wedding day, on July 29th 1565 dawned with still no dispensation from Rome. The Queen was determined to marry that day, so she ignored the lack of approval from the Pope and pressed ahead with the wedding ceremony.

As we dressed her for the day ahead, she talked about her hopes for the future. “I am confident that Darnley will make a good consort,” she told us. “I have spent much time with him over the past months and I can see that he has a good head on his shoulders.”

“I hope that he will meet your expectations,” I told her. I still had misgivings about his suitability for the role which the Queen had chosen for him, but hoped that I was wrong.

She smiled. “Thank you, Seton.”

We accompanied her as she made her way to the Chapel-Royal,...

Please subscribe to keep reading.