The Royal Studies Podcast

In this episode, we have a conversation between the four co-authors of a new textbook in the field of royal studies, Exploring Monarchy in Medieval Europe 1000-1500, Elena (Ellie) Woodacre, Lucinda Dean, Simon Lambe and Patrik Pastrnak. They discuss the challenges that they faced in the composition of the book, the intended audience and use for the textbook and the contributions of colleagues in t...

In this episode, host Susannah Lyon-Whaley inteviews Lauren Working on her new book, A Golden World , which is released this month (June 2026). A Golden World illuminates how the Americas became a visible and material presence in English culture, through a range of unexpected objects: from tobacco leaves strewn in playhouses to a boy wearing a pearl earring. Award-winning historian Lauren Working...

In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews Heidi Dawson-Hobbis on her work on the mortuary chests at Winchester Cathedral. We discuss the history of the mortuary chests, the challenges of identifying which bones belonged to and the only woman whose bones were in the chests--the fascinating queen Emma of Normandy. Guest Bio: Dr Heidi Dawson-Hobbis is a senior lecturer in Biological Anthropolog...

In this episode, host Megan Barber interviews Alfred Hawkins, curator at Historic Royal Palaces on his work at the Tower of London. The interview explores the many faceted role of the Tower as a palace, fortress and prison, its rich history and what royal life there was like in different eras. Guest Bio : Alfred Hawkins is a historian, buildings archaeologist, curator, and broadcaster with a decad...

We are joined by Dr. Elizabeth Eltze to discuss the reign of Amannote-erike, ancient King of Kush. Elizabeth is an early career researcher in ancient northeast African studies – primarily Nubiology. Originally from South Africa, she moved to Auckland, New Zealand some years ago, and completed her studies in Ancient History at the University of Auckland with a doctoral degree in 2019. Guest Bio: Li...

In this episode, host Dr Ellie Woodacre interviews Matthieu Mensch on his book Marie-Thérèse Charlotte of France: Daughter of Marie-Antoinette and Almost Queen , which will be published in May 2026 in Routledge's Lives of Royal Women series. We discuss the trials and tribulations that Marie-Thérèse experienced during the French Revolution and her vital role, in the ever shifting landscape of...

In this episode, the second of our Marie Antoinette related trio, host Dr Ellie Woodacre interviews Tia Caswell on her comparative study of Marie Antoinette and Queen Victoria. We discuss the rationale for bringing these two queens together and what we can learn about both women and queenship from this study. Guest Bio:  Tia Caswell successfully defended her doctoral thesis at the University of No...

In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews Dr Sarah Grant, lead curator for the V&A's incredibly popular 'Marie Antoinette Style' exhibition. We'll discuss the exhibition, the inspiration behind it and what it tells us about Marie Antoinette and her legacy. Guest Bio: Dr Sarah Grant is a Senior Curator in the Department of Art, Architecture, Photography & Design at...

In this episode, host Victoria Barlow interviews Dr Brooke Newman about her recent book The Crown's Silence: The Hidden History of the British Monarchy and Slavery in the Americas . A story hereto relatively unknown to the public (though largely accepted in academic circles), the discussion delves into how, throughout the centuries, the British monarchy heavily invested into and greatly profi...

In this podcast we delve into the story of female sovereignty and chiefly women in Aotearoa New Zealand via the story of Meri Te Tai Mangakahia and Queen Victoria. Our guest speaker Dr. Miranda Johnson is a historian of colonialism and decolonisation, focusing on issues of settler identity, race, indigeneity, citizenship, and the politics of writing history. Her research focuses on Anglophone sett...

In this episode, host Victoria Barlow interviews Lionel Arsac about the recent exhibition at the Palace of Versailles: The Grand Dauphin (1661-1711). Son of a king, father of a king and never king . This exhibition shines a light on the relatively unknown life and career of Louis of France (son and heir of the famous Louis XIV). Their discussion outlines the importance of remembering this interest...

The mini series within the Royal Studies Podcast on Monarchy & Money is hosted by Charlotte Backerra from the University of Klagenfurt in Austria, and Cathleen Sarti from the University of Oxford in the UK. In these Monarchy & Money episodes, they are talking with scholars on why economic questions are important to understand monarchical rule, and how royals are interacting with the econom...

