Episode 211 – Serving a Tudor Queen with Dr James Taffe

Guest Bio

Dr James Taffe is a Tudor historian whose research focuses kingship, queenship, the English royal household and the wider court, concentrating foremost on the households of Henry VIII and his six queens. Born in Birmingham, England, he studied at Queen Mary, University of London and University of Birmingham, before moving to the north-east around four years ago to study for his PhD at Durham University, which he completed in 2022. He now lives in Newcastle, UK. Courting Scandal: The Rise and Fall of Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, is his first publication.

Follow Dr Taffe on Twitter.

Tudor Takeaway

The Palace: From the Tudors to the Windsors by Gareth Russell

Natalie Grueninger speaks with Dr Taffe about what it was like to serve a Tudor Queen.

Tune in to hear Natalie and James discuss:

– The general structure of the queen’s household

– Obtaining a role at court and the skills required

– The duties of a lady-in-waiting

– Compensation and perquisite

– Transitioning from one queen to the next

– Retiring from court service

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