elizabeth of york
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Tonight, I couldn’t sleep (a strange occurrence, really, since I can usually sleep anytime, anywhere!). As my mind wandered between one thought and the next, it inevitably returned to one of my obsessions: the “What ifs” of history. If you’re not familiar with the term, let me explain briefly: “What ifs” are hypothetical scenarios that
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In the Middle Ages, kings and queens used perfumes both to distinguish themselves and for hygienic purposes. However, the fragrances of the time were generally simple, often derived from natural ingredients that were either locally sourced or imported from distant lands. There is historical evidence and references to the use of perfumes, essential oils, and
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I have always found the concept of a motto fascinating, a short phrase that encapsulates everything a person represents and wants to convey to others. In royal families, every member had a motto, and often more than one, as these would change depending on the role they held. It was not uncommon, for example, for
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There are hints that Elizabeth’s relationship with Henry’s mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, was not always easy. The Spanish envoy observed that Margaret kept Elizabeth ‘in subjection’. Another visitor to court claimed that she was the Queen’s gatekeeper, and begrudged the fact that he would have spoken more to Elizabeth ‘had it not been for that
Beyond Death 