Regina: A new history of women and power Kate Williams
Event details
Stories about royal women form some of our most foundational myths about femininity, and yet their legacies have been almost entirely constructed by the words and images of men.
Celebrated historian Kate Williams, author of Regina, will lead you deep into the world of queens, empresses, princesses, mistresses and ladies-in-waiting, uncovering how their ambitions were shaped, celebrated and often thwarted.
From the ancient civilisations of Egypt and Mesopotamia to the opulent courts of the pre-medieval world, she’ll delve into the lives of these remarkable women, revealing both their trials and triumphs as they navigate political intrigue, family rivalries and personal sacrifices.
Join Kate for this unmissable history that unlocks why we think about women, politics and power in the ways that we do.
Book sales
You can buy copies of many of our speakers’ books from Fox Lane Books, a local independent bookseller and Festival partner. In some cases, author signed bookplates are available too.
About the speaker
Professor Kate Williams is a historian and the New York Times bestselling author of over ten works of history and historical non-fiction which include Rival Queens, The Royal Palaces and Edge of the Fall. Her latest book is Regina: A New History of Women and Power (Orion, June 2026). She has presented various TV shows on the BBC, Channel 5 and PBS, including Restoration Home, Young Victoria, Inside Versailles and Secrets of the Royal Palaces. She is CNN’s royal historian and covers all royal events for CNN (including the funeral of Elizabeth II) and also discusses royals on the BBC and Sky News. She studied for her BA and DPhil at Oxford and is Professor in Public Engagement with History at the University of Reading, and lectures all over the world. She has appeared on shows from the Great British Bake Off to Gardener’s World and has won UK quiz shows including Mastermind, Pointless and Antiques Road Trip. Her greatest love is a dusty document.
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