Elizabeth’s 44-year reign was known as a ‘golden age’ for England. Our Essential Guide explores life under her rule
Elizabeth I, together with her father Henry VIII, is one of the most recognisable royals in English history. From her accession to the throne in 1558 to her death 44 years later, she remained incredibly popular with her subjects and utterly devoted to her kingdom. In this month’s Essential Guide, we’ve enlisted the help of historian Dr Nicola Tallis to explore the reign of the famous Virgin Queen – from the sights, smells and sounds of Elizabethan street life, to victory over the Spanish Armada, and the experiences of African people who made 16th-century England their home. Start reading from page 28.