ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG PRINCESS . . .

It sounds like a fairy-tale but in reality, the princes’ father beheaded the princes’ mother when she was 2 years old. Her cousin locked her op and her half-brother,  The King died at a very early age. And the entire country was in shambles, vicious religious wars,  as well as the ‘average war’,  tore the country in twine.

So the young princess had to rule the nation. But the nation was divided, the wars took place inside and outside of the palace.

After the Princess became Queen she was expected to find a husband. But the new Queen knew that marriage would mean giving up her independence and the plans she had for the peace of her kingdom and the wellbeing of her people.

One day the Queen decided she would not marry a man. Instead, she would marry her kingdom. Still, she needed to unify religious groups, and men who deemed her “Just a Woman“.

She had to beat a huge country on the other side of the sea and convince the people inside and outside her palace that she was indeed a mighty, righteous and victorious ruler who was able to provide spiritual guidance to all.

So the Queen made sure that she became visible.

She became the Most Visible Person Ever! There wasn’t a single soul in her big realm who didn’t know who she was.

And she did that a long time before television, newspaper, movies or Harpers Bazaar… (also no Instagram – I know you know, but just for a second think about what you would do when there were virtually zero means to Mass Influence the world)

The Queen made sure that she was Everywhere!! 

Her face was on coins, on little drawings, wealthy people ordered paintings with her face and body on it. Famous artists painted her into Greek mythology. As if she had been there forever!

But the artists were given clear rules: the Queen had become a symbol of unity, prosperity, wisdom, and peace, and every painting had to express those values.

Every painting was filled with symbols that amplified the power of the Virgin Queen.

The Virgin Queen basically invented the Personal Brand. And now you are going to use her insight to create your brand personality portrait.

ACTION:
1. Watch the painting
(as in study them!) and open the Queen PDF (you don’t have to print it, though you can, it’s mainly important to get an idea about the iconographical and symbolical aspects of the art)

2. Watch the video’s 
Word of warning. I know that if you’re from one the countries that suffered under the British Rulers that Elizabeth might not be your most favorite person. So bear in mind that it’s all about a brand and less about her person and ruling. And if you can find someone to replace her with, do so!!

3. Get in Queen mode
And I leave it to you to feel into what that would mean to you!

Elizabeth Tudor as a Princess,
c. 1546, by an unknown artist.

The Coronation 

Portrait of Elizabeth I of England in her coronation robes.
Copy c. 1600–1610 of a lost original of c. 1559

Speaking up and finding the Most effective influence 

https://youtu.be/8xN_89uynqw

Queen Mastered her Brand

The Ermine Portrait, William Segar, 1585. Elizabeth I as Pax.