Royal Blood, Uncertain Future: Elizabeth I’s Life in a Court Divided
By 1535, the once-hopeful union between Henry VIII and Queen Anne Boleyn was becoming strained. Although the couple attempted to maintain appearances, the court, particularly Anne's detractors, who were many, continued to fuel malicious gossip about her. Added to that, Henry's dalliances with other women had become more frequent, which undoubtedly would have added to Anne's fears for her position and her well documented jealousy. The previous year, Anne was reported by the Imperial Ambassador to Spain and other court officials to be with child. However, the pregnancy mysteriously never materialized and was subsequently not reported on. Thus heightening the stakes for Anne to conceive another child to full term. However, in her quest to provide Henry with his long-desired male heir, Anne seemingly never forgot to promote her daughter, Princess Elizabeth, and constantly sought means to ensure her legitimacy. Henry was also anxious to use their daughter as a bargaining tool ...
