British history is littered with royal favorites rumored to be something more: Edward II and Piers Gaveston, Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley, James VI and George Villiers, and so on. One story that is slightly lesser known – but no less dramatic – is that of Queen Anne of Great Britain and her closest frenemy, Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough.
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| Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough |
As with other royal favorites, rumors began to
fly. Observers noticed the closeness between the two, calling it “undue” and “an
immoderate passion”. Anne’s letters to Sarah are full of syrupy declarations,
but in those days it was common for women to express affection for each other
in ways that might be considered romantic or sexual today. But regardless of whether
the affection between them was romantic, platonic, both, or neither, it’s a
fair argument to say that Sarah Churchill was the great love of Anne’s life.
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| Queen Anne of Great Britain |
Another lady, Abigail Masham, rose to top spot
in the Queen’s affections. Furious, Sarah insinuated that Anne and Abigail were
lovers, implying that Anne regularly enjoyed lesbian trysts with her ladies. She
later wrote a memoir painting herself as a victim and the Queen as essentially
useless. Queen Anne’s image as a slovenly, stupid, histrionic mess derives
mostly from Sarah’s account, which influenced her early biographies – in
reality, her stupidity was about as real as Anne Boleyn’s sixth finger.
The relationship between Queen Anne and Sarah
Churchill was fiery and melodramatic, spanning most of Anne’s life and inspiring
several novels in addition to biographies of both women. But was it ever a love
affair? Their story is a rollercoaster of devotion, drama, and duplicity – but
is it a love story? Like all the best royal rumors, no one can ever really know
for sure.
