In this episode, host Susannah Lyon-Whaley interviews Lorinda Cramer on her research on Queen Charlotte. In this episode they discuss Queen Charlotte's relationship with Britain's global empire, and the queen's deep interest in the flora and fauna of the colonies. For more on Queen Charlotte, see our earlier interview with Natalee Garrett on her biography of this queen in our series. Bio: Dr Lorinda Cramer is a lecturer in Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies at Deakin University, Austr...

In this episode, the second of our feature on African Queenship, host Ellie Woodacre interviews Paula Akpan. Our discussion mirrors the same lines as the conversation in episode 1 of this mini-series, drawing deeply on her fantastic new book, When We Ruled (see links below) and the various case studies Paula examined in her research. Guest Bio: Paula Akpan is a historian, journalist and author. Her writing has appeared in British Vogue, Teen Vogue, The Independent, The i Paper, VICE, GAY TIME...

This episode is the first of a new part series on African queenship, which will connected with coming episodes on African monarchy which you can look forward to as well. In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews two scholars who work on African queenship: Professor Nwando Achebe and Lydia Amoah. We discuss the distinctive features of African queenship with many rich and fascinating examples of powerful royal women from across African history from ancient Egypt and Kush to the rece...

In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews three of the organizing team for the Kings & Queens 15 which will be held from September 2 to 4, 2026 in Prague, hosted by the Czech Academy of Sciences. We discuss the inspiration behind the theme of KINGS, QUEENS AND DYNASTIES IN PERIL, key moments in dynastic history and tips for those planning to attend the conference. The call for papers for K&Q15 is open now--the deadline for submissions is 31 January 2026. For the call for p...

(English below) --- Cet épisode, animé en français par Victoria Barlow, est consacré au colloque « Violence à la cour française », qui s’est tenu en juin dernier au Centre Roland Mousnier à Paris. Victoria s’entretient avec Fanny Giraudier, présidente de l’association Cour de France et l’une des organisatrices du colloque, aux côtés de Caroline Zum Kolk et Nicolas Le Roux. Cet échange aborde les raisons du choix du thème « La violence à la cour » et la richesse des approches présentées lors d...

In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews Dr. Peter Stiffell about his research on the imagery and iconography of Mary I, Mary's reputation as "Bloody Mary" and exciting new discovery that Peter has made, uncovering a piece of royal material culture that was considered to be lost. GUEST BIO: Dr. Peter Stiffell is an independent scholar who specialises in the Marian regime. He completed his PhD at the centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies (MEMS) at the University of Kent. Hi...

In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews Emma Cahill Marrón about her pop up exhibition at the British Museum 'Faces of Eternity'. We discuss the items features, the iconography of Renaissance royal women, the use of medals and coins as propaganda and Mary I Tudor as both a English and Spanish queen. This mini exhibition will be running until mid-October 2025 in the Money Gallery at the British Museum, room 68, case 10. Here is a link to a short video of Ellie and Emma visiting t...

In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews the winner of the Royal Studies Journal PGR/ECR Article Prize Winner for 2025, Patrik Pastrnak. We discuss his research on bridal journeys, what can go wrong at royal weddings and his prize winning article (see link below). Article: Mechanics of Royal Generosity: The Gifts from the Wedding of King Matthias Corvinus and Beatrice of Aragon (1476), Speculum 98.3 (2023) https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/725011 Guest Bio: Patrik Pastrnak ...

This episode focuses on RSJ Issue 12.1 (June 2025) a special issue on 'Material Culture and Built Heritage: Manifestations of Scotland's Royal Past, Present and Future', guest edited by Drs Lucinda H. S. Dean and Amy Hayes. The issue features six full length articles on various aspects of Scotland's rich material culture from the Stuart period ranging from the reign of James IV to considerations of the survival of the Trinity collegiate church, built by a 15th century queen, in the landscape ...

In this episode, host Amy-Jane Humphries interviews Natalee Garrett, Sarah Betts and Rosalind Freeborn to discuss (fictional) representations of regency royalty. Guest Bios: Sarah Betts is a PhD candidate at the University of York working on a thesis exploring cultural memory and public histories of the English Civil Wars from the Seventeenth Century to the present day. She has wider interests in the history of monarchy and public history and heritage, and historical fictions, and is a sectio...

