White Rose of Avalon

Tudor

  • The Cultural Legend of Anne Boleyn

    Anne Boleyn is a historical figure who has obtained legendary status.    This also means that she is a figure that has been misunderstood over the years, and one that it is near impossible to entirely pin point.    There is a question over whether we could ever truly know who she was. We do…

  • Was Katherine of Aragon’s Marriage to Prince Arthur Consummated?

    The question over whether or not Katherine of Aragon was a virgin when she married Henry VIII is one that has been debated for about 500 years!    Katherine maintained that her marriage to Arthur had never been consummated.    Henry VII likely had some doubts about this, given that he desired her to marry…

  • My Top Five Elizabeth I Portrayals

    Today I am counting down my top five actresses to portray Elizabeth I! Number 5: Cate Blanchett Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age ~Cate Blanchett is a great actress to portray Elizabeth I.   She is one of the most aesthetically realistic to give life to this role!    Both films are enjoyable and visually…

  • My Top Five Mary Queen of Scots Portrayals

    Today I would like to count down my top five Mary Queen of Scots portrayals!  Number 5: Clemence Posey Gunpowder, Treason, Plot ~This mini-series had the first part focused on Mary and the second on her son.   I love that French actress Clemence Posey played Mary.   She does a good job, and the…

  • The Thorn and the Rose

    For today’s post I am going to be discussing the sisters of Henry VIII.   The Thorn of the title referred to Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scotland.   The Rose of the title referred to Mary Rose Tudor, former Queen of France, and Duchess of Suffolk.   The sisters were several years apart in age,…

  • Mottos of the Six Wives

    Today I want to take a look at the coronation mottos chosen by the six wives of Henry VIII.   Each motto really seemed to fit the queen and her reign! Katherine of Aragon chose “Humble and Loyal” as her motto.   She certainly lived up to this, and was very loyal to Henry, even…

  • My Top Ten British Royalty Period Pieces

    The ten period pieces listed below are my personal favorites to depict the British monarchs!   It is obvious that I am a lover of the Plantagenet and Tudor dynasties, so the period pieces here are all from the late medieval period and the Tudor era! Number 10: Mary Queen of Scots (2018) ~Margot Robbie…

  • My Top 10 Shakespearean Films

    Number 10: Hamlet (1969) ~This version of Hamlet starred Marianne Faithfull as Ophelia, and is worth watching for that alone! Number 9: William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet (1996) ~This is the classic Leo DiCaprio and Claire Danes version! Number 8: William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999) ~Michelle Pfiffer made an awesome Titania in this…

  • Doomed Tudor Queens

     In the Tudor age there are four queens who were beheaded.    The first was Anne Boleyn, the second was Katheryn Howard, the third was Lady Jane Grey, and the final was Mary Queen of Scots. These queens would be sentenced to death for various reasons during three separate reigns of Tudor monarchs.    All…

  • Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn

    The love story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn is an iconic one.     This love story quite literally changed the fate of a nation!   Henry fell in love with Anne likely sometime early in 1526, and at this point he had already become determined to divorce his current wife Katherine of Aragon.…