The Sixth Form Afternoon Tea Group was delighted to take a trip to the ‘Elizabeth and Mary: Royal Cousins, Rival Queens’ exhibition at the British Library last Friday. The exhibition guided us through the intersection of the two well-known reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots, even though the two cousins never met. We were able to view their complex relationship, intensified by the religious tensions of the Reformation, through countless haunting paintings, artefacts, books and audio tracks. With the threat of conspiracy and insurrection ever-present, we were propelled into the dramatic story that ended with the all too well-known conclusion. The compelling afternoon was completed with a much-needed tea and discussion at Le Pain Quotidien. We were all brimming with delight due to the immensity of material that was curated at the exhibition, particularly the inclusion of rural maps, royal paintings and personal letters which were able to supply us with more intimate knowledge than that which can be found in a textbook. The presence of foreign machinations from Spain and the Low Countries was also detailed at the exhibition, and this gave us a well-rounded understanding of the period. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the richness of the collection, which immersed us in the personal and political lives of the rival Queens. Thanks so much to all the teachers for organising and taking us on the trip!

Mairi Stewart, Lower Sixth