In the concluding episode of their podcast miniseries on Elizabeth I, titled “Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things,” hosts Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams delve into the fascinating reasons behind the Virgin Queen’s decision to remain unmarried throughout her remarkable 44-year reign.

Elizabeth ascended to the English throne at the age of 25 in 1558, instantly becoming one of the most sought-after royals in Europe.

As the sole surviving heir of the Tudor dynasty, the necessity for Elizabeth to produce an heir was pressing. The stability of the kingdom hinged on her having children to ensure a smooth succession and prevent the chaos of a civil war after her passing.

On the final episode of their Elizabeth I podcast miniseries, Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams unpick why the Virgin Queen never married

The Queen was rumoured to be deeply fond of her Master of Horse, Robert Dudley

Despite receiving marriage proposals from some of the most influential monarchs across Europe, Elizabeth chose to govern independently during the years she could have borne children.

Her choice was heavily influenced by the era’s legal framework, which regarded wives as their husbands’ property. Elizabeth recognized that marrying someone of equal status could potentially allow a foreign prince to claim the English throne.

Yet, there was one potential suitor who didn’t pose such a threat to her sovereignty. The Queen was rumored to have a special affection for her Master of Horse, Robert Dudley, whose lower social standing did not complicate her rule.

Childhood friends, Dudley and Elizabeth had both been imprisoned in the Tower of London as children of parents executed for treason.

Dudley was already married when he worked in Elizabeth’s court. However, his wife Amy Robsart was very ill with breast cancer, and rumours began to swirl that upon her death, he would marry the Queen.

The podcast explores how Robsart’s shocking and unsolved murder would destroy that potential Royal marriage, dooming Elizabeth to die childless and ushering in the end of the legendary Tudor dynasty.

The Mysterious Murder of Amy Robsart

Despite seemingly offering a solution to Elizabeth’s marriage quandary, her senior advisors were not keen on Dudley as a potential match.

They each had their own candidates and saw in the wildcard option of Dudley a direct threat to their power, as Professor Kate Williams explained.

‘No one wanted Elizabeth to marry him,’ she said.

‘Her ambassadors did not like it because they wanted their own prince to marry her.

‘Elizabeth’s Secretary of State William Cecil threatened to resign if she went through with it. Kat Ashley, the Queen’s beloved governess, did not like Dudley either.

‘However, Elizabeth remained deeply fond of him and as an Englishman, he would have been popular with the country which put him in pole position.’

While Dudley was busy entertaining the Queen during her 27th birthday celebrations at Windsor Castle, a plot was hatched that would completely remove him from the running.

Despite seemingly offering a solution to Elizabeth’s marriage quandary, her senior advisors were not keen on Dudley as a potential match

Although Robsart was already dying, Williams explained why the manner of her death was ‘catastrophic’ to Dudley’s social standing

With Dudley eliminated from contention, Elizabeth would go on to receive 26 further marriage proposals from Europe’s most powerful men. None would come as close

Robsart, Dudley’s ailing wife, would be found dead while her husband was away. She was discovered by their servants lying at the bottom of a short flight of stairs with a broken neck.

Although Robsart was already dying, Williams explained why the manner of her death was ‘catastrophic’ to Dudley’s social standing.

‘People started to say that Dudley commissioned someone to kill her, getting Robsart out of the way because he wanted to marry Elizabeth,’ the historian said.

‘There are various theories over what really happened to Amy. Historians discount that she died by her own hand because it was viewed as a great sin at the time.

‘She had also recently bought a new dress not long before she died, which doesn’t suggest she was in low spirits. It was either a very strange accident or she was murdered.

‘Some people believe it was William Cecil who orchestrated it to frame Dudley. I don’t believe that’s true.

‘I think it was at the behest of the foreign ambassadors. Philip of Spain would have had plenty of reasons to get rid of Amy Robsart.

‘Regardless, it meant that Dudley could never marry Elizabeth. That taint was always going to hang over him. He was pushed out of the picture.’

With Dudley eliminated from contention, Elizabeth would go on to receive 26 further marriage proposals from Europe’s most powerful men. None would come as close.

She died in 1603 aged 69, childless and unmarried, and with her went the entire Tudor dynasty. 

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