This month please join us in exploring the love stories of the past.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be sharing with you our chats to various historians and we’ll be covering all the ways that Royals can come together, be it through arranged marriage, secret engagements or chance meetings. 

On this, the first episode of our Valentines series of 2025, we’re focussing on the Iconic Power Couples of the royal circle.

Let’s take a look at three couples: Eleanor of Aquitaine & Henry II of England, Eleanor of Castile & Edward I and Isabel of Castile & Fernando of Aragon.

To help us understand these couples better, we've enlisted Sharon Bennett Connolly and Heather R Darsie.

Sharon Bennett Connolly has written many books about medieval women, let’s ask her about the two Eleanor couples.

Heather R Darsie has just finished her Katharine of Aragon book, which is convenient, because we’ll be talking about Kat's parents.

Heroines of the Medieval World by Sharon:

https://www.amberley-books.com/heroines-of-the-medieval-world-9781445689449.html

Women of the Anarchy by Sharon:

https://www.amberley-books.com/discover-books/women-of-the-anarchy.html

Sharon's Website:

https://historytheinterestingbits.com/silk-and-the-sword-the-women-of-the-norman-conquest/

Pre-Order Heather's New Book on Katherine of Aragon:

https://www.amberley-books.com/author-community-main-page/d/community-heather-r-darsie/katherine-of-aragon-spanish-princess.html

Heather's Website:

https://maidensandmanuscripts.com/

For more history fodder please visit https://www.ifitaintbaroquepodcast.art/ and https://www.reignoflondon.com/

To book a walking tour with Natalie https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=supplier:252243

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Please welcome to the podcast Ada Palmer, who is talking about her new book - Inventing The Renaissance,

just published with Head of Zeus.

Let’s dive in and debunk some myths, shall we?

Get Inventing the Renaissance:

https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/inventing-the-renaissance-9781035910120/ (UK)

https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/I/bo246135916.html (USA)

Find Ada:

https://www.adapalmer.com/blog-ex-urbe/

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ex-urbe-ad-astra/id1580107970

https://exurbe.libsyn.com/

If you would like to join Natalie on her Royal London Walking Tour, please see:

https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=supplier:252243

For more history fodder please visit https://www.ifitaintbaroquepodcast.art/ and https://www.reignoflondon.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let’s talk about women’s lives in the medieval era, did you know that they wrote books under their own names? They had a sense of humour? Let’s talk of those women who lived lives on their own terms…

We’re sitting down with Hetta Howes, who has recently published her first book with Bloomsbury, called Poet Mystic Widow Wife. Welcome, Hetta!

Get Poet Mystic Widow Wife:

https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/poet-mystic-widow-wife-9781399408738/ (UK)

https://www.waterstones.com/book/poet-mystic-widow-wife/hetta-howes/9781399408738 (UK)

https://www.ucpress.edu/books/poet-mystic-widow-wife/hardcover (USA)

Find Hetta:

https://x.com/HettaHowes

https://www.city.ac.uk/about/people/academics/hetta-howes

https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/discover/articles/interviews/although-they-were-living-hundreds-of-years-ago-these-women-were-in-many-ways-just-like-us/

If you would like to join Natalie on her Royal London Walking Tour, please see:

https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/london-the-royal-british-kings-and-queens-walking-tour-t426011/

For more history fodder please visit https://www.ifitaintbaroquepodcast.art/ and https://www.reignoflondon.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re sitting down with Anna Abney, who has written a historical fiction quadrilogy set in Stuart England, the first book is called The Master of Measham Hall, published by Duckworth Books.

Let’s dive deep into the Restoration era with the Great Plague making its mark.

As the story progresses, it will take us all the way to the Glorious Revolution, with the Christmas Prequel rewinding the narrative back to the Commonwealth era.

Find Anna:

https://www.duckworthbooks.co.uk/fb-author/anna-abney/

Find Measham Hall Quadrilogy:

The Master of Measham Hall

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-master-of-measham-hall/anna-abney/9780715654507

The Messenger of Measham Hall

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-messenger-of-measham-hall/anna-abney/9780715654798

The Prisoner of Measham Hall

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-prisoner-of-measham-hall/anna-abney/9780715655344

The Secret Christmas: A Measham Hall Story

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-secret-christmas/anna-abney/9780715655573

If you would like to join Natalie on her Royal London Walking Tour, please see:

https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/london-the-royal-british-kings-and-queens-walking-tour-t426011/

For more history fodder please visit https://www.ifitaintbaroquepodcast.art/ and https://www.reignoflondon.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let’s welcome back Amy McElroy, to talk about Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VII, sister of Henry VIII, Queen of France by first marriage and Duchess of Suffolk by second.

