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==Introduction==[[File: The Favourite 1.jpg|200px|thumb|left| A poster, showing the three stars of the movie]]__NOTOC__The Favourite, a British made movie was one of the most critically acclaimed movies of 2018. It is a historical drama set in one of the key periods of British history. It focuses on the relationship of Queen Anne of Great Britain with two of the ladies in her court, Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough and Abigail Hill, between 1708 and 1712. The motion picture is a darkly comic one and is in many ways not a typical historical drama. It was directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and written by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara. Queen Anne was played by Olivia ColemanColman, who won an Academy Award for Best Actress, for he performance. Abigail Hill was played by Emma Stone. Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough , was played by Rachel Weisz and her husband the Duke of Marlborough was played by Mark Gatis. This article will evaluate the historical accuracy of the acclaimed 2018 movie. [[File: The Favourite 1.jpg|200px|thumb|left| A poster, showing the three stars of the movie]]====Historical Context==Set in the early 1700s the movie concentrates on the period of the War of the Spanish Succession (1700-1715). This was a struggle between France and Britain and their respective allies. In a series of victories, the Duke of Marlborough, a military genius, defeated the armies of the French. This war was to prove to be a key turning point in the history of Europe. As it marked the end of French expansion under Louis IV and the rise of the British Empire <ref>Coward, Barry. The Stuart Age: England, 1603-1714 (London, Routledge, 2014), p. 287</ref>. Despite the victories, the war was not popular in Britain, because it led to high taxes. There was a great deal of factionalism in the country and it was divided into political lines. The Tories were conservatives, who disliked the war and ideas of Empire, while the Whigs were imperialists and more liberal. Both sides sought to influence Queen Anne (1665 –1714), who had immense political power and who could appoint ministers and prorogue Parliament <ref>Coward, p 289</ref>. The movie captures very well the political passions of the time and how they led to a great deal of political in-fighting at court. However, the customs of the actors in the movies have been criticized as not being historically accurate. In the 2018 movie, Sarah (Rachel Weisz) is shown dressed in masculine attire, including breaches. This was not historically correct and if Sarah had dressed like this, it would have caused a scandal and would have resulted in her being immediately dismissed from Court. ==

==How accurate are the characters in the movie==The characters in the movie are all based on historical figures. The central figure in the movie is Queen Anne. She became Queen after the death of her sister Mary I set in 1702 and was the last years of the Stuart Dynasty and had married Prince George War of Denmark. In the movie, she is shown as being very ill and suffering from a number of ailmentsSpanish Succession (1700-1715). That This was true a great struggle between France and she suffered from gout Britain and this meant that she had to be carried around in their respective allies. In a Sedan Chairseries of victories, the Duke of Marlborough, which meant that she was not able to take a very active part in military genius, defeated the politics armies of the timeFrench. Anne This war was to prove to be a rather tragic figure and was indeed pregnant 17 times as mentioned key turning point in the dramahistory of Europe. She tragically had 12 miscarriages and delivered five children and only one of these made As it past their second birthday. Her longest-lived child, marked the Prince end of Gloucester, died before his 12th birthday. These tragedies profoundly affected her, French expansion under Louis IV and she was a deeply unhappy person. Olivia Coleman portrays the Queen as an eccentric, insecure and unstable, but this was not the case. Anne could be volatile and emotional, but she was much more stable than Coleman’s portrayal. She was a deeply religious woman, and this was crucial to her character and her reign, and this is not really shown in Lanthimos work. She opposed her father, King James II pro-Catholic policies because rise of her devotion to the Church of EnglandBritish Empire. Moreover, she was not as foolish figure as played by Olivia Coleman but was rather a capable ruler who brought much-needed stability to her realm <ref> WallerCoward, MaureenBarry. Sovereign Ladies<i>The Stuart Age: The Six Reigning Queens of England , 1603-1714</i> (London: John Murray, 2006Routledge, 2014), p 213. 