The relationship between Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I
was less than straight forward. Mary had resentment to the baby Elizabeth. Her
mother helped destroying their father’s relationship with Catherine of Aragon.
Mary disliked Anne Boleyn and refused to recognize her as queen. Anne got Henry
to remove Mary from court. Mary had already been living near the Welsh border
in a castle with her own court. When Elizabeth was born, Mary’s court was
dissolved and she was moved to Elizabeth’s home and was required to attend the
new baby. Mary was supposedly not treated well in this new household. When Anne
was executed, Elizabeth was downgraded to a lady and she and Mary were both
removed from the line of succession. Mary, however, never showed cruelty to
Elizabeth and she must have felt sorry for Elizabeth who was without a mother,
an experience Mary understood. It was generally believed Mary was kind to
Elizabeth. When they became adults they developed a dislike for one another.
Mary was devoid of guile. She was sincere in her religion
and faith and did not have the snake like tendencies of a political viper.
Elizabeth, on the other hand, was sly and was more Machiavellian in her
approach to public life. Mary never quite trusted Elizabeth and Elizabeth
definitely didn’t trust Mary. Mary wanted to love her sister but politics and a
difference in character made it difficult. Also, Elizabeth was considered an
attractive woman though not conventionally beautiful. She met the public with
smiles and lovely waving. Mary, while considered pretty as a young woman, was
prematurely aged, small, and short-sighted so that she narrowed her eyes at
you. Mary also seemed gruff and didn’t deal well with the public.
There difference between Mary and Elizabeth was one of temperament
and physical attributes. But both of their characters were strong and resilient.
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