JANE DUNN REMARKS that for Elizabeth Tudor and Mary Queen of Scots 'the most compelling relationship in their lives' was that which bound them together. The way in which they were pitted against each other dominated their existence and has shaped how they are viewed by history. And yet, despite the fact that the relationship was so pivotal to both of them, they never met.

For Dunn, 'that fundamental lack of human connection' is 'the black hole at the heart of their relationship, the dramatic axis of their story'. There has been endless speculation that the pair would have reconciled their differences if only they could have communicated directly. Conscious of her ability to charm almost