. While the Queen was imprisoned, Seton was there by her side for 15 years. She was the only one out of The Four Maries who chose not to marry. “It is nearly twenty years since I left Scotland, and in that time it has pleased God to take the best part of my relations, friends, and acquaintances; nevertheless, I presume there remain still some who knew me, and I shall be obliged by you remembering me to them as occasion may serve. I cannot conclude ” [now the real purpose of her letter declares itself] ” without adding still one word, that I am in extreme pain and distress at the news which has reached here of a fresh trouble which has fallen on the Queen my maistresse. Time does not permit me to write more. Written from Rheims with my humble recommendations, praying God, Monsieur de Courcelles, to make you more content than I now am, this 21st of October, your humble and obliged—MARIIE DE SETON.”

    Mary Livingston

    Mary Livingston was born also in 1541 in Scotland and was considered from the Queens Mother to be by her side until the very end. All four of the Mary’s were properly cared for and went take to lessons at  Dominican Royal Priory of Saint Louis at Poissy. Here they learned the necessary skills of nobility, art, to be wives of nobelmane, and attendance to the Queen. In 1565, Livingston went on to marry a man named John Sempill, 4 months before the Queen’s 2nd marriage to Lord Darnley. Livingston was also responsible for the Queen’s robes and jewelery bestowed upon Mary’s Will if anything should happen to her. When the Queen was taken to England to be imprisoned in 1568, Livingston was to hold some of her jewels. Livingston’s husband died in 1579, and she died 4 years later in 1583.

    I found the lives of these women were very interesting for each, but I also learned how loyal they were to their Queen. Their stories are unique in their own way. Also if you are interested in the Movie “Mary, Queen Of Scots” (2018), it is available on Amazon Prime, as well as other documentaries about the Queen.

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    Mary Fleming and Mary Queen of Scots

  • Titles, Who Deserves Them?

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    English Coat Of Arms

    From the her Majesty The Queen to a Lady, titles have been with the British, Irish, and Scottish nobles for centuries; but what are the titles for and who deserves them? Also, why do titles appear to come off as confusing and/or misunderstood? I’m here to provide you with a full break down of titles with their roles and duties (whichever one you are interested in, you can scroll down until you find it) :)

    King & Queen

    I thought it would be best to start from the highest (and most familiar) Title and that is the King and Queen. There is only one type of King, but two types of Queens:

    King George VI, Father of Queen Elizabeth II and Former King of United Kingdom and Ireland

    The role of the King or Sovreign is considered as the leader and ruler of the people or country. There was a time when the Monarchy had power over politics of the country, but after the Magna Carta of 1215, the sovreign must have legal descisions approved by council or what we call today, a parliment. The King is a symbolism of the head of state. The Head of Government however, is the Prime Minister.

    Queen Regnant

    Queen Consort

    Queen Victoria
    Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother

    As noted earlier, there are 2 different types of Queens (well, actually 4, but I’ll get to that part in a moment, and why I said 2). To your left, you see Victoria as Queen Regnant, meaning she is the queen in her right as deserving by blood line. Women were never absent from the role of taking the throne, but since religion and family played a big factor during these times, it was intended and hoped for men to take the throne. To your right, to see Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (Queen Elizabeth II’s mother) as Queen Consort, meaning she was married to a King. If the King dies before the Queen Consort, then she is considered as Queen Dowager. In this particular instance, Elizabeth has witnessed her husband die, and her daughter Elizabeth II to become queen, which also gives her the name as Queen Mother (see how that works?)

    Duke & Duchess

    Now you might think that I would have put Prince & Princess next here, but….let me explain. The Duke is the highest in ranking next to the King or Queen, whichever is on the throne. This title can be earned by the King or Queen. There is another Title named Grand Duke or Arch Duke before the title Duke, but here we’re only referring to Duke. A Duchess is a woman who is married to a Duke for her to earn her title. Remember, since the roles in the Medival stages (when Dukedom started, 1337) honored the man, A Duke cannot earn a title by marrying a woman that was already a Duchess. Dukedom does not have to be an inhereted title.

