This day in history, 9th July 1575, was the first day of a 19-day-long stay for Elizabeth I at Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire, home of her great friend, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester.
This visit was significant as it was the longest stay at a courtier's house in any of Elizabeth's royal progresses, and Leicester went to extraordinary lengths to impress his friend and queen, probably as a last-ditch attempt to woo her and win her hand in marriage. The attempt obviously failed, but it wasn't for lack of trying and you can find out all about what Leicester did to impress Elizabeth, plus see some photos I took at the castle, in my article Elizabeth I visits Kenilworth Castle.
If you're ever in the Midlands, in the UK, visiting Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick, then please don't miss out Kenilworth. It is a wonderful castle to visit. I get very emotional when I visit it because I can't help but see it as a testament to Leicester's love for Elizabeth I. I'm a romantic!
Picture: Drawings of Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I done by Federico Zuccari in 1575. It is believed that they were drawn as preparatory sketches for full-scale portraits intended for the Kenilworth visit of July 1575.
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