Elizabeth 1 question?

Question

Does anyone know what happened to the costumes and jewellery that Elizabeth 1 wore during her lifetime. Especially the outfit she wore in the famous armada picture.

Answer 1

It was customary, during Elizabeth's reign, to re-fashion fine garments in order to follow current trends.  Many of her gowns would have been redesigned in this manner.  As far as her jewels, many of them were sold off to wealthy aristocrats on the continent when Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I, was sent away from England for her safety in the dawn of the English Civil wars.  With the money, she received from selling off many of the royal crown jewels and other precious items, she was able to help Charles fund his government.

Answer 2

In her will she left her dresses to Anne of Denmark, wife of her successor James I (VI of Scotland).  Most of her jewels would have been past down to her successors as well, but as Dana G said, Queen Henrietta Maria, who married James I son, Charles, pawned a lot of them to raise support for Charles when his reign began to crumble.

Some of the jewels of course, will be in the Tower of London.

Answer 3

After all these years? All rotten and gone, I suppose  I don't think at that time they were even aware that such clothes could be auctioned or even displayed in museums so I don't think anyone thought of preserving them, much less Elizabeth I

Answer 4

Wow.  Interesting question.  Some of the jewels, of course, would be in the Tower of London with the "crown jewels."  I wonder if any of her clothing survived.  If I can find anything, I'll come back and post it.

Answer 5

This is all I could find regarding existing Elizabethan clothing

http://tudorhistory.org/queryblog/2008/0...

Good luck!