    Prince & Princess

    Prince Albert of Sax-Coburg

    A Prince is an inhereted title from whomever is on the throne by blood. Usually, it is the next in line to the throne if they are the first born; but it wasn’t until the Perth Agreement in 2015, allowed the next sibling (whether male or female) to become next in line of succession (if the first born does not have chidren). Here, you can see Prince Albert was already a Prince, but once he married Queen Victoria, he became Prince Consort. You may ask yourself “Well why wasn’t he a King Consort if he married a Queen?” Victoria wanted her husband to become King Consort, but her council would not allow him because of where he was from (Germany). There are some perks however; if a Prince marries a queen, he has a higher ranking than his children (Hence Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh). But if he is not around his wife, then his children rank higher than he does. The Duke and the Prince rankings somewhat intertwine with each other, depending on who their around. A Princess is also an inhereted title from either the King or Queen of royal blood. Her ranking also applies the same as a duchess. A princess can marry, but her husband will not become a prince. Another ranking for a princess is a Princess Royal, which is the first born girl of the royal family.

    Victoria, Princess Royal. Oldest and 1st born girl of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

    Marquess & Marchioness

    These two titles may have not really been talked about, but that is why you’re reading this now! The Ranking of the Marquess (Mark-Key) is lower than a Duke, and their role was to protect the Monarchy of any potential enemies throughout the United Kingdom. A Marchioness (Mar-Shuness) is a woman or a widow of a Marquess earning her right to this particular title. She too is a ranking below a duchess.

    Earl & Countess

    An Earl held the title with more control over land and finances. They are the ones who keep track of any debts and taxes that needs to be collected if they had land being used for tenants. This title can be earned by King or Queen, and by inheretence. A Countess or Lady is a title by marriage to an Earl. She would have to earn this title by marriage (I hope you are noticing the pattern on how the women earn their titles!) Also, if the father is a Duke, the titles descends from there (Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, Baron, etc.), until the father passes, then the older son becomes a duke.

    Viscount & Viscountess

    For A Viscount, you would consider their role as a Lietenant or deputies in in control of delegations. This title is normally earned by inheritence his father is a Duke or even a King. A Viscountess of course is married or is a widow to a Viscount. She has earned her right as such, and is Also called a Lady.

    Baron & Baroness

    This may be one of rankings towards the bottom, but still has significant roles. A Baron is what you would call “loyalty for land”. This means that he pledges loyalty to the throne and in return is given land that he can pass down to his children. A Baroness Title is earned once married, but is very responsible within her Barony. In Government today, there are Baroness’ joined together with the Barons under The House Of Lords. 

    Knight & Dame 

    A Knight is there to protect the lands of the monarchy as a warrior and able to withstand long days at war. A Dame is the wife of the Knight, or a member of knighthood.

    Esquire

    An Esquire is responsible for the land of the Knight, but not yet a Knight himself. Today it is more used at the end, or no significance at all. Others use it if they’re practicing Law. However, if you want to know the best social status? Esquires.

    Lord & Lady

    This is the lowest ranking throughout nobility, but just as familiar as the King & Queen (interesting right?) In the Medieval days, a Lord or Gentlemen obtains the role of all the land that surrounds him. Owned a high responsibility. Today this role is established under Government through Parliament. A Lady is a woman that not only is married to a Lord, but considered as a personal assistant to Royalty. She is also called a Lady-In-Waiting (Queen of Scots had four of them!).

  • If I Could Go Back To 200 Years Ago Today……

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    Although this is Queen’s blog page I was compelled and inspired to write to you guys about my thoughts and a little bit of fun facts on what it would be like to live in time, date, and year of March 16th 1821. For some odd reason lately, I repeatedly kept seeing the number 316. From what I understand of it, it means to love yourself as well as others, and to become more creative and evolve with your craft (hence the writing today).

    Hm, lets see.. 1821. That’s 16 years before Victoria became Queen of England (16? 3 1 6?) . Slavery was still legal in the United States (but illegal in Mexico), and the industrial era with factories, scientists, and inventors was growing more by the day.