If you remember the Showtime series The Tudors, that’s the one who marries Henry Cavill, and if you watched the recent Amazon Prime show My Lady Jane, which is awesome, by the way, it features her granddaughter as the lead character. 

Amy has just published her book Mary Tudor, Queen of France, with Pen & Sword.

Find Amy:

https://amymcelroy.blog/

Mary Tudor, Queen of France:

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Mary-Tudor-Hardback/p/51784/aid/1238

Educating the Tudors:

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Educating-the-Tudors-Hardback/p/22338/aid/1238

Women's Lives in the Tudor Era:

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Womens-Lives-in-the-Tudor-Era-Hardback/p/24437/aid/1238

Join Natalie on her London walking tours:

Monarchy Anglo-Saxons to Stuarts: https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/london-the-royal-british-kings-and-queens-walking-tour-t426011/

Monarchy Stuarts to Windsors: https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/royal-london-georgian-and-windsor-monarchs-walking-tour-t481355

Naughty London: https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/london-unsavory-history-guided-walking-tour-t428452/

and a new one Royal Love Stories:

https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/royal-love-stories-walking-tour-t481358/

https://www.ifitaintbaroquepodcast.art/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we have a very special guest. He is an OBE and a Grammy award nominee. He has conducted Baroque music the world over, and today he joined us for a chat about his decades-long career, his love of music, the history of his family and of course, his upcoming 75th birthday.

Welcome, Nic!

Find Nic:

https://www.nicholasmcgegan.com/

Listen to Nic:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6tW7J49UTzVDW9ns4E37D1

If you would like to join Natalie on her walking tours in London with Reign of London, please follow the links:

https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/london-the-royal-british-kings-and-queens-walking-tour-t426011/

https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/london-unsavory-history-guided-walking-tour-t428452/

https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/royal-london-georgian-and-windsor-monarchs-walking-tour-t481355 .

For more history fodder please visit https://www.ifitaintbaroquepodcast.art/ and https://www.reignoflondon.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heather R Darsie is back on the podcast, this time with her upcoming new book

"Katharine of Aragon: Spanish Princess: I Am Not as Simple as I May Seem", published by Amberley Books.

Let's re-evaluate what we know of Katharine, as the daughter of Spain. What family drama did she leave behind? What was going on the continent when Henry was trying to divorce her? Did the change of Pope affect Katharine's fate?

Heather dives deep into Katharine's youth and busts myth after myth. Prepare to re-evaluate everything you know of this great Queen.

Pre-Order Heather's New Book on Katherine of Aragon:

https://www.amberley-books.com/author-community-main-page/d/community-heather-r-darsie/katherine-of-aragon-spanish-princess.html

Buy Heather's book Stuart Spouses:

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Stuart-Spouses-A-Compendium-of-Consorts-from-James-I-of-Scotland-to-Queen-Anne-of-Great-Britain-Hardback/p/51167/aid/1238

Heather's The House of Cleves Books:

https://www.amberley-books.com/anna-duchess-of-cleves-9781398103269.html

https://www.amberley-books.com/children-of-the-house-of-cleves.html

Pre-Order Heather's New Book on Anne Boleyn:

https://www.amberley-books.com/if-any-person-will-meddle-of-my-cause.html

Heather's Website:

https://maidensandmanuscripts.com/

If you would like to join Natalie on her walking tours in London with Reign of London, please follow the links:

https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/london-the-royal-british-kings-and-queens-walking-tour-t426011/

https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/london-unsavory-history-guided-walking-tour-t428452/

https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/royal-london-georgian-and-windsor-monarchs-walking-tour-t481355 .

For more history fodder please visit https://www.ifitaintbaroque.art/ and https://www.reignoflondon.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is one of our Bonus Episodes for the Katharine of Aragon Festival which happens this weekend in Peterborough, as it does every year.

In this mini episode we’re chatting to Nicola Tallis about the great Tudor Matriarch, Margaret Beaufort.

