Between the 9th and 27th July 1575, the 41 year old Elizabeth I visited the home of her friend and favourite, Robert Dudley the Earl of Leicester, Kenilworth Castle.
This visit may have been Dudley’s last ditch attempt to woo his Queen and persuade her to marry him, and he pulled out all the stops – a new gatehouse, new luxury apartments fit for a Queen, new gardens, firework displays, hunting, a masque and other lavish entertainment… Bless him, I think I would have fallen under his spell! Unfortunately, Elizabeth did not cave in.
You can read more about Elizabeth’s 19 day visit to Kenilworth in my article “Elizabeth I’s Visit to Kenilworth Castle” and do check out my photos of the castle at http://www.flickr.com/photos/theanneboleynfiles/sets/72157624536258800/
