Elizabeth I's Ring With A Mysterious Secret - The Chequers Ring

Throughout the centuries there have been very few pieces of clothing or jewellery which have survived that belonged to Queen Elizabeth I. The last Tudor Monarch is considered a woman who was one of the greatest to reign over England, but in the last few years a piece of clothing did emerge that allegedly belonged to Elizabeth I. The Barton Altar Cloth is considered the only surviving dress of the Queen, and for years it had survived as a sacred object in a Church before it was recognised as a costume and piece of clothing belonging to Elizabeth. But one of the only surviving pieces of Jewellery belonging to Elizabeth I is a ring which includes a locket with a portrait of Elizabeth and another woman who many have believed is her mother Anne Boleyn, the executed second wife of Henry VIII.

[@dianetheisen8664]

The argument you present saying it could be Katherine Parr is plausible. But I choose to believe the lady is Anne Boleyn. 👑

[@CaptainJackSparrowSavvy]

It makes sense! She wore her mother's jewellery, so why wouldn't she have a ring with a picture of her mother in it!

[@gunvorelisabethkirkelund8767]

It’s pretty certain its Anne Boleyn. The phoenix on the inner side is a Tudor symbol for birth and rebirth, it’s used typically for the mother of the heir. E.g. Henry VIII used it for Jane Seymour, as she was mother of the prince of Wales.

[@warjdani]

I think Its suppose to Anne Boleyn personal sigel inside the ring. Anne's family crest was a hawk and when she married the king it was changed to a hawk wearing a crown on a bed of Tudor roses. I just speculating this idea just another strong induction the it was her mother.

[@sharonmcandrew5046]

I feel it is a portrait of Elizabeth’s mother

[@untamedblossoms]

For Elizabeth it’s Anne

[@DonnaChamberson]

Anne Arundel

[@SimpleDesertRose]

I would personally like to think it was a picture of Anne. Its possible that Anne could've had red or auburn hair that got darker as she got older. My father in law and husband had bright copper red hair as children that gor progressively darker as they got older. My father in law's is so dark now its almost black. My husband's definetly looks more auburn now than red. For that i would like to believe that the woman in question is Anne. For Elizabeth to have have something of her mother and that would be why the ring would be so important to her. That she would wear it until it was romoved after her death.

[@susancady2581]

The woman in the picture has brunette hair. As seen just below the hood. Of course it has worn away as it’s hundreds of years old, but you can clearly see the brunette.

[@IanDocherty335]

About 18 years ago I had the pleasure of visiting Chequers and was privileged to be able to hold the subject of this video (albeit it was in a small plastic case) it was quite amazing to be so close to something so personal that was worn by worn by Elizabeth I.

[@fabianwylie8707]

Thanks for posting!, always very interesting, anything regarding to Tudor’s 👍

[@jodisue741]

I think it's her mother

[@sdl1ishappy]

I hope it is Anne, but could it be just an image of a young Elizabeth? I picture of when she was a girl?

[@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059]

Except Elizabeth was a redhead, the woman in the ring is a brunette.

[@Sovereignty3]

Well being up at 2.26 in the morning means I get to be the second person to comment.

[@geni2906]

It was 5pm in Britain x

[@renaschlener4919]

It looks like a gold hair cloth not hair

[@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059]

The enamel is also damaged, showing the gold underneath.

[@sandrapicton6349]

Alexander Home's surname is pronounced "Hume" NOT "home".

[@Obsidian.Angel.1]

The woman in the ring next to Elizabeth is Jane Boleyn (AKA lady Rochford). Jane married Anne Boleyns brother George in 1524 (making her Anne’s sister in law) and she was a lady in waiting to 5 out of 6 of Henry’s wives (including Katherine Howard, who was her cousin by marriage). Jane Boleyn was at court for 20 years, her farther (Lord Morley) was a Baron, landed gentry and a diplomat to Henry VIII. He was also friends with Thomas Cromwell, Henry’s chief minister (who took part in Anne/George’s interrogation and trial). Shortly after Henry married Anne and she gave birth to Elizabeth (and 7 years after Henry paid half of Janes Dowry when she married George), Jane was banished from court after an alleged plot between herself and Anne to remove a love rival from court who had gained the kings attention (possibly Jane Seymour, who Henry married 11 days after Anne’s execution). Despite being the widow of a convicted traitor, Jane was brought back to court as one of Jane Seymours ladies in waiting (lady of the privy chamber), when Elizabeth was still a child. At this time Jane would have been the only family/blood on Elizabeth’s mother’s side left at court. The portrait in the ring closely resembles one of the only surviving pictures of lady Rochford (a sketch), drawn by Hans Holbein. Hans Holbein travelled to England in 1526 and again in 1532 under the patronage of Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell. By 1535 Hans was the kings painter (Henry VIII). He produced paintings, jewellery designs, plate and other precious objects. He also knew Lord Morley. The portrait of Jane Boleyn in the ring was produced around 1535, Elizabeth’s portrait and being made into a ring done later, around 1570 (the ring possibly started life a a locket for a small child and was later turned into a ring). All these connections (and more) are why the ring contains the Phoenix, the initials, the hexagonal rubies (ruby- Latin=red/blood) and the portraits. While Elizabeth may not have been able to show or speak her fealty to her mother’s bloodline (especially before she become queen) due to the label of being incestuous traitors, this would be a way to show not tell. This could also possibly be why Elizabeth bestowed land and titles on the Boleyns when she became queen (returning what Cromwell/Henry took after the execution of her mother Anne). As for why the ring is kept at Chequers….that is another deeply connected story.

[@susancady2581]

I disagree that the portrait is Jane Boleyn. It looks like Anne Boleyn. I believe it is too intimate a memento to contain anyone but her mother.

[@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059]

Why would she carry a portrait of her sister in law?? I never would. My sister in law is awesome, but I wouldn't carry a locket with her photo in it.

[@t.c.thompson2359]

It’s a bit sad that something that was probably so private to Elizabeth is open for all to see.

[@janetwatson7966]

I'm sure any jewelry that is left of Elizabeth 1 the royals now have them.

[@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059]

No, Cromwell broke up all the royal jewelry and crowns and sold them off, so any Tudor jewelry the royal family owns, they likely obtained later and it is not in the same arrangement as then and it is unknown to be Tudor. With the exception of the Black Princes Ruby which also may not be the same one mentioned during the war of the Roses, pre-Tudor.

[@3frenchhens818]

Could the portrait be Kat Ashley?

[@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059]

No, a servant would not (and Kat Ashley never was) portrayed in pearls and gems on her hood and clothing...

[@elizabethhurtado2829]

🇺🇸💰💰💰💰💰🏦

[@johnclark1612]

..is considered to be a woman..? Narrator must be green haired

[@Sovereignty3]

Well being up at 2.26 in the morning means I get to be the second person to comment.

[@LittleLouieLagazza]

😂😂😂😊 Claire!! ShooOOooOOooo! 😊