Welcome, Nicola!

Join the Festival:

Cathedral: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/peterborough/peterborough-cathedral

https://peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/about/history/katharine-of-aragon/kofa_25/

Online Tudor Talks:

https://peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/event/online-tudor-talks/

Get Nicola’s Books:

https://www.mombooks.com/books/?search=Nicola+tallis

Find Nicola’s Tudor Trio Project:

https://thetudortrio.wordpress.com/

Pre-Book Katharine of Aragon: Spanish Princess by Heather R Darsie:

https://www.amberley-books.com/author-community-main-page/d/community-heather-r-darsie/katherine-of-aragon-spanish-princess.html

Join Natalie on her London Walking Tours:

Royal London - Anglo-Saxons to Tudors: https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/london-the-royal-british-kings-and-queens-walking-tour-t426011/

Royal London - Stuarts to Windsors: https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/royal-london-georgian-and-windsor-monarchs-walking-tour-t481355/

Naughty London: https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/london-unsavory-history-guided-walking-tour-t428452/

For more history, check out https://www.ifitaintbaroquepodcast.art/ and https://www.reignoflondon.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is one of our Bonus Episodes for the Katharine of Aragon Festival which happens this weekend in Peterborough, as it does every year.

In this mini episode we’re chatting to Dr Elizabeth Norton as she prepares for her talk on Reigning Spanish Queens.

Welcome back, Elizabeth!

Join the Festival:

Cathedral: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/peterborough/peterborough-cathedral

https://peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/about/history/katharine-of-aragon/kofa_25/

Online Tudor Talks:

https://peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/event/online-tudor-talks/

Please find Dr Elizabeth Norton's books:

Catherine Parr: Wife, Widow, Mother, Survivor, the Story of the Last Queen of Henry VIII

https://www.amberley-books.com/catherine-parr-9781445603834.html

Amberley Publishing (UK)

https://www.amberley-books.com/author-community-main-page/n/community-elizabeth-norton.html

Head of Zeus (UK)

https://uk.bookshop.org/contributors/elizabeth-norton

Pegasus Books (USA)

http://www.pegasusbooks.com/authors/elizabeth-norton

Dr Elizabeth Norton's website:

http://www.elizabethnorton.co.uk/

Pre-Order Dr Elizabeth’s Upcoming Book:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Elizabeth_Norton_Women_Who_Ruled_the_World?id=48UhEQAAQBAJ&pli=1

Pre-Book Katharine of Aragon: Spanish Princess by Heather R Darsie:

https://www.amberley-books.com/author-community-main-page/d/community-heather-r-darsie/katherine-of-aragon-spanish-princess.html

Join Natalie on her London Walking Tours:

Royal London - Anglo-Saxons to Tudors: https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/london-the-royal-british-kings-and-queens-walking-tour-t426011/

Royal London - Stuarts to Windsors: https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/royal-london-georgian-and-windsor-monarchs-walking-tour-t481355/

Naughty London: https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/london-unsavory-history-guided-walking-tour-t428452/

For more history, check out https://www.ifitaintbaroquepodcast.art/ and https://www.reignoflondon.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is one of our Bonus Episodes for the Katharine of Aragon Festival which happens this weekend in Peterborough, as it does every year.

In this mini episode let’s chat to Peter Stiffel as he teases us on the topic of his upcoming talk at the festival

Welcome, Peter!

Join the Festival:

Cathedral: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/peterborough/peterborough-cathedral

https://peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/about/history/katharine-of-aragon/kofa_25/

Online Tudor Talks:

https://peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/event/online-tudor-talks/

Pre-Book Katharine of Aragon: Spanish Princess by Heather R Darsie:

https://www.amberley-books.com/author-community-main-page/d/community-heather-r-darsie/katherine-of-aragon-spanish-princess.html

Join Natalie on her London Walking Tours:

Royal London - Anglo-Saxons to Tudors: https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/london-the-royal-british-kings-and-queens-walking-tour-t426011/

Royal London - Stuarts to Windsors: https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/royal-london-georgian-and-windsor-monarchs-walking-tour-t481355/

Naughty London: https://www.getyourguide.com/london-l57/london-unsavory-history-guided-walking-tour-t428452/

For more history, check out https://www.ifitaintbaroquepodcast.art/ and https://www.reignoflondon.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.