Watched a show on National Geographic Channel called Secrets of the Virgin Queen. There seems to be some theory espoused by some folks that Queen Elizabeth the First was a boy. Seems the legend goes that Henry VIII took her to the country in 1542, when she was nine, to avoid the plague that was felling people in the city of London. The legend goes on to say that she actually died and the people who she was left with tried to find another red-haired girl to take her place. They didn’t want her father to be upset about her death. They couldn’t find a young girl and thus substituted a young boy.
The alleged evidence: A grave of a young girl dressed in Tudor clothes was found on the estate where Elizabeth stayed; the fact that Elizabeth never married; that she was completely bald and wore wigs to cover it; no post-mortem was allowed on her body after her death; she wore white pancake make-up- said to cover stubble on her face.
Bram Stoker (yes, that Bram Stoker) discussed this theory in detail in a book he wrote called Famous Imposters.
I’ve studied this time period for years as I have ancestors that were in the Tudor court. I have a vague recollection of hearing about this rot before and I’m thinking it’s not a fact at all but I was intrigued and thought I’d share it. Elizabeth always called herself a prince, but I still don’t buy this story.
Jillian Chantal 
I don’t buy it either, but oh juicy isn’t it. 🙂
By: Ciara Knight on January 28, 2011
at 5:52 am
very juicy!! LOL!
By: Jillian Chantal on January 28, 2011
at 7:30 am
I don’t have a quarter of the knowledge about the era that you do but it seems to me that even though Elizabeth was referrred to as the Virgin Queen there were lots of rumors of lovers. It is intriguing indeed. Thanks for sharing something new.
By: Darlene on January 28, 2011
at 7:06 am
thanks Darlene- I agree that it’s intriguing
By: Jillian Chantal on January 28, 2011
at 7:30 am
Okay, that is perhaps the most interesting theory I’ve ever read. Well, one of the most. The Elizabethan court wasn’t one of my favorite areas of interest, but I do remember she had several “loves”, didn’t she? I suppose it isn’t impossible that she was actually a man, but I think if she had been it would have been leaked out by someone, her ladies-in-waiting, her courtiers, the doctors who attended her. Someone would have let it slip at some point.
This is a great Friday Fact though! LOL It boggles the mind.
By: danicaavet on January 28, 2011
at 7:29 am
Thanks Danica- you’re right about the lovers- AND this show also espoused the theory that she may have been an hermaphrodite- it was wild!!
By: Jillian Chantal on January 28, 2011
at 8:42 am
I don’t buy it either – only because when she was born Henry VIII would have been over the Moon if she was a boy and his relationship with Anne Boeyln probably wouldn’t have ended in her death.
Here’s an interesting one – Elizabeth Woodville substituted a challenging for her son, Richard, Duke of York. (who eventually died in the tower with his brother Edward) The thing is – there’s not enough in history to confirm or deny she did it!
Smiles
Steph
By: Stephanie Burkhart on January 29, 2011
at 9:07 am
Silly me, Jillian, I missed the first part of your post. Still, I don’t believe it. I think Elizabeth was all girl.
Smiles
Steph
By: Stephanie Burkhart on January 29, 2011
at 9:08 am
I agree Steph! AND A brilliant girl at that
By: Jillian Chantal on January 29, 2011
at 1:09 pm
That is SO interesting. I’ve never heard that before.
By: Danielle Thorne on January 30, 2011
at 7:02 pm
I thought it was interesting, Danielle! Strange, but interesting.
By: Jillian Chantal on January 30, 2011
at 7:13 pm