Queen Anne and Sarah Churchill
Anne Stuart, Queen of England between 1702 and 1714 and Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough were childhood friends that developed a close and intimate relationship. At that time romantic, and sometimes erotic, relationships between women were accepted and even encouraged as a form of preparation for marriage to men. However their relationship lasted beyond Anne’s marriage to George, Electoral Prince of Hanover in 1683 and Sarah’s to John Churchill.
This is part of the Queer relationships collection.
Anne stood firm by Sarah when their relationship was labelled an ‘immoderate passion’ inappropriate and resisted the order of Queen Mary to end their relationship. When she became queen she promoted Sarah to the position of first lady of the bedchamber, ensuring unrestricted access to each other. Their relationship soured in later years when Sarah discovered that Anne had been spending time with Sarah's younger cousin Abigail Hill Masham.