Beatrice Somerset is a minor character in the third season of Reign. She is portrayed by Sarah Mennell.
Beatrice was a friend of Anne Boleyn who betrayed her and her baby daughter to Henry VIII by saying Anne had comitted incest with her brother George, believing it to be a lie. Twenty-five years later, Elizabeth I took her revenge on Beatrice by having Lola Narcisse put stolen pearls in Beatrice's bag. They were both arrested for the crime and after returning the Boleyn family lands, Beatrice was pardoned and released.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Lady Beatrice Somerset was born Beatrice Brown. She was a lady-in-waiting to Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn. She became great friends with her mistress and had an official role in the christening of Anne's daughter Elizabeth I.
After Anne failed to give Henry a male heir, he started questioning her friends to get rid of her. He threatened Beatrice and her family and when that failed, he promised Beatrice the Boleyn family lands. Beatrice used a story she heard from her maid Nancy that Anne had comitted incest with her brother George Boleyn to frame Anne. This condemned Anne to die and Elizabeth to be declared a bastard and imprisoned.
In the Series[]
Season Three[]
To The Death[]
Queen Elizabeth announced she was going to give a golden apple to the first 100 people in line during King Henry VIII's 50 Year Coronation Celebration. While Beatrice Somerset was in line, Lady Lola tried to put pearls into her purse. She broke the necklace and, in the commotion the Queen had them both arrested.
While in The Tower of London, Lola expressed a man had told her to do it. She thought it was a game between the two. Beatrice told her how she believed the Queen was behind it. Beatrice Somerset told Lady Lola the story of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII. She asked Lola if she'd heard the stories, the lady who sold out her dearest friend and her infant daughter. She told those outlandish tales Anne was guilty of witchcraft and other depravities. Because everyone knew Henry wanted her gone, so to speak ill of Anne was to curry favor with the king. A chambermaid of Anne's claimed to have seen Anne and her brother George Boleyn together. But King Henry knew no one would believe it unless it came from someone like her, a close friend to Anne. He turned the screws on her family with threats and promises. After the trial, Henry awarded her The Boleyn family lands. Henry knew the chambermaid's story was a lie. The only thing Anne was ever guilty of was not having a son. She cried while adding she didn't know how often she'd wished could speak with Queen Elizabeth to explain about Anne.
Three days later, she was released from jail after she returned the lands she had been given from King Henry VIII for her help as penance.
Personality[]
Beatrice seemed nice, though a tad bit gullible for accepting an invitation on her enemy's behest.
Trivia[]
- Lady Beatrice Somerset was based on Elizabeth Somerset, Anne Boleyn's lady in waiting. She was a loyal friend of Anne Boleyn before Elizabeth testified before the court that she knew Anne and George Boleyn had slept together. However, Elizabeth Somerset was never imprisoned by Elizabeth I or any other royal.
See Also[]