Ladies-in-Waiting

Painting of Princess Mary by Roger Purkis. © Mary Rose Trust.

Queen Elizabeth I apparently had an entourage of a thousand when she went on tour in Tudor times, which makes Britney suddenly seem very reasonable.

These two books give children a glimpse at life as a young lady-in-waiting. There are enough historical details in these to build up a clear picture in a child's head.

'The Diary of Eva de Pueblo, London 1501-1513' is by Alison Prince. It tells of Eva's journey from Spain to England with Catharine of Aragon who is on her way to marry Prince Arthur. Catherine later famously marries his brother Henry VIII.

Natalie Grice's 'Diary of a Young Tudor Lady-in-Waiting' features another fictional maiden, this time joining the court of Elizabeth I.

Help your children discover the secrets of the royal household and get a real feel for the way of life of the rich in Tudor times with this read.