The Tudor Chest Podcast

Today, I'm delighted to be joined by one of Britain's most acclaimed historians, indeed I would say she’s my biggest guest yet, Professor Kate Williams. A bestselling author, broadcaster, and expert on royal history, Kate has spent years bringing the lives of monarchs to vivid life for readers and audiences alike. Her latest book, Regina, A New History of Women and Power takes us on a fascinating journey through the stories of history's female rulers—women who wielded power in worlds often designed to deny it to them. In this conversation, we'll discuss the lives of these remarkable queens, the myths and misconceptions that surround them, and what their stories can tell us about leadership, power, and the place of women in history.

She was a queen, a political player, and one of the most controversial women of the Wars of the Roses. Admired by some and mistrusted by others, Elizabeth Woodville became a central figure in a royal dynasty marked by ambition, intrigue, and conflict. Her story touches on questions of power, family, survival, and the enduring mystery surrounding the Princes in the Tower. To help me untangle the myths from the historical reality, I'm joined by historian Dr Lacey Bonar-Hull, to shed new light on medieval queenship and the complex legacy of Elizabeth Woodville. Together, we'll examine the woman behind the legend and her lasting impact on English history.

From the chaos of the Norman Conquest to the power struggles of the Plantagenets, the princesses of medieval England lived lives shaped by politics, ambition, and survival. In this episode, I am pleased to welcome historian Sharon Bennett Connolly onto the podcast for the first time, as we explore the women born into royal households between 1066 and the reign of King John: daughters promised in marriage treaties, sisters caught in dynastic rivalries, and queens-in-waiting whose influence stretched across Europe.

Anne Boleyn's final moments on the scaffold have been portrayed countless times, but do any of these depictions actually show the execution in an accurate light? Do any get it completely right, and which are way off the mark? Is the actress playing Anne wearing the clothing described in the contemporary sources, does the speech from the scaffold match what we know she said? Is the manner of death accurately portrayed? Well this week, I ask that very question, as I examine what actually happened on that momentous day, and then examine the many depictions of the most famous moment from Anne Boleyn's life, and ascertain whether any actually portray it as it happened on the faithful day, the 19th May 1536.

Tudor artefacts are sadly very rare, which is why new discoveries are always so exciting! Recently, a chair came to light which very likely belonged, or more accurately, was created for, Anne Boleyn. Historian Sandra Vasoli has been really involved in the discovery of this chair, working alongside Paul Fitzsimmons to piece together its story. Sandi joins me today to discuss what they have discovered, what the theories are around why this item was created, and fascinatingly, what it can tell us about the role Anne Boleyn played during her time serving at the French royal court.