Gareth Russell & Dr Linda Porter

Queen James: The Politics of Favour and the Power of Love at the heart of the monarchy by Gareth Russell

As King James I lay dying in 1625, his critics joked that they were about to mourn the death of ‘Queen James’. 400 years on from James’s death, Gareth Russell – author of the acclaimed new book Queen James: The Life and Loves of Britain’s First King – explores the ways in which power, passion, and personality shaped this extraordinary royal life. James went from orphaned boy-King of Scots to becoming the first king to rule over all parts of the British Isles. In the years in between, he participated in witch-hunts, survived the worst storm in living memory, championed a new translation of the Bible, endured multiple assassination attempts, and married a remarkable princess. Along the way, James had six love affairs that are every bit as fascinating as Henry VIII’s six marriages – with a spy, a knight, a guardsman, a Welsh earl, a Highland marquess, and an English duke.

The other Queen of Scots: the extraordinary life of Margaret Tudor by Dr Linda Porter

Linda will be talking about the dramatic life of Henry VIII’s frequently overlooked and often misrepresented elder sister, Margaret Tudor. She was the first Tudor princess, marrying King James IV of Scotland at the age of just thirteen. Margaret was widowed after the battle of Flodden in 1513 and spent the rest of her life fighting for her rights and those of her only son, King James V.