Conspiracy theory: a belief that some secret but influential organization is responsible for an event or phenomenon.

Conspiracy theories are everywhere in our modern world, and we always believe them to be present-day conundrums, for example: the death of Dianna, the moon landings and Elvis. However, people have been creating fake ideas for centuries. If there are people to believe and creative minds to invent the scenarios, there will always be conspiracy theories.

In this article, I am going to delve deep into the private life of arguably England’s greatest monarch: Queen Elizabeth I. Although, you would believe Queen Bessy to have proven herself as leader supreme, some historians still question her ability to rule. This questioning has led to insane conspiracy theories that are even debated by leading academics. I feel it is my duty to the icon that Elizabeth was to unveil the lies and defend her legacy, over 400 years later.

The main conspiracy theory centered around Bess is the question of ‘Was Queen Elizabeth the 1st a man?’ This theory stems from the period of the plague when Elizabeth was a young girl. She was sent to breathe the rural countryside air of the Cotswolds to dodge the deathly plague. Rumour has it that the illness still managed to reach her and struck the little girl down. For fear of being executed by Elizabeth’s father, the maid entrusted with Bessy’s life, switched her for a local village boy. This boy supposedly had fair skin and ginger hair with features that mirrored the deceased princess. People discussed this theory centuries ago with the sexist mindset that women couldn’t sit on the throne. Historians have been blown away by the incredible reign of Queen Bess and so must find a reason for her brilliance beside her remarkable intelligence. We must cease asking the question of Elizabeth’s gender and accept the fact that we can remember her as she was: a queen in every aspect.

Another myth to bust about Elizabeth is that she wasn’t close to her mother. Some sources even suggest that she resented her. Anne Boleyn, known famously as the first queen of England to be executed on orders, died by sword when her little princess was 2 years old. If that is not bad enough, it was her father who ordered the killing. Growing up, if at all, the only words Bessy would have heard about her mother would have been hushed and negative. Despite all of this, Elizabeth (as bright as she was) managed to form her own opinions surrounding her mother whilst never criticizing her father. Bess has been seen in paintings wearing her mother’s necklace and we still have, in physical form, Elizabeth’s own ring. This ring has a portrait of herself and her mother inside, similar to a locket. This proves the connection between mother and daughter, dead and living, and certainly proves that there was no resentment on Bess’ part. If anything, admiration.

I hope I opened your eyes to the kind of person Queen Bessy was and should be remembered by, and I hope you had an intriguing time uncovering the truth!

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my article!