We’ve set this scene in Elizabeth’s wardrobe, a room not based on the historical wardrobe but designed from scratch in which the Queen’s finest dresses stand in mannequined ranks under silk sheers. Elizabeth’s clothes were actually generally kept in large trunks and presses whilst her major pieces of jewellery were kept in the Jewel Tower in Westminster (one of the few buildings from the old palace that survives). But for us this is a chance to show off the extraordinary dresses that our costume designer Alex has created for the movie and give a glimpse of the Queen’s private life with her ladies.

Here the queen changes as she and her ladies talk – dresses are presented, jewellery is removed and replaced. And their talk today is of Walter Raleigh and what exactly he wants from the court. But just as importantly the Queen wants to know what her ladies make of this exotic arrival and in particular what feelings the young Bess Throckmorton might hold for him.

Justin