Talking Tudors

In this episode of Talking Tudors, host Natalie Grueninger welcomes Dr James Taff to discuss his book 'Accounting for Anne' and how Anne of Cleves' household accounts reveal the daily workings of her short queenship.

They examine the blended German and English household, Anne's wardrobe and rewards, myths about her appearance, the aftermath of the annulment, and the research challenges that bring this overlooked queen into sharper, more sympathetic focus.

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Join Natalie Grueninger and Dr Owen Emmerson's new online event:  'Rethinking Anne Boleyn'

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rethinking-anne-boleyn-tickets-1981325385564?aff=oddtdtcreator

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 https://www.nataliegrueninger.com

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In this episode, Natalie Grueninger speaks with historian Lauren Johnson about Margaret Beaufort — a child bride turned survivor whose political skill, marriages, and networks helped secure Henry VII’s rise. They trace her early life, complex role during the Wars of the Roses, and her close but often-misunderstood relationship with her son and Elizabeth of York.

The conversation also busts long-standing myths, explores Margaret’s religious patronage and use of early printing, and highlights her cultural legacy. Lauren discusses her new biography, Margaret Beaufort’s Survivor Rebel Kingmaker, and why Margaret’s story matters today.

Visit Lauren Johnson's official website

http://www.lauren-johnson.com/

Join Natalie Grueninger and Dr Owen Emmerson's new online event:  'Rethinking Anne Boleyn'

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rethinking-anne-boleyn-tickets-1981325385564?aff=oddtdtcreator

Find out more about your host at

 https://www.nataliegrueninger.com

Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

In this episode, host Natalie Grueninger speaks with Dr Mary Hollingsworth about the life of Catherine de' Medici. They explore her Italian roots and convent upbringing, her marriage to Henry II, regency for her sons, and efforts to navigate the Wars of Religion. They discuss Catherine's cultural patronage, her complex relationships with contemporaries like Elizabeth I, and the origins of her notorious reputation, including the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. 

Visit Dr Hollingsworth's official website

https://mary-hollingsworth.com/

Learn more about the sponsor of this episode, Simply Tudor Tours

https://simplytudortours.com/

Find out more about your host at

 https://www.nataliegrueninger.com

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Host Natalie Grueninger speaks with historian Ella Brook Muir about how queenly clothing in 16th‑century England and France acted as political communication, conveying magnificence, legitimacy, loyalty and cosmopolitan identity through fabrics, colours and emblems.

The episode examines case studies (Katherine of Aragon, Claude of France, Anne Boleyn, and Eleanor of Austria), the makers and household staff who produced these garments, the impact of global trade on materials, and the scarcity and mystery of surviving textiles.

Visit Ella's official website

https://www.ellabrookmuir.co.uk/

Learn about our sponsor!

https://simplytudortours.com/

Find out more about your host at

 https://www.nataliegrueninger.com

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Host Natalie Grueninger speaks with Dr Melissa Shiels about New Year's gift-giving across 16th-century England and Ireland, and how material gifts expressed political messages at the Tudor court.

They discuss typical gifts (money, clothing, jewellery, horses, hawks), differences across reigns, examples of gifts that reveal diplomacy or tension, and the distinction between public gift exchange and bribery.

Find out more about Dr Shiels

https://www.instagram.com/dr.melissashiels/

The Greensleeves Project

https://greensleevesproject.uk/

Find out more about your host at

 https://www.nataliegrueninger.com

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