    With that being said, what exactly would I see or what could I see during this time? I don’t really know, but using my imagination I would say I’d see cabins as homes, and inside the kitchen has wooden counter tops, a square sink with a bucket of water inside, dishes to my right, candles every where, and an icebox to keep the food cool. I would see in the living area placed with a wooden coffee table, a white blanket on the left side of the dark blue couch, and once I sit down I’m facing the fire place with fresh wood inside. Outside would be an Outhouse made from the ground up (please don’t imagine the smell!). Over the horizon you see a black streak across the sky from the town 2 miles away in a random but prominent named town like “City Of Jamestenson”. As I make my journey and arrive to Jamestenson (let’s say I’m on a horse and carriage), my first stop is to go to the retail store and see the dresses! I would come across something like this:

    High waistline, broad shouldered, silk dress with its own authentic design. This store is filled with different designs, styles, and colors. Store owner is welcoming and sells me the dress for $10.00 ($224.00 today… wow). I leave the store and across the street I see a beautiful park with kids playing and feeding the birds. To my right up ahead I see the newest factory that struck their 12:00PM bell for lunch. I have no idea what they produce, but I hope it’s beneficial for the future! Right before I leave the city, I’m over towered by an amazing university with the engravement of “University Of Jamestenson 1760” viewed with windows gallore and a statue of President James Monroe (ha! I just made the city name up!). As I move further along from the dirt roads to the bay, I see travellers stepping on to the ramp to get on the ships for their journey across the ocean to go days to their new home in a new country. Men with their high-top hats and blue/black suit, checking the time on their gold pocket watch with white gloves, takes a deep breath, and proceeds to wait.

    Since its nice and cool, yet sunny and warm, a farm up ahead. The men share cropping, with brown and cream colored straw hats, freshly shaved black beard, white vest, black suspenders, and gray pants, and brown boots, pushing faster on a nice day. Women picking off the cotton with blue garden gloves, while dressed in white or blue, the bell of the dresses are flared enough to catch the wind, and their hats are tied to their chin while singing harmoniously. Further travelling, I reach a much smaller town named “Ides” (Like The Ides of March). Down the main road, a woman is holding a basketful of dried clothes from the clothes line heading inside their yellow house, horses pulling crates of moonshine to the nearest warehouse, and mail carriers riding as fast as they can to Jamestenson, the carriage had to move over since there were no stop signs until 1915.

    Ending my day with this marvelous journey back in time to 1821 (with help of an imagination), I wrote in my journal of the past. What I saw, how everyone spoke, the styles of suits and dresses, the entertainment of theater and dance, travel, natural grown food, products, and resources, and different types of labor. I really believe this is one of my favorite times of history to look back on because of the way things naturally were. If I could create my own world, it would be here. 1821.

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  • Whatever Happened to Queen Catherine?

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    Catherine of Aragon. Queen Consort of England

    Catherine of Aragon was the first wife of Henry VIII. They produced and heir to the throne named Mary. Catherine faced many difficult birth attempts and had still borns (which could today leave a woman dealing with post-partum depression). However, Henry was deteremined to have a son, therefore he chose to go against the Catholic Priest and wanted to have their marriage annuled and desired another woman named Anne Boelyn. So whatever happened to Catherine after the divorce?

    In a sense, Catherine was booted out of the castle immediately and transferred many times until her and her daughter were placed at Kimbolton Castle.

    Kimbolton Castle

    Her and her daughter Mary were to live in separate chambers of this castle and was not allowed to see or write letters to each other. Some sources say that there was compassion for the two, and some of the letters were able to be fully exchanged. Later, Henry wanted to offer Catherine a deal: To declare Anne Boelyn as Queen and in return have a better living quarters and able to see her daugther Mary. Both Catherine and Mary refused to accept this offer. Both went from Queen and Princess to ladies. If I would understand their feelings, I would feel betrayed. Catherine refused to return the jewels that are for the Queens, and still called herself the lawfully wedded wife of Henry VIII.