The mini series within the Royal Studies Podcast on Monarchy & Money is hosted by Charlotte Backerra from the University of Klagenfurt in Austria, and Cathleen Sarti from the University of Oxford in the UK. In these Monarchy & Money episodes , they are talking with scholars on why economic questions are important to understand monarchical rule, and how royals are interacting with the econo...

The mini series within the Royal Studies Podcast on Monarchy & Money is hosted by Charlotte Backerra from the University of Klagenfurt in Austria, and Cathleen Sarti from the University of Oxford in the UK. In these Monarchy & Money episodes , they are talking with scholars on why economic questions are important to understand monarchical rule, and how royals are interacting with the econo...

In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews the editor of the cluster ‘Diplomacy as Performative Politics in the Early Modern Courts’, as featured in the December 2025 issue of the Royal Studies Journal (issue 12.2). We discuss the inspiration behind this theme and delve into the contents of the cluster and its original and innovative approach to early modern diplomacy, rulership and courts.  ...

Female Rulers Reimagined in Film and Television – A Royal Studies Roundtable (Part 2) In this second episode of a three-part series, members of the Royal Studies Blog team, Andrea McMillin, Kurtis Pope, and Elena Teibenbacher, come together for an in-depth roundtable exploring how female rulers are reinterpreted in modern popular culture. This continuing discussion introduces the central theme of...

Female Rulers Reimagined in Film and Television – A Royal Studies Roundtable (Part 1) In this first episode of a three-part series, members of the Royal Studies Blog team, Andrea McMillin, Kurtis Pope, and Elena Teibenbacher, come together for an in-depth roundtable exploring how female rulers are reinterpreted in modern popular culture. This opening discussion introduces the central theme of the...

In this episode, host Susannah Lyon-Whaley interviews Lorinda Cramer on her research on Queen Charlotte. In this episode they discuss Queen Charlotte's relationship with Britain's global empire, and the queen's deep interest in the flora and fauna of the colonies.  For more on Queen Charlotte, see our earlier interview with Natalee Garrett on her biography of this queen in our serie...

In this episode, the second of our feature on African Queenship, host Ellie Woodacre interviews Paula Akpan. Our discussion mirrors the same lines as the conversation in episode 1 of this mini-series, drawing deeply on her fantastic new book, When We Ruled (see links below) and the various case studies Paula examined in her research. Guest Bio: Paula Akpan is a historian, journalist and author. He...

This episode is the first of a new part series on African queenship, which will connected with coming episodes on African monarchy which you can look forward to as well.  In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews two scholars who work on African queenship: Professor Nwando Achebe and Lydia Amoah. We discuss the distinctive features of African queenship with many rich and fascinating examples...

In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews three of the organizing team for the Kings & Queens 15 which will be held from September 2 to 4, 2026 in Prague, hosted by the Czech Academy of Sciences. We discuss the inspiration behind the theme of KINGS, QUEENS AND DYNASTIES IN PERIL, key moments in dynastic history and tips for those planning to attend the conference.  The call for papers fo...

(English below) --- Cet épisode, animé en français par Victoria Barlow, est consacré au colloque « Violence à la cour française » , qui s’est tenu en juin dernier au Centre Roland Mousnier à Paris. Victoria s’entretient avec Fanny Giraudier, présidente de l’association Cour de France et l’une des organisatrices du colloque, aux côtés de Caroline Zum Kolk et Nicolas Le Roux. Cet échange aborde les...

In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews Dr. Peter Stiffell about his research on the imagery and iconography of Mary I, Mary's reputation as "Bloody Mary" and exciting new discovery that Peter has made, uncovering a piece of royal material culture that was considered to be lost.  GUEST BIO: Dr. Peter Stiffell is an independent scholar who specialises in the Marian regime. He...

In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews Emma Cahill Marrón about her pop up exhibition at the British Museum 'Faces of Eternity'. We discuss the items features, the iconography of Renaissance royal women, the use of medals and coins as propaganda and Mary I Tudor as both a English and Spanish queen.  This mini exhibition will be running until mid-October 2025 in the Money Gallery...

In this episode, host Ellie Woodacre interviews the winner of the Royal Studies Journal PGR/ECR Article Prize Winner for 2025, Patrik Pastrnak. We discuss his research on bridal journeys, what can go wrong at royal weddings and his prize winning article (see link below). Article: Mechanics of Royal Generosity: The Gifts from the Wedding of King Matthias Corvinus and Beatrice of Aragon (1476), Spec...