Royal progress

A royal progress was a tour, usually during the summer, on which Elizabeth and her court stayed at the homes of wealthy nobles. Hosting the queen was a great honour: it displayed a noble’s status and offered an opportunity to gain royal favour.

Elizabeth I granted Kenilworth to her favourite, Robert Dudley, in 1563. His alterations were intended to impress her during royal progresses, when hosting the monarch offered a valuable opportunity to demonstrate loyalty, wealth and importance.

During summer royal progresses, Elizabeth travelled through parts of her kingdom and stayed in noble households. Hosts staged extravagant entertainments and pageants. People along the route could see the queen, while nobles could demonstrate their loyalty by welcoming her.