Two queens. One crown. A decision that would change the monarchy forever.

Join acclaimed historians Suzannah Lipscomb and Kate Williams for an unmissable live event exploring Mary, Queen of Scots, and Elizabeth I — two women caught in one of the greatest political and personal crises of the 16th century.

Working back from the fall of the axe at Fotheringhay Castle, the discussion traces the chain of events and decisions that led Elizabeth to sign her cousin’s death warrant. What went wrong between these two women? Why was Elizabeth so threatened — and could this tragedy have been avoided?

Through vivid storytelling, drawing on the latest research, Kate and Suzannah examine espionage, treason, and gender politics in the Tudor world, from William Cecil’s spy networks and Mary’s defiant embroideries to the Babington Plot. Challenging the way male historians have traditionally pitted these women against each other, they reframe their choices as acts of courage and consequence.

A gripping evening of queenship, legacy and power, this event brings to life the story of two remarkable women at the greatest crisis point of their lives.