Step into the galleries of the V&A Museum and meet five extraordinary queens whose portraits are anything but dusty history. From Elizabeth I’s power poses to Marie Antoinette’s rebellious style, these royal icons knew how to work their image centuries before selfies. Get ready to explore the cool, clever and sometimes cheeky side of royal portraiture, and see how these queens would have totally ruled social media.
Queen Elizabeth I – Reigned 1558-1603
From the 1580s, Queen Elizabeth I had many threats to her safety as political and religious turmoil grew across Europe. Tonnes of portraits of her were made and worn by people to show loyalty to the Queen. Artist Nicholas Hilliard kept Queen Elizabeth looking youthful in all of his portraits of her. This miniature was painted of Queen Elizabeth I when she was around 60 years old, so the OG filter for the age!
Mary Queen of Scots – Reigned 1542 – 1567
Mary Queen of Scots was cousin to Elizabeth I and became queen just 6 days after her birth! She was forced to abdicate (give up the throne) by Scottish nobles who did not want her in power anymore. She was kept imprisoned for 19 years by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, before eventually being executed in 1587 for treason. This portrait was likely commissioned by Mary, asserting her Catholic faith with a cross necklace on display and showing Elizabeth “hey, I’m still here!” Kinda like posting selfies – except hopefully you’re not in exile in Scotland!
Marie Antoinette – Reigned 1774 – 1792
Marie Antoinette was the last Queen of France, originally from Austria. Her reign was fraught with pressure to give birth to an heir to the throne, along with wars, economic trouble and eventually revolutionary France stormed the palace and had her and her husband, King Louis XVI executed by the guillotine. Unlike the portrait on this little box, she had famously extravagant hairstyles, some towering 4ft high! You can play our ‘Design a Hairstyle’ game here to make your own towering creation.
Queen Anne of Denmark – Reigned 1589 – 1619
Queen Anne of Denmark is a lesser known Queen of James I, but she had many miniatures made of her and had a FABULOUS wardrobe to boot. Queen Anne was a powerful patron of the arts and loved socialising and having fun. Her life was also marked by tragedy too, including 17 failed pregnancies. She did not get on well with King James I so was given The Queens House in Greenwich to live. She spent a lot of money, possibly making Marie Antoinette look frugal!
Queen Charlotte was Britain’s longest reigning female consort. Her marriage was, like most royal marriages, one of convenience and political advantage, but was reportedly one of the happiest royal marriages ever! She was very interested in botany and loved Kew Gardens in London. She founded many orphanges and was a big patron to the arts. She was also a pen pal of Marie Antoinette!
