Isabella of France: A Reign of Power and Intr...

In this episode, I’m joined by historian Annie Whitehead to explore the women of the Anglo-Saxon world and the many ways they shaped early medieval England.We talk about education, influence, queenship, and legacy — and how women navigated power in a world that didn’t always pres ...  Show more

What if Lady Jane Grey had outwitted Mary Tudor and stayed Queen of England?In this Off the Record episode, we follow the most fascinating “what if” in Tudor history: a world where Jane’s reign doesn’t end after nine days - but becomes the start of something far bigger (and far m ...  Show more

In preparation for International Women's Day this Wednesday, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb takes a look at a Queen whose reputation has largely been shaped by her husband's midlife crisis. History does not see much further than Katherine of Aragon's so-called failure to provide ...

Eleanor of Castile married King Edward I of England as part of a political deal to affirm English sovereignty over Gascony. But the marriage was a very close one. Eleanor travelled extensively with Edward, including on the Ninth Crusade. When she died in Notting ...

King Edward VIII gave up the throne to marry the woman he loved, Wallis Simpson. Their relationship has long been lauded as a royal fairytale. But there was a lot more going on. Wallis never really liked Edward but became trapped by her own ambition. And Edward, desperate to find ...  Show more

Catherine Howard was Queen Consort - and fifth wife - to Henry VIII for just 16 months before he had her executed for treason for committing adultery. Since Victorian times, historians have labelled her as lewd and promiscuous, but there was an altogether more complex you ...