    As Catherine got older, she decided she wanted to write her Will. She wanted her nephew to protect her daughter. Sources say she wrote a last letter to Henry stating:

    “My most dear lord, king and husband,

    The hour of my death now drawing on, the tender love I owe you forceth me, my case being such, to commend myself to you, and to put you in remembrance with a few words of the health and safeguard of your soul which you ought to prefer before all worldly matters, and before the care and pampering of your body, for the which you have cast me into many calamities and yourself into many troubles. For my part, I pardon you everything, and I wish to devoutly pray God that He will pardon you also. For the rest, I commend unto you our daughter Mary, beseeching you to be a good father unto her, as I have heretofore desired. I entreat you also, on behalf of my maids, to give them marriage portions, which is not much, they being but three. For all my other servants I solicit the wages due them, and a year more, lest they be unprovided for. Lastly, I make this vow, that mine eyes desire you above all things.
    Katharine the Quene.    “

    On January 7th of 1536, Catherine of Aragon died at the age of 50 In Kimbolton Castle.

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  • Grace O’Malley

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    (r. 1530-1603)

    Grace O’Malley or Gráinne Ní Mháille was born in 1530 in Umhaill, Connacht, Ireland. She was known as “The Pirate Queen”. She may not have had a crown, but she was a land owner, Sea Captain, and Political Activist. When she was a young adolescent, her father would not allow her to board ships due to her being a girl, however, Grace was so determined that she cut her hair to appear as a boy in order to get on the ship.

    Throughout her life and marriages she has had many losses, but gained her land overtime, and became the Captain after her father passed. She had a minor encounter with Queen Elizabeth I since the English we’re owning more land of Ireland, but Grace requested for her sons and half-brother to be released from prison, and Elizabeth granted her. In turn she lost some of her land as it was never resolved.

    Grace was clever and charming, as well as intelligent, cunnig, and brave. Interestingly enough, she died the year of 1603.. The same year as Elizabeth I.

  • Where Did The Dress Style Victorian Come From?

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    Queen Victoria held her reign from 1837-1901, and during this time the changes inspired by her small stature, created an intricate, and elegant style from the Georgian Era (King George III, George Washington), and made it her own.

    Victoria leaned on her stylist named Marianne Skerrett. Skerrett was her head dresser from the moment Victoria became Queen until 1862. She made sure of Victoria’s gloves, shoes, hats, and undergarments. Vintage Connection says “The styles of the late 1830s, consisting of a close-fitting bodice, natural waist, and bell-shaped skirt, were particularly becoming to the 4’11” queen. Her lack of height and a tendency toward plumpness made her look best in simple well-tailored clothes such as riding habits.” Puffy sleeves, and puffy skirt along with a small, tiny waist (or boning for the corset) gave off a lady-like figure for the small queen. In earlier days, wide skirts were supported by fabrics like linen which used horsehair in the weave. She also let it be known that all of her dresses are British made only.

    Visit to France
    Queen Victoria: Coronation Dress
    Horse Riding

    Thus, in turn, invited a new style across the world even to the United States with a western style with a little less flair. During the Victorian Era of fashion, this was a time to show the new beginnings of the female since there was a Queen on the throne. Also this meant the difference of money. Whoever had the nicests dresses, meant that the women were from a rich family, or from royalty; in which the women did not have to work. Women of the working class would have their dresses less flair and color. If you think about it, women’s embodiment was in its early phases and sprining into action of the capabilites of the new dress reform.

    The dresses may have been very pretty, but weren’t very comfortable. It was hard to try to get the smallest waist due to the corset to try and look their best and suitable for royalty and society. Their sleeves became lower which gave a little more difficulty raising their arms. Over the course of Victoria’s reign, the style started to come a little less restricted with their corsets and wide dresses, to longer, no corset, but comfortable fitting dresses. Queen Victoria was able to utilize her short frame and less widened shoulders to change the look and fashion of dresses. She was a young Queen in 1837, but she wanted to give a new look for the ages.

