Introduction

As someone who studies Shakespeare religiously, I return again and again to Queen Elizabeth I. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Queen Anne Boleyn. After the death of her half-sister Mary I, she ascended to the throne and created a strong sense of peace and stability in England. Under her reign, the arts flourished, and this culture was perfect for Shakespeare and his work (hence, why I have become slightly obsessed with her). While he never explicitly writes about her, it is thought that Elizabeth I partly inspired or is referenced in many of his works, including Antony and Cleopatra, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Hamlet. A part of the study abroad experience is to learn both inside and outside the class. So, while studying abroad in England, I decided to search for traces of her across Britain. While there are so many pieces that I would love to write about, I narrowed it down to my absolute favorite spots. I hope that by providing you with some places to discover this powerful monarch, you will go out and search for her yourself!

The Family of Henry VIII

While Elizabeth I is not the focal point of this painting, it does give us an interesting insight into her life before becoming queen. This dynastic portrait was probably painted for Henry VIII to display the power of the Tudor royal family in the Whitehall Palace. King Henry VIII sits in the center, commanding the attention of the painting to depict his role as patriarch. At his side is Jane Seymour, who is rumored to be the only wife Henry VIII truly loved. This love might be due to Jane Seymour being the only wife to give him a living son, Edward VI, pictured on Henry VIII’s other side. Cast off to the side are his two daughters from his previous marriages. Mary I is on the left, and Elizabeth I is on the right – both being just princesses at the time. It is believed that this painting was meant to celebrate the 1544 statue that put Mary and Elizabeth in line for succession after Edward since it was painted sometime around 1545. The princesses might have been viewed as a safety net just in case Edward died before producing heirs (which is a good thing because that is exactly what ended up happening). I traveled to Hampton Court Palace just to see this painting in person. This painting is so majestic, and it is so easy to get lost in the details. I could spend hours highlighting all the hidden messages in this portrait. My favorite is the initial “A” necklace Elizabeth I is wearing, which is rumored to have belonged to her mother. It showcases how devoted Elizabeth I was to her mother’s memory while also attempting to maintain a peaceful relationship with her father. 

Location: Hampton Court Palace, Haunted Gallery.

Elizabeth I When a Princess

Before Elizabeth I was born, she was believed to be a boy—the letters announcing her birth needed to be amended before sending out. Instead of rewriting all the letters, the writers just squeezed in two “ss” at the end of “prince” to display her correct gender. Many of her portraits draw on her androgynous nature because it established her as a rightful heir to the throne. Elizabeth I When a Princess is one of her earliest solo portraits, done when she was thirteen or fourteen. It is believed to be one of the two surviving portraits of Elizabeth I before she was crowned queen. She is depicted in a feminine dress style, although the books in the portrait highlight her education and her dedication to her faith (since it is believed that the books are the Old and New Testaments). When I was walking through Windsor Castle, I did not expect to find a portrait of Elizabeth I. This portrait is striking and immediately caught my attention. All my time studying Elizabeth I paid off because I instantly recognized her likeness, even from across the room. It is clear that she is a young queen in the making from how she openly displays power and confidence in her portrait, even at a young age. Elizabeth I When a Princess displays her dignity and beauty as a member of the royal family. This early portrait probably hung near her brother’s portrait done by the same artist. During the Tudor period, it was believed that women were not born to be solo rulers. However, Elizabeth I did everything she could, including specific imagery in her portraits, to establish herself as a capable queen. 

Location: Windsor Castle, Queen’s Drawing Room.

The Coronation Portrait

This was the first portrait I saw of Elizabeth I when I arrived in London. While there are several of her portraits on display at the National Portrait Gallery, her coronation portrait is one of my favorites because of the power and grace she displays as she ascends to the throne. Through this portrait, Elizabeth I continues the story she tells in earlier portraits. The Coronation Portrait is important because this would be the image that would be printed onto coins and seals during her reign. This portrait is unusual for the time because most Tudor portraits were not painted with a head-on pose. This might be a reflection of the unusual nature of her coronation as an unmarried queen. It was probably painted sometime in the early 1600s, and the one on display at the National Portrait Gallery is a copy of her original (now lost) coronation painting dating back to 1559. Like all of Queen Elizabeth I’s portraits, this one is heavy with symbols and hidden messages that display what kind of queen she wants to be. The coronation robes that she wears would have originally been used in her half-sister’s – Mary I – coronation five years earlier. If you look closely at the robes, you can spot the Tudor Rose, which was their family’s dynasty and displays her status as heir. She wears her hair long, which highlights her youth, feminine beauty, and fertility (all of which were common symbols utilized for queens during this time). Her portrait also includes the royal orb and scepter, which showcases her royal authority and power over her country. The frame also includes a replica of her crown and a Tudor rose. The Coronation Portrait represents a young Elizabeth I, who is ready to take her rightful place as queen. 

