Review of Stefan Haderer, Under the Spell of a Myth: Empress Sisi in Greece (Independently published, 2022).

Henry VIII first visited Henry Percy, Sixth Earl of Northumberland’s house at Petworth (Sussex) on 27 July 1526. On 18 January 1535/6, Percy granted Petworth, together with eight of his other estates, to the king. Over four weeks, in June and July 1536, Henry rebuilt its gatehouse and added new lodgings to the site. It was not until 27 July 1538, however, that Henry visited Petworth again. Further visits followed in 1539 and again in 1545, when Petworth formed part of an itinerary dominated by the threat from France and the tragic loss of the Mary Rose at the Battle of the Solent. Today, visitors are intrigued by the portrait of Henry VIII which dominates the Carved Hall of this apparently late seventeenth-century National Trust Discovery House. Although the painting was also a seventeenth-century addition to Petworth, traces of the earlier house Henry visited still survive within its walls and under its lawns. The multidisciplinary and collaborative approach developed by the Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded “Henry on Tour” project enables us to bring this lost Tudor building back to life. It invites us to explore how provincial progress sites such as Petworth could be adapted to meet the changing needs of the Royal household on tour. It also encourages us to think about the legacy of progress for residents, visitors, volunteers, and curators of these sites today.

The “Gentlemen Singers” of Henry VIII’s Privy Chamber were offered a new benefit in 1544: “att every removeing, allowance of a cart for the carriage of their stuff.” Many Tudor singers spent a significant amount of time on the road. This was true above all for the royal household musicians who followed kings and queens in their “removeings” and progresses. Itinerant music-making attracted its share of controversy, as we can see in a variety of contexts, from the court reforms of the Eltham Ordinances (which described touring with a large professional choir as a cause of “great annoyaunce ... labour, travail, charge and payne”) to the unscripted musical duel that took place when the peripatetic Chapel Royal singer Robert Philips made an appearance as guest soloist at St George’s, Windsor. This article explores the practicalities of life for Tudor royal singers on the road: the “stuff” they carried, the types of music they sang in various situations, and the ideological turmoil they often faced at close range.

Review of Jade Scott, Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots (Michael O’Mara Books, 2024).

Review of Lesley Twomey, Catherine of Lancaster and her Religious Court Poets (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024).

Sometime in the early 1530s, an illuminated French Psalter was commissioned for Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII. A vernacular translation, its true importance has hitherto been overlooked within Anne Boleyn’s library; its commissioner is unknown, though several have been suggested. This article explores the possibility that the Psalter is one of several manuscripts commissioned for Anne by her brother George, Viscount Rochford. By suggesting a new stemma for the manuscript, studying its content as it pertained to the siblings’ interest in French evangelical thought, and examining its use of decorations, this article aims to recontextualise it within Anne Boleyn’s extant library.

During the Cold War period, the Thai monarchy, under the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (1946–2016), was recognised for its role in stabilising Thailand, which in turn was crucial to stem the tide of communism in Southeast Asia. Bhumibol’s active diplomacy was a part of the political alliance between the Thai monarchy and the United States. Together, they closely cooperated to confront a variety of threats against the monarchy, from political opponents at home to communists across the borders. For the United States, allying with the Thai monarchy fulfilled its security mission in Southeast Asia. But the end of the Cold War diminished this political alliance. The arrival of King Vajiralongkorn in 2016 and his seeming disengagement in diplomacy suggest that international support for the throne has become redundant. Vajiralongkorn, set free from Cold War obligations, has been increasingly detached from foreign affairs because the main focus of the throne has been solely on internal security. Vajiralongkorn’s position reaffirms that political alliance is today irrelevant because it no longer serves the palace’s domestic purposes.

Britain’s policy toward Sicily evolved through various phases under successive London governments, alternating between advocating for the annexation of the island and desiring to make the island a protectorate. In addition to the political and military interests at play, there was a concurrent desire to export a constitutional model that sharply contrasted with the one established during the French Revolution. In this context, Sicily emerged as a potential catalyst, a model from which other Italian states could draw inspiration. The article examines the historical period defined by the Bourbon dynasty’s rule in Sicily, addressing the unique conditions that distinguished the island, as well as the political and financial challenges faced during the reign of Ferdinand IV and Maria Carolina of Bourbon. Both royal figures, deeply entrenched in dynastic beliefs, were often compelled to relinquish significant control over governance. Amidst this delicate situation, Lord William Bentinck was tasked with navigating the complex intrigues of the Bourbon court, particularly with the king, queen, and crown prince. The queen, in particular, is portrayed as embodying the dynastic pride and dignity that remained central to her actions, despite the prevailing historical narratives that have long regarded her as a controversial and ostentatious figure. Through strategic interventions and decisive measures, Bentinck was able to successfully implement the project of a Sicilian Constitution.

The prize announcement for our 2025 Biennial Early Career and Postgraduate Researcher Article Prize.

Review of Daniela Dvořákova, Barbara of Cilli (1392-1451), (Brill, 2021).