Six Queens

The Mirror and the Light, based on the novel by Hilary Mantel, is the sequel series to 2015's BBC drama Wolf Hall. Kate and Cally have waited ten years for their favorite period drama to return and, so far, it has not disappointed! Join us as we unpack all the Tudor politics, courtly drama, and on-screen depictions of five of our six queens.Kate and Cally watched the first few episodes and are excited to talk about the show's depiction of Jane Seymour, a queen not often seen on screen. How does this version of Jane compare to her previous, often brief and lackluster, drama appearances? How do the writers and actors portray Jane's transformation from courtier to queen to politician? A note to some viewers: while this drama is currently airing in the UK, it is not available in many other countries worldwide. If you don't want spoilers, it's probably best to avoid this episode!

The Mirror and the Light, based on the novel by Hilary Mantel, is the sequel series to 2015's BBC drama Wolf Hall. Kate and Cally have waited ten years for their favorite period drama to return and, so far, it has not disappointed! Join us as we unpack all the Tudor politics, courtly drama, and on-screen depictions of five of our six queens.In this installment, Kate and Cally react to the premiere episode of Mirror and the Light, discuss the "franchise's" impact on Tudor drama, and consider the legacies of the two queens whose deaths haunt this episode. How did the portrayal of Princess Mary affect our views of her mother, Katherine of Aragon? How did the main character, Thomas Cromwell, emotionally react to the aftermath of Anne Boleyn's execution?A note to some viewers: while this drama is currently airing in the UK, it is not available in many other countries worldwide. If you don't want to spoilers, it's probably best to avoid this episode!

It's an entire film about the life of Katherine Parr and it's finally here! Kate and Cally, joined by special guest Bonnie from The Queen Katherine Parr Society, are reviewing Firebrand (2023), which finally hit international cinemas this month. The film gives an intimate and harrowing look at Katherine's queenship and the Tudor court in the final years of Henry VIII's reign.What was it like to see Katherine on the big screen? Did the filmmakers do her justice? How was the danger of Katherine's world portrayed, including her volatile relationship with Henry? And as for the film's shocking conclusion: is complete historical accuracy necessary in a major film like this, or should we just be happy that Katherine is getting her big moment in the spotlight?LISTENERS SHOULD NOTE that Firebrand contains themes of domestic abuse, torture, and political violence, all of which are mentioned in our review. Additionally, if you haven't seen the film and want to avoid any spoilers, please avoid Part 2 of the episode!SUBSCRIBE to Six Queens on Substack to get extra features for this episode, read Kate's review of the film from her first screening in June, access community discussions, and more!

Come celebrate the third anniversary of Six Queens Podcast! Kate and Cally host a chat on Instagram Live, reflecting on how far the show has come in three years and answering audience questions.Partially-edited recording of a live broadcast streamed 14 September 2024.SUBSCRIBE to Six Queens on Substack to get extra features for this episode, access to community discussions, and more!

How did our queens use clothing and jewelry to shape their public personas? What did their fashion choices say about their political agendas? How was the Tudor court influenced by the style of a queen? And what can we learn about our queens through the jewelry collection that they all shared?In perhaps our most fun episode yet, Kate and Cally are discussing the fashion and jewelry of our six queens: the expensive fabrics and gems that denote their queenly status, the political messages hidden beneath headdresses and brooches, and the differences in styles throughout their six queenships. SUBSCRIBE to Six Queens on Substack to get extra features for this episode, access to community discussions, and more!

What did our six queens do for fun at the Tudor court? How did popular pastimes like dancing, singing, playing instruments, playing sports, jousting, and hunting allow courtiers to show off their political savvy? How is entertainment often tied to danger, excitement, and violence? And which came first, the fun or the politics?! In this episode, Kate and Cally will introduce you to a variety of Tudor pastimes that really show how vibrant and dangerous the court of Henry VIII was.SUBSCRIBE to Six Queens on Substack to get extra features for this episode, access to community discussions, and more!

We can't discuss the Tudor court without mentioning the performance of "courtly love" amongst the men, women, kings and queens. What was it? What were the rules? Why was it such a fun game for courtiers to play? And what happened when people, especially our queens, took everything too far?Kate and Cally are discussing how these odd, messy games of love contributed to the unique culture of the Tudor court...and the downfalls of two of our queens.SUBSCRIBE to Six Queens on Substack to get extra features for this episode, access to community discussions, and more!

"Honourable Mentions" is a series that honours the lives of Tudor women who knew, aided, and impacted the lives of our six queens. To help us learn more about the lives of ladies-in-waiting at the Tudor court, Kate and Cally are doing a deep dive on one of the court's most notorious women: Jane Parker Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford. Lady-in-waiting to five of our six queens, Anne Boleyn's sister-in-law, and keeper of secrets...until it cost her her life.What do we actually know about Jane's life? How did royal service shape her life? Does she deserve her scandalous reputation? And how does historiography shape our perceptions of historical figures?SUBSCRIBE to Six Queens on Substack to get extra features for this episode, access to community discussions, and more!We apologize for technical issues with our audio on this episode!

Kate and Cally are going on a who's-who tour of the Tudor court. For their final stop, they’re entering our queens’ inner circle and introducing you to the ladies-in-waiting.Who were these women and what did they do? What were the expectations for royal service? How was a queen responsible for the reputation of her household? And how did the dangers of the Tudor court force some women to choose between loyalty and their lives?SUBSCRIBE to Six Queens on Substack to get extra features for this episode, access to community discussions, and more!