287</ref>. In many scenes, Anne is shown with rabbits whom she treats like children. In reality Despite the victories, the Queen did war was not keep rabbits as petspopular in Britain, and this is pure inventionbecause it led to high taxes. Sarah, There was a great deal of factionalism in the Duchess of Marlborough is shown as an imposing country and temperamental woman who is power-hungry. This representation it was accurate, and she was a committed Whigdivided into political lines. The movie does show her commitment to her husband Tories were conservatives, who disliked the Duke war and ideas of MarlboroughEmpire, even when he was at war for years on end. Rachel Weisz does capture while the character of Sarah Whigs were imperialists and her indomitable spirit <ref>Field, Opheliamore liberal. Sarah Churchill Duchess of Marlborough: The Both sides sought to influence Queen's Favourite Anne (London1665 –1714), Stwho had immense political power and who could appoint ministers and prorogue Parliament. Martin's Press, 2016)<ref>Coward, p 113289</ref>. As shown in the The movie she used her position as captures very well the favorite political passions of Queen Anne the time and how they led to become very influential. The loss a great deal of the monarch’s favor resulted political in her removal from -fighting at court, as portrayed in the drama. Abigail HillHowever, later Masham was as shown in the movie a poor relative of clothes worn by the powerful Sarah. She was taken into her service out of kindness as described actors in the 2018 movie. As in the motion picture, her family had movies have been ruined by her father’s gambling habit, but he did criticized for not sell her, after losing at a game of cards <ref>Field, p 119</ref>being historically accurate. Abigail was a servant at the Court of the Queen but unlike In the 2018 movie, she was not a humble maidSarah (Rachel Weisz) is shown dressed in masculine attire, but a lady-in-waitingincluding pants. This allowed her to come to the attention of Queen Anne. In real-life Abigail was not as bold or assertive as portrayed by Emma Stone historically correct and if she was in realityhad dressed like this, demure it would have caused a scandal and even retiring. However, she did marry a court attendant called Masham as portrayed resulted in the movieher being immediately dismissed from Court. The representation of some of  ====How accurate are the other characters is often not historically accurate. For example, the memorable Lord Harley was not a handsome young man as shown in the movie but a middle-aged man at the time of the events. ====

==The relationship between Sarah and Anne==The characters in the movie focuses are all based on the relationships between Anne, Sarah, and Abigailhistorical figures. The central figure in the movie does show how influential Sarah was at the Courtis Queen Anne. She had met became Queen after the future Queen death of her sister Mary I in 1702 and was the 1660s when they were both children last of the Stuart Dynasty and Sarah had been kind and friendly to married Prince George of Denmark. In the young Royal. They were movie, she is shown as being very close ill and even when they were parted they would communicate by letterssuffering from a number of ailments. Sarah That was some five years older than Anne true and she suffered from gout and this allowed her meant that she had to be carried around in a Sedan Chair, which meant that she was not able to have take a great deal very active part in the politics of influence over the future Queen and when time. Anne married George of Denmark, she became Lady of was a rather tragic figure and was indeed pregnant 17 times as mentioned in the Bedchamberdrama. In 1702She tragically had 12 miscarriages and delivered five children and only one of these made it past their second birthday. Her longest-lived child, when the last Prince of Gloucester, died before his 12th birthday. These tragedies profoundly affected her, and she was a deeply unhappy person.  Olivia Colman portrays the Stuart’s was crowned Queen she appointed Sarah Mistress of as an eccentric, insecure and unstable, but this was not the Robecase. Anne could be volatile and emotional, who also assumed a series of other offices. These gave her a great deal of power and but she could control who had access to the Queenwas much more stable than Coleman’s portrayal. Sarah She was a beautiful and vivacious deeply religious woman , and this was crucial to her character and she often dominated her Queenreign, and this is not really shown in Lanthimos work. She could be very brutal with opposed her and even condescending. Sarah’s influence over Anne was crucial and instrumental in the rise father, King James II pro-Catholic policies because of her husband devotion to the Duke Church of Marlborough and his prosecution of the war against France and England. Moreover, she was not as foolish figure as played by Olivia Coleman but was rather a capable ruler who brought much-needed stability to her allies realm. <ref>ChalusWaller, ElaineMaureen. "‘Ladies are often very good scaffoldings’<i>Sovereign Ladies: Women and Politics in the Age The Six Reigning Queens of Anne." Parliamentary History 28England</i> (London: John Murray, no. 1 (20092006): 150-165 , p 213</ref> In many scenes, Anne is shown with rabbits whom she treats like children. The relationship between Sarah and her monarch was largely accurateIn reality, the Queen did not keep rabbits as pets, and this is pure invention.[[File: The favourite 4Sarah, the Duchess of Marlborough is shown as an imposing and temperamental woman who is power-hungry. This representation was accurate, and she was a committed Whig.jpg|200px|thumb|left| The movie does show her commitment to her husband the Duke of Marlborough , even when he was at war for years on end. Rachel Weisz does capture the Battle character of Ramailles(1706) ]]==Abigail HillSarah and her indomitable spirit.<ref>Field, the Queen, and Ophelia. Sarah, Churchill Duchess of Marlborough==Abigail in : The Queen's Favourite (London, St. Martin's Press, 2016), p 113</ref> As shown in the movie plots to become she used her position as the new favorite of the Queen and therefore Anne to become one very influential. The loss of the most influential people monarch’s favor resulted in her removal from court, as portrayed in the kingdomdrama. This  Abigail Hill, later Masham was not really as shown in the movie a poor relative of the case, Abigail did not have to conspire against powerful Sarah, because she had already lost much . She was taken into her service out of her influence by 1708kindness as described in the 2018 movie. Ann had grown tired of As in the Duchess and motion picture, her overbearing personality and this is why she turned to Abigailfamily had been ruined by her father’s gambling habit, who flattered and reassured the Queenbut he did not sell her, unlike the more abrasive Sarahafter losing at a game of cards. There is no evidence that <ref>Field, p 119</ref> Abigail poisoned Sarah as shown in was a servant at the Court of the motion picture which ended with her nearQueen but unlike the movie, she was not a humble maid, but a lady-death and waking up in a brothel-waiting. One of the main reasons, for This allowed her fall, this, was Sarah’s arrogance and rudeness to Anne and not because come to the attention of Abigail machinations. Queen Anne and Sarah had very different political views <ref>Field. In real-life, p 198</ref>. The daughter of James II Abigail was instinctively a Torynot as bold or assertive as portrayed by Emma Stone and she was in reality, demure and even retiring. However, she did marry a conservativecourt attendant called Masham as portrayed in the movie. The Duchess was a Whig and by representation of some of the standards of her timeother characters is often not historically accurate. For example, liberal on issues such the memorable Lord Harley was not a handsome young man as religious toleration, except for Catholics <ref>Holmes, Geoffrey. British politics in shown in the movie but a middle-aged one at the age time of Anne (Edinburg, the events. A&C Black, 1987), p 11</ref> ====The relationship between Sarah and Anne====[[File:The favourite 4. This led to growing conflicts between them and Anne came to resent Sarah imposing her Whig opinions on her. These political differences and jpg|200px|thumb|left| The Duke of Marlborough at the domineering character Battle of Ramailles(1706) ]]The movie focuses on the Duchess resulted in the rift relationships between the Queen Anne, Sarah, and her former favorite and in this regard, Abigail. The movie does show how influential Sarah was at the movie is very inaccurateCourt. This rather any great conspiracy by Abigail led to her elevation She had met the future Queen in the 1660s when they were both children and Sarah had been kind and friendly to the status of the Queen favorite <ref>Holmes, p 78</ref>young Royal. They were very close and even when they were parted they would communicate by letters. ==Was there a sexual relationship between Sarah was some five years older than Anne, Sarah, and Abigail==The 2018 movie portrays this allowed her to have a great deal of influence over the future Queen and when Anne married George of Denmark, she became Lady of the Duchess of Marlborough as having a long-term sexual relationship despite the fact that they are both marriedBedchamber. This secret relationship is  In 1702, when the source last of the Stuart’s was crowned Queen she appointed Sarah Mistress of Sarah’s power and influence at the Royal Court. In factRobe, it is exceedingly unlikely that Sarah and Anne were having a lesbian affairwho also assumed a series of other offices. As noted above, Anne was These gave her a very religious woman great deal of power and her faith influenced every aspect of her lifeshe could control who had access to the Queen. A sexual relationship with Sarah was a member of the same sex beautiful and vivacious woman and she often dominated