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Queen Elizabeth I Facts & Worksheets

Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603) is one of the most iconic figures in history. The daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, she was England’s ‘Gloriana’.

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Elizabeth I (1533–1603) is one of the most iconic figures in history. The daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, she was England’s ‘Gloriana’ – a virgin queen who saw herself as wedded to her country, and who brought almost half a century of stability after the turmoil of her siblings’ short reigns.

See the fact file below for more information on the Queen Elizabeth I or alternatively, you can download our 20-page Queen Elizabeth I worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

THE LAST TUDOR MONARCH

  • Queen Elizabeth I was born at Greenwich on September 7, 1533 at Palace of Placentia and was considered by many to be the greatest monarch in English history.
  • She succeeded to the throne on her half-sister’s death in November 1558 and reigned for 45 years, which was generally considered to be the most glorious years or the golden age of English history.
  • Elizabeth was only two years old when her mother was accused and beheaded of adultery on the orders of her father, Henry VIII. A week later, her father marries Jane Seymour, Anne’s lady-in-waiting.
  • This made Elizabeth to be declared as illegitimate and was then removed from the royal succession. From “Princess” to “Lady”, Elizabeth was neglected until Henry’s final wife Catherine Parr took charge of her and educated her and taught her the art of public speaking.
  • Elizabeth was 13 years old when the King died and her 9-year old half-brother Edward reigned as the King.

EARLY LIFE OF THE VIRGIN QUEEN

  • After months of the King’s passing, Catherine Parr married an old love, Thomas Seymour. Elizabeth, with her servants, lived with the Queen and the her new husband.
  • Elizabeth was caught in an embrace with Seymour and was banished from the house. In 1548, Catherine died of childbirth and Seymour was executed for plotting to marry Elizabeth and kidnap Edward VI.
  • Elizabeth escaped the prosecution by protesting her innocence.
  • King Edward VI had an early death in 1553 and Elizabeth’s older sister, Mary I, becomes queen. Elizabeth now 25-years old succeeds to the throne following her half-sister, Mary’s death.

CONSPIRACY THEORIES

  • As a female reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth I of England cared deeply about her image. She sat on the throne of England from November 17, 1558 until March 24, 1603, but according to one wild conspiracy theory, for all of those years, it was not a woman acting as ruler of the kingdom, but a man in disguise. One of the most popular theory was that Elizabeth had some ‘womanish infirmity’ that prevented her from conceiving.
  • At the opposite end of the scale, there was a theory that the real reason Elizabeth would not marry was because she was really a man. According to the ‘Bisley Boy’ story, the real Elizabeth had died as a young girl and been replaced by the only redheaded child that could be found. The fact that he was a boy was inconvenient, that it was believed that he spent the rest of his life dressing as a woman to continue the pretence.
  • The Bisley Boy theory has proved a curiously enduring one, despite the lack of any reliable evidence.

RIVALRY WITH MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

  • Elizabeth I’s relationship with Mary, Queen of Scots (her first cousin) dominated English and Scottish politics for 20 years.
  • In November 1558, Elizabeth I acceded to the throne of England having been acknowledged as Henry VIII’s heir in her father’s will and testament, yet for many Catholics in England and abroad, Elizabeth was illegitimate.
  • They saw Mary Stuart, queen of Scotland and legitimate granddaughter of Henry’s sister Margaret Tudor, as the rightful queen of England. Elizabeth eventually authorised the execution of Mary in February 1587.
  • After the death of Mary, Queen of Scots, the Pope urges Philip of Spain to invade England that launches great fleet of ships called the Spanish Armada.
  • The Armada however was driven to the North Sea by strong winds where only half of the 130 ships returned back to Spain.

THE BELOVED QUEEN

  • Elizabeth I was England’s ‘Gloriana’, a virgin queen who saw herself as wedded to her country.
  • Whilst Queen Elizabeth I remained unmarried and childless, she retained the unassailable power of the Sovereign.
  • In her final years, the Queen’s reign was dominated by problems in Ireland and her failing health. In 1603, Elizabeth, then almost 70, she died as a beloved queen. This also marked the end of the Tudor dynasty that has ruled England for 118 years.
  • As she leave no direct Tudor heir, James VI of Scotland, son of Mary, Queen of Scots, was hailed as the King.

Queen Elizabeth I Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Queen Elizabeth I across 20 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Queen Elizabeth I worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Elizabeth I (1533–1603) who is one of the most iconic figures in history. The daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, she was England’s ‘Gloriana’ – a virgin queen who saw herself as wedded to her country, and who brought almost half a century of stability after the turmoil of her siblings’ short reigns.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Queen Elizabeth Facts
  • Elizabeth I  the Queen
  • Facing Controversies
  • Picture Legacy
  • Elizabeth in Letters
  • Correct Me, if I’m Wrong
  • Fame
  • Words Jumble
  • Interview with the Queen
  • Two Faces of Elizabeth
  • What I Learned

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Link will appear as Queen Elizabeth I Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, April 8, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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