The Virgin Queen is the more or less true story of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1557-1603). The production begins in the Tower of London, where Elizabeth has been imprisoned by Queen Mary, her half-sister, who hopes to bring England back to the Roman Catholic Church and who sees Elizabeth as a rallying-point for the supporters of the protestant Church of England. After the death of Mary, Elizabeth inherits the throne as Queen of England in her own right. Elizabeth sets out with high hopes, but she is soon torn between her love for Sir Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester (a married man) and her duties as Queen.
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