The Real Face of Elizabeth I

When you picture Elizabeth I, you probably imagine the Armada or Ditchley portraits - alabaster skin, red wig, pearls, and poise.
But how close were those famous images to the real Elizabeth?

In this episode, I trace the evolution of her image, from the poised princess of the 1540s to the ageless Virgin Queen of legend, using eyewitness accounts, surviving portraits, and the propaganda that shaped her face for history.

Who was the woman beneath the heavy makeup and myth?
Discover the features that never changed, and meet Elizabeth as her contemporaries saw her: intelligent, complex, and utterly human.

Watch until the end to see how artists and ambassadors together shaped one of history’s most iconic faces.
And tell me in the comments: which Elizabeth feels most real to you - the young scholar, the new queen, or the ageing monarch behind the mask?

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