Elizabeth I was never meant to be queen; she was born during a time when the succession favoured male heirs and also had an older sister, Mary Tudor.

Advertisement

She was nonetheless crowned on 15 January 1559 at Westminster Abbey, ushering in half a century of relative stability after the turmoil of her siblings’ short reigns.

But how did Elizabeth navigate being a female ruler in what might be described as a 'man's world'?

Historian Tracy Borman explains how England's 'Gloriana' felt about her role as queen...

More from Tracy Borman:

Advertisement

This series of videos is designed to be bitesized, offering introductory information for between 1-2 minutes.

Authors

Tracy Borman
Tracy BormanAuthor, historian, joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces

Tracy Borman is a best-selling author and historian, specialising in the Tudor period. She works part-time as joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces and as Chief Executive of the Heritage Education Trust.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Get exclusive access to Ruth Goodman’s six-week Academy course on Victorian Life, featuring two live Q&As + a book of your choice when you subscribe to BBC History Magazine

Subscribe now
Advertisement