Location: National Portrait Gallery, Floor 3, Room 1.

The Armada Portrait

Queen Elizabeth I was very adept at balancing between the feminine and masculine during her life so that she could maintain her title as queen. There is no better example of this than in The Armada Portrait. This portrait was painted after the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, which is described by some historians as the most famous conflict of Elizabeth I’s reign. The Spanish Armada set out to invade England, which would have taken Elizabeth I off the throne. During this conflict, Queen Elizabeth I gives an extremely passionate and impressive speech to the troops at Tilbury. It is believed that Elizabeth I wrote many of her speeches, including this one. She describes herself as both a feminine queen and a masculine general. Many of these elements are reflected in this portrait. She is decorated with jewels and bows while also concealing her figure with her large dress. Her hand rests on the water and the Americans on the globe, representing England’s powerful navy and their ongoing travels into the New World. Speaking of travels, I set aside a day to go to Greenwich during Reading Week just so that I could see this portrait in person. There was something so important about seeing this portrait in Greenwich, which was where Elizabeth I was born. It is so majestic and creates a sense of awe surrounding the queen. Elizabeth I was around 55 years old when The Armada Portrait was painted. You can truly see how much she has stepped into her power as ruler through her upright posture, clear gaze, and powerful stance. My favorite details are the pearls on her dress, her hair, and her neck, which are rumored to now be a part of the Imperial State Crown! I think it beautifully highlights her legacy as a queen. 

Location: The Queen House, Level 1, Queen’s Presence Chamber.

Portrait Miniatures Throughout Her Reign

I love portrait miniatures because they are just so cute! Maybe that is a strange word to describe these portrait miniatures of Queen Elizabeth I, but hey, I stand by my word choice! The Victoria and Albert Museum has several miniatures of Queen Elizabeth at different points in her life, especially later in her life. These portrait miniatures would have been an important tool that Elizabeth I could utilize during her time as queen. Firstly, they were used in marriage negotiations with foreign courts because they were an easily transported way to show what the queen looked like. While these miniatures never led to a marriage, many of Elizabeth I’s ambassadors continued to carry her miniatures around with them because other foreign courts found them very fashionable. They were also a show of loyalty to the monarchy. Before, during, and after the Spanish Armada in the 1580s, there was a lot of fear surrounding Elizabeth I losing her throne. Wearing the queen’s image then became a way to show your love and devotion to her and your country. Some of them are rough sketches of her, and some of them are so detailed down to the lace on her ruff. It is so fun to see these tiny little details, especially when they are all right next to each other. So many of Elizabeth I’s symbols are also present in her portrait miniatures, with her most famous being her ruff. Her ruff is present in almost all her portraits (even her miniatures), and it is a common symbol associated with her title of “Virgin Queen”. I recommend that you check out as many of Elizabeth I’s miniatures in the Victoria and Albert Museum as you can because each of them tells a slightly different story about one of England’s most famous queens. 

Location: Victoria and Albert Museum (South Kensington), Level 2, Room 90A (Portrait Miniatures Room).

Statue of Queen Elizabeth I

Have you ever wondered what is the oldest outdoor statue in the city of London? Well, it is a statue of Queen Elizabeth I, located in an alcove just off Fleet Street! The inscription dates this statue to 1586, which makes it the only statue that was created of Queen Elizabeth I during her lifetime. The statue’s home has not always been at St. Dunstan in the West. In fact, it has moved around quite a bit in the past 400 years. Originally, the statue was created to be a part of the Ludgate, the westernmost gate in the London Wall. This statue survived The Great Fire of 1666, although it probably had to undergo some cosmetic restorations after the fire died down. When the Ludgate was demolished in 1760, the statue stood in many spots across London, even sitting in the basement of a pub for a couple of years! In 1928, the statue was recovered and restored as much as possible before it was reinstalled at its current home. This statue is so beautiful and majestic. When you look up at it, you get a sense of how old the statue truly is. It is so fascinating getting to see monuments that are older than the United States! While I was looking up at this statue, I was struck by Elizabeth I’s legacy. Her 45 years on the throne are considered to be a wonderful and glorious point in English history – even called the “Golden Age”. She created peace after Mary I’s bloody reign, established the Church of England, encouraged expeditions to the Americas, and so much more. Elizabeth I set the precedent for female monarchs of England. It is no wonder that ElizabethI’s statue has stood the test of time. 

Location: St. Dunstan in the West Church, Fleet Street.