In October 1562, 29-year-old Queen Elizabeth I fell seriously ill with smallpox at Hampton Court Palace, and for a few terrifying days, it looked like England might lose its queen. With no clear heir to the throne, panic swept through the Tudor court.

In this minicast, we’ll look at what happened during Elizabeth’s illness, how her ladies risked their own lives to care for her, and one of the few times when even the indomitable Elizabeth Tudor seemed mortal.

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