In this episode, host Victoria Barlow is joined by guest Susannah Lyon-Whaley to discuss the royal links with early 17th century gardening practices and the A Queen's Book of Flowers exhibition running until the end of June in York. Listen in to be transported into the charming landscape of queen Henrietta Maria’s England and the exotic plants that were being cultivated there. For more information on the exhibition visit the webpage: https://susannahlyon-whale.wixsite.com/queensbookofflowers ...

In this episode, host Dr Susannah Lyon-Whaley interviews Marlene Daut on her new book The First and Last King of Haiti, giving us an insight into this unusual example of Caribbean monarchy. An award-winning author, scholar, and professor specializing in Haitian history and culture, Marlene L. Daut's most recent book, The First and Last King of Haiti: The Rise and Fall of Henry Christophe (Knopf, 2025), explores the fascinating life of Haiti’s only king while delving into the complex hist...

Dr Vincent O’Malley FRHistS FRSNZ is an award-winning and bestselling historian who has written and published extensively on the history of Māori and settler relations in New Zealand. His book Voices from the New Zealand Wars/He Reo nō ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa (BWB, 2021) won New Zealand’s premier book award for non-fiction in 2022, and he received a Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement that same year. In 2023, he was awarded the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi’s Humanities ...

Saira Baker chats with senior curator of photographs at the Royal Collection Trust and curator of the exhibition, Alessandro Nasini, in The King’s Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. ‘Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography’ charts the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day, revealing the stories behind the creation of some of the most iconic images of the British Monarchy. Bringing together more than 90 photographic prints, proofs and docum...

Megan Shaw is an art historian who recently completed her PhD at the University of Auckland with her thesis entitled ‘A Female Favourite: Katherine Villiers, Duchess of Buckingham (1603-1649)’. Megan’s doctoral research was supported by a Junior Fellowship with the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art. Her article on York House in the Furniture History journal includes a transcription of a newly discovered inventory of the Duchess of Buckingham’s closets. Outside of academia she is a...

In this episode host Ellie Woodacre interviews Noel Cox about his upcoming book: The Coronation and the Constitution: The political, legal and theological functions of the ceremony in the British tradition (Palgrave Macmillan, 2025). We discuss a range of topics including what makes British coronations distinctively different, the political, legal and theological functions of a coronation, and what changes we might expect in future ceremonies. If you enjoyed this episode or are interest...

In this episode host Susannah Lyon-Whaley interviews Emily Chambers about her research on the lives, relationship and networks of the women of the Tudor court. They discuss several important female figures including regnant queen Mary I, Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox, Frances Brandon, mother of Lady Jane Grey, and many more who were all born c. 1510 and were peers in the volatile mid-Tudor court. Guest Bio: Emily Chambers is an Associate Lecturer in Humanities, Arts and Social Scienc...

In this episode, Johanna Strong speaks with Dr Alexander Courtney about his research on James VI of Scotland and I of England, focusing on his recent monograph James VI, Britannic Prince: King of Scots and Elizabeth’s Heir, 1566–1603. Alex's forthcoming works include an edited collection, co-edited with Michael Questier, on James VI and I: Kingship, Government and Religion, coming in March 2025. In addition to his own works, Alex recommends Steven J. Reid's The Early Life of James VI: A Long ...

In this roundtable episode, hosted by Victoria Barlow, Nicole Maceira Cumming and Charlie Spragg discuss their research and the upcoming 'Understanding James VI&I 400 Years On' conference. We delve into the importance of how this shrewd monarch presented himself and his royal dominion not only as king of Scotland, but later of England as well. Having co-organised a conference taking place in July to commemorate the 400th anniversary of his death in 1625, our two guests also touch upon wha...

In this episode, Dr Johanna Strong speaks with Dr Jade Scott about Jade's new book, Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots (Michael O'Mara Books, 2024). They explore why Mary's letters are so critically important for understanding her influence, agency and power even during her lengthy captivity in England. Dr Jade Scott is an affiliate in Scottish History at the University of Glasgow. She is an expert in early modern women's correspondence and has published widel...