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  • Who Was Queen Elizabeth I’s Painter?

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    Queen Elizabeth I held her reign during the Renaissance Era; full of music, dancing, creativity, and art. With art, the English court had a mulititude of creative painters, one who’s name was Levina Teerlinc.

    Levina Teerlinc was known as a “miniaturist” painter for the Royal family including Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I (basically the Tudor Family).. She practiced a form of creating smaller paintings; a style made for lockets, pendants, and necklaces. According to My Daily Does of Art, “Teerlinc is credited with inventing the oval shape for the miniature portrait. Prior to the oval shape, these tiny portraits came only in rectangular shapes.”

    View Source

     Levina was not the only painter allowed at court. A man named Nicholas Hillard practiced the miniaturist painting style as well. “His earliest known attempts at miniature painting were made in 1560, and his talent is obvious in Self Portrait Aged 13 and Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset. Hilliard became miniature painter to Queen Elizabeth I about 1570 and made many portraits of her and of the leading members of her court.” – Britannica

    There are plenty other artists that painted for the Elizabeth I including George Gower, Robert Peake The Elder, Quentin Metsys, Steven Van der Muelen, and William Segar. Teerlinc was also allowed as privy council under Elizabeth I, gained a starting salary of 40 pounds ($ 55 in USD), and her paintings were considered ““a Carde with the Queen’s Matie [Majesty] and many other personages” – Being Bess. Although she did not sign her paintings, she is signified as one of the best painters for the Tudor family, and some of her work is sometimes hard to recognize in this present day from the other painters.

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    Levina Teerlinc

  • Yes to the Dress: Queen Victoria’s Dress On Her Wedding Day

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    On this day, February 10, of 1840 the Royal Marriage has been arranged for Queen Victoria Of England, and the love of her life Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. “We must imagine that her personal happiness must have been so great in anticipation, that she had little time to describe what she wore. We know that she awoke in Buckingham Palace on the morning of 10 February 1840. A watercolour by the artist James Roberts gives us a glimpse of the room, some eight years later. She got up at ¼ to 9 and breakfasted three-quarters of an hour later. The Queen seems to have been more interested in writing a note to her bridegroom, which she wrote as cold rain splashed against the windowpanes. It is tempting to suspect that the Queen was simply impatient and anxious to get to St James’s Palace, to be married to Prince Albert, with whom she was so passionately in love.” –The Royal Central. Although it was a delightful view of their moment of marriage, the preparations and the choice of dress might have been a little bit interesting during that time.

    The designer of the lace was a man named William Dyce from The Royal College of Art, and the maker of the dress was Mary Bettans in Spitalfields (you know, the place where she decided to have her dresses made there for her ball? That place). Together they created a beautiful silk satin white lace and dress for the ages.

    According to the Fashion History TImeline, this dress was “structured, eight-piece bodice features a wide, open neckline. The off-the-shoulder sleeves are short and puffed. The pointed waistline is deep v-shaped, resembling the basque shape. Both the neckline and sleeves were trimmed with lace. The floor-length skirt was very full, containing seven widths of fabric in forward-facing pleats.”

    Royal Collection Trust

    This dress was also in the color of white. Normally, a royal wedding dress would consist of robes, jewels, and a crown just to name a few things, and the color white (and black) represented the colors of mourning. But Victoria chose white to match the lace of her dress. She also suggested that only her and her bridesmaides wear white dresses as well.

    Royal Collection Trust

    Ever since the beautiful wedding, Queen Victoria has created a trend of white dresses along with the bridesmaids! Interesting right!? It wasn’t until the modern age of 1950s that dresses counted as a symbol of purity, virginity, and innocence. Today, in days of post-modern era, white is still apart of the beautiful day of marriage, but other colors are now the say so of the bride. I have seen a peacock wedding with those amazing blue and green colors, as well as purple, pink, and even black! The Victorian Era brought out the boldness of fashion, uniquieness, and individualism.

    References:

    1840 – Queen Victoria’s Wedding Dress