Jeffrey Hudson The queen’s dwarf
London, November 1626: a banquet is in full swing. There’s music, chatter, laughter and sumptuous food. The aromas of exquisite cooking tantalise the nostrils of King Charles I and his teenage wife, Queen Henrietta Maria. Suddenly, trumpets blare and two footmen enter the hall carrying a glorious pie, gilded in gold leaf, 2ft high and 2ft wide. The pie is placed before the queen and, as if in labour, it begins to move. A small hand pops through the crust, and a fresh-faced boy emerges with a cheeky smile, dark brown eyes and light brown hair. He wears a miniature suit of armour and marches up and down the banqueting table waving a flag. He returns to the queen and gives a
