The A level historians had a thoroughly enjoyable evening at the To Kill a Queen lecture, delivered by historians Susannah Lipscomb and Kate Williams. The lecture brought to life the dramatic and complicated relationship between Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots. The stories of the queens’ fascinating lives were told in in parallel, emphasising how their fates were closely intertwined, despite the fact that they never met.
Throughout the evening, Lipscomb and Williams invited the audience to rethink who was truly responsible for Mary’s execution, presenting different interpretations with energy and humour while encouraging them to question long‑held assumptions. Highlights included discussion of recently decoded letters written by Mary herself, as well as the beautiful and poignant tapestries she created during her years in captivity in England, offering a vivid insight into her emotions and resilience.
The lecture was an excellent extension to students’ A Level studies and sparked lots of animated conversation afterwards, with both students and teachers clearly inspired by Lipscomb and Williams’ enthusiasm and fresh perspectives on the Tudor period.
Ms Wadham, History Teacher