her Queen. She could be very brutal with her and even condescending. Sarah’s influence over Anne was crucial and instrumental in the eyes rise of her husband the Anglican Church, Duke of Marlborough and his prosecution of which Anne was a member, would have been regarded as a mortal sinthe war against France and her allies. <ref>Chalus, leading to eternal damnation in hellElaine. Moreover, Anne was "‘Ladies are often very devoted to her husbandgood scaffoldings’: Women and Politics in the Age of Anne. The two always shared their bedroom which was unusual for a member of the elite and she was devasted when George died in 1708 <ref>Green" Parliamentary History 28, Davidno. Queen Anne 1 (London2009): Collins, 1970), p 113150-165 </ref> It cannot be denied that, once, Anne shared a very intense friendship with The relationship between Sarah, and it her monarch was one of largely accurate. ====Abigail Hill, the most important in her life. HoweverQueen, we should not construct their relationship in modern terms. There is no evidence that Abigail was the lover and Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough====In the Queenmovie, Abigail plots to become the new favorite of the Queen and one of the most influential people in the kingdom. It appears that Anne This was not as dependent on her as she had been previously on really the case, Abigail did not have to conspire against Sarah. Moreover, by the time that Abigail because she had become already lost much of her favorite, she was a very sick woman and suffering greatly from goutinfluence by 1708. Rumors about Anne’s sexuality were spread by Whig propagandists because they believe that Ann had grown tired of the Duchess and her overbearing personality and this is why she was too close turned to their hated enemiesAbigail, who flattered and reassured the Queen, unlike the Tories <ref>Green, pmore abrasive Sarah. 201 </ref>. It does seem that There is no evidence that Abigail poisoned Sarah contributed to as shown in the rumors that the daughter of James II was a lesbian. She had anonymously circulated a poem that implied that Abigail motion picture which ended with her near-death and Anne were having waking up in a sexual affairbrothel. At the time One of the main reasons, for her fall, no one took this seriously , was Sarah’s arrogance and suspected that the Duchess was slandering the Queen out rudeness to Anne and not because of spiteAbigail machinations. However, it does seem that Queen Anne and Sarah’s intense friendship may have Sarah had some sexual aspectvery different political views. It does appear that the Queen<ref>Field, p 198</ref> The daughter of James II was instinctively a Tory, at least subconsciously had urges from her friend and her chief courtiera conservative. In The Duchess was a series Whig and by the standards of lettersher time, that she wrote to the wife of the Duke of Marlboroughliberal on issues such as religious toleration, she displays love except for ‘her closest friend in a way that we would classify as romanticCatholics.<ref>Holmes, though perhaps not erotic way’ Geoffrey. <refi>Field, Ophelia. "Queen British politics in the age of Anne's Ladies." The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide 11, no. 3 (2004): 21</refi>. After the falls from favor(Edinburg, A&C Black, it does seem that Sarah tried to revel them to embarrass the Queen1987), but she never didp 11</ref> This led to growing conflicts between them and Anne came to resent Sarah imposing her Whig opinions on her. What is clear is that These political differences and the last domineering character of the Stuart Dynasty Duchess resulted in the rift between the Queen and her two favorites did not have the type of relationships that were shown in former favorite and in this regard, the movie<ref>Green, p 198</ref>is very inaccurate. ==Conclusion==The Favourite is a very unusual drama as it is funny and it is based on historical eventsThis rather any great conspiracy by Abigail led to her elevation to the status of the Queen favorite.<ref>Holmes, p 78</ref> ====Was there a sexual relationship between Anne, Sarah, from the early 18th century. It does accurately portray the fevered political atmosphere of the time and the infighting at the court. Abigail?====The 2018 movie does accurately portray portrays the Queen and the character of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, but it gives us as having a caricature long-term sexual relationship despite the fact that they are both married. This secret relationship is the source of Queen Anne Sarah’s power and Abigail. The general outline of influence at the plot Royal Court. In fact, it is based on the fall of exceedingly unlikely that Sarah and how she lost her position as the Queen’s favoriteAnne were having a lesbian affair. HoweverAs noted above, there were Anne was a great many exaggerations very religious woman and Abagail did not poison Sarah, for exampleher faith