Love encompasses a spectrum of emotions—longing, loneliness, pain, jealousy, sadness, and, on occasion, joy.
With Valentine’s Day nearing, a new public exhibition titled “Love Letters,” showcasing five centuries of passion, is on display at Britain’s National Archives.
Curator Victoria Iglikowski-Broad described the exhibition as a narrative of “the legendary romances of British history,” intertwining royalty, politicians, celebrities, and even spies along with the everyday person’s voice.
“We’re aiming to broaden the scope of love letters,” she shared. “You can find expressions of love in the most unexpected places.”
The exhibits feature a variety of items, including early 20th-century ads for same-sex attraction, letters from soldiers to their lovers, and medieval songs lamenting heartbreak.
Among the iconic pieces is a cutting letter from Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, to Queen Elizabeth I. Written just days before Dudley’s death in 1588, it reveals the intimacy between the so-called “virgin queen,” who never married, and her devoted suitor, who referred to himself as “your poor old servant.”
This letter, marked “Last Letter” and containing some peculiar spelling, was found at the Queen’s bedside nearly 15 years after her passing.
bonds of family and friendship
Love in this exhibition transcends romance. Familial bonds are showcased in Jane Austen’s 1817 handwritten will, which leaves her possessions to her beloved sister Cassandra. There’s also a heartfelt plea from the father of notorious London gangsters Reggie and Ronnie Kray in a 1956 letter, appealing to a court for mercy, claiming, “all interest in life is to do good to everyone.”
Letters come from all walks of life, including a desperate petition in 1851 by an unemployed weaver, Daniel Rush, who implored authorities not to separate him from his wife. This sits alongside the abdication document of Edward VIII, who surrendered the throne in 1936 for the love of twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson.
“Though they seem dissimilar at first glance, there’s an underlying connection,” Iglikowski-Broad noted. “Both items reflect that love often compels sacrifices.”
Other letters hint at lost love. For instance, an unpublished note from 1944 by British intelligence officer John Cairncross to his former girlfriend Gloria Barraclough reveals his reflection on their breakup: “I wonder if we would have split if we’d known what lay ahead.” Some might argue Barraclough was fortunate—years later, Cairncross was outed as a Soviet spy.
Royal romance and tragedy
Some love stories are tinged with peril and heartbreak. In a poignant moment, Lord Alfred Douglas appeals to Queen Victoria for a pardon for his lover, Oscar Wilde, but the request is futile. Wilde was sentenced to prison for gross indecency after their relationship was revealed by Douglas’ outraged father.
Also featured is a letter from Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife, to her secret lover, Thomas Culpeper, penned in 1541. Its tone resonates with unease, as she urges him to exercise caution.
Catherine concluded the letter with, “It is yours as long as I live,” a sentiment that proved tragically brief. Their affair was uncovered, leading to their execution for treason.
A remarkably intimate letter from Queen Henrietta Maria to Charles I is also on display, which is quite rare given the British royal family’s usual discretion regarding such documents. This letter surfaced among the possessions of a fugitive king during the English Civil War in 1645. Following his defeat, Charles was tried and executed in 1649, and the letter eventually made its way to the Congressional Archives before being transferred to the National Archives last year.
“Intimate correspondence between monarchs is quite rare,” noted historian Neil Johnston. “This letter is a small gem amidst the chaos of the British Civil War.”
