Winter 1558-9, pages 35 - 111 Summary

The Winter of 1558 to 1559 of The Virgin's Lover presents the very first part of Princess Elizabeth's transformation into Queen Elizabeth and the trials that immediately beset her as she tries to set up her royal court. The season begins with the Christmas celebration after the funeral of old Queen Mary, and is held at the Tudor stronghold of Whitehall palace. Both Elizabeth and her trusted adviser William Cecil are anxious that the Tudor traditions implemented by her father Henry VIII be followed as quickly as possible (to make it clear that Elizabeth is carrying on that line and has that authority).

Unfortunately, it immediately becomes clear that Elizabeth and William Cecil know next to nothing about the type of celebration that they should be having, the style or the ceremony needed, and indeed know nothing about Whitehall...