Charlie Fenton’s Reviews > Young Elizabeth: Princess. Prisoner. Queen. > Status Update

'Elizabeth almost certainly suffered from migraines, and on one occasion she apologized to her brother for a delay in writing that was caused by ‘an affliction of my head and eyes’ – not the only time she would be troubled by such complaints.'

'Mary, though, was convinced enough of her pregnancy to be more determined than ever to make one last-ditch attempt to cut Elizabeth out, drawing up her will on 30 March. Believing – or hoping – herself to be with child, she gave orders in the document that the crown was to be inherited by any progeny she produced, with Philip acting as the infant’s guardian.'

'Elizabeth, though admitting no wrongdoing, was begging for the Queen’s forgiveness, but Mary remained unmoved. She would not be swayed by words, and with that their meeting came to an end. As a crestfallen Elizabeth departed for her lodgings, she realized that the rift between herself and Mary was far from healed. Indeed, it appeared worse than ever.'

'In what was probably a deliberate irony, it was the eighteenth anniversary of Anne Boleyn’s execution. Elizabeth’s incarceration in the ancient fortress had lasted for nine weeks, but she had survived the ordeal and emerged from the Tower physically unscathed, though not emotionally. Her time there had a profound and lasting impact, instilling in her an intense hatred for the Tower'

'Likewise it would appear wise in your Majesty not to be too ready to trust the Lady Elizabeth, and to reflect that she now sees no hope of coming to the throne, and has been unwilling to yield about religion, though it might be expected of her out of respect for your Majesty and gratitude for the kindnesses you have shown her, even if she had only done so to accompany you.'

'In an interesting link with her mother’s family, Edmund Boleyn, ‘her grace’s kinsman’, was given money, as were both ‘Mr Carey’ – Elizabeth’s cousin – and on a separate occasion his wife, ‘at her departing from Hatfield’. These references confirm that Elizabeth had a strong family network around her in her youth, who were unswervingly loyal to her and would continue to be so'

'She was nevertheless horrified to hear from Sir Robert – doubtless in a further attempt to sway her into a confession – that unsavoury rumours were spreading ‘that I am in the Tower; and with child by my Lord Admiral’. Elizabeth was always sensitive about her reputation and popularity with the people'

'it is inconceivable that she wore the pendant without Henry’s notice, or indeed, given her desire to please him, his permission. This raises several intriguing possibilities behind the reasons for its selection. Perhaps the likeliest is that it was Henry who ordered his daughter to wear the pendant, as a way of highlighting Elizabeth’s illegitimacy'

'Although sources regarding her relationship with Jane Seymour are either frustratingly vague or lacking altogether, there is no evidence for the claim that Elizabeth was overlooked by her father and stepmother. On at least one occasion Jane purchased clothes for her – perhaps in response to Lady Bryan’s pleas – ordering materials for a ‘Scottish hood’, as well as a pair of sleeves.'

'Ales would later report to her, mournfully: ‘Never shall I forget the sorrow which I felt when I saw the most serene Queen, your most religious mother, carrying you, still a little baby, in her arms and entreating the most serene King, your father, in Greenwich Palace, from the open window of which he was looking into the courtyard, when she brought you to him.’'