Queen Elizabeth's Oak, Hatfield House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Queen Elizabeth's Oak |
|
|---|---|
Drawn by Joel Cook, 1882
|
|
| Location | Hatfield House, Hertfordshire, England |
| Date felled | Early 20th century |
The Queen Elizabeth's Oak was a very old and famous tree that once stood on the grounds of Hatfield House in Hertfordshire, England. This special tree is remembered because Elizabeth I, who later became Queen of England, was supposedly sitting under it when she heard the amazing news that she would become queen in 1558. Many important people, including Queen Victoria, visited the tree over the years. The original tree eventually died, but a new oak was planted in its place by Elizabeth II in 1985.
Contents
The Famous Oak Tree's Story
Elizabeth's Time at Hatfield
Hatfield Palace became a royal home in 1538 when Henry VIII acquired it. It was a place where his children, including Mary, Elizabeth, and Edward, grew up.
Later, when Mary became queen in 1553, she was a Catholic. She kept her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth under house arrest at the palace. This was to stop Elizabeth from trying to take the throne. Elizabeth often spent time under the oak tree that would later be named after her. It was about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the house, marking the farthest she was allowed to go.
News of a New Queen
On November 17, 1558, Queen Mary died. This meant Elizabeth was next in line for the throne. The story goes that a messenger from London brought this important news to Elizabeth while she was sitting under this very oak tree. She might have been reading her bible or eating an apple at the time.
Elizabeth's famous reply to the news was supposedly, "This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes." This moment marked the start of her long and famous reign as Queen Elizabeth I.
The Oak's Royal Visitors
After Elizabeth became queen, James I later traded Hatfield Palace for another property. Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, one of Elizabeth's advisors, then built a new house nearby. The famous oak tree was located close to one of the paths leading to this new house.
Many years later, in 1846, Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, visited Hatfield House. By this time, the old oak tree was so important that it was protected by a fence and a lead covering. As a special souvenir, the queen was given a small branch and an acorn from the tree.
The Tree's Later Years
By the early 20th century, the Queen Elizabeth's Oak was very old and had started to fall apart. By 1935, it was mostly just a stump, held up by props and wrapped with iron bands.
The dead stump was finally removed on November 17, 1978. This date was special because it was exactly 420 years since Elizabeth I had become queen. The remains of the old tree are now kept safely in storage.
To continue the tree's legacy, Elizabeth II planted a new oak tree on the same spot on July 22, 1985. This new tree stands as a living reminder of the famous Queen Elizabeth I and the historic moment that happened there.
Modern Events at the Site
The field where the Queen Elizabeth's Oak stands has been used for various events over the years. These have included an annual agricultural show and different music festivals. Since 2008, it has been the home of the Folk by the Oak music festival.
