23 March 1603 – England

Welcome Miss or Mister,

I don’t know you and maybe, If you are reading this pages,

now I’m already dead.

But I’m sure that you know me…

I’m the Queen Elizabeth and this is my childhood’s diary!

I was born in Palace of Placentia (also known as Greenwich Palace) by the union from King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn.

Before I was born my father broken England from the authority of the Roman Catholic Church to dissolve his marriage to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, who had given him a daughter.

He has always hoped to have a male child and when my mum gives him me, was a bitter disappointment.

I don’t remember very well my mum, because when I was 3, dad gave the order to kill her, maybe for treason.

So I was automatically removed from the line of succession and my dream of become a queen was broken.

I was forced to live in a separate household at Hatfield and I was able to see my parents only during special occasions and festivities. So, who take care of my childhood was Lady Bryan, my first governess.

Another stroke of luck was Catherine, the father’s sixth (and last) wife, who from my 10th, gave me loving attention and then my feeling was less bad.

She became an important friend and confidante.

Also thanks to her, even thought I was a girl, I had the opportunity to study classical languages, history, rhetoric, moral philosophy and theology that give me discipline and balance.

Another important person for my childhood was Matthew Parker.

He was the Chaplain of my mother and when I became queen I appointed him as the archbishop of Canterbury.

I was a quick-witted child, clever and able to use feminine wiles to get on my way. I could be ruthless and at the same time vain and sentimental.

I am know as the “Virgin Queen” but I had many close friends who where men like Francis Drake, Robert Dudley and others but I have never had a relation with one of them.

A curiosity is that I love sweets, and I have a particular taste for candied violets…

There’s no bad time for a gift 😉

As you can see, my childhood wasn’t so easy, but now I’m married with the England, I’m the queen!

Finally…

I took my revenge!

Your Elizabeth

Riccardo, Carolina, Federico, Elia.