Six Queens

Series 5 has come to an end, so Kate and Cally are on Instagram Live chatting all things Court: what we've learned, favorite episodes, series highlights, and audience questions. You'll also get a preview of the upcoming Series 6, plus the projects happening in the "off season." Partially-edited recording of a live broadcast streamed 2 March 2025.

How did queens use art to further their politics? What hidden meanings lurk behind every portrait of Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Katherine Parr? How did foreign brides, like Katherine of Aragon, use art to display their global power and connections? Why was patronage of artists so important at the Tudor court?To conclude our Court season, Kate and Cally are speaking with art historian Dr. Emma Cahill Marron about the many ways in which image, power, and queenship are irrevocably linked.

In the twenty-first century, we all acknowledge the drama of having six queens at a court, but how did the Tudor court react to it all? Did any of our queens ever have to confront her predecessor or replacement? What courtly etiquette existed to make such a confrontation as civil as possible?For a little New Year's treat, Kate and Cally are exploring one of the most awkward encounters ever at the Tudor court: New Year 1541, when Anne of Cleves returned to court after her annulment. How did she and Katherine Howard navigate the difficult task of saving face, making nice, delivering their political messages, and having a happy new year?

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 last installment, Kate and Cally are discussing the show's final two episodes, which detail the drama surrounding Anne of Cleves's marriage and Thomas Cromwell's subsequent downfall. How did the portrayal of marriage negotiations help us to understand Anne's situation a little better? Did the show do Anne justice? Was Katherine Howard's brief appearance as interesting as it could have been? And did the show's final scene, the execution of Thomas Cromwell, live up to expectations?Listeners should note that the second half of the episode contains some mild descriptions of violence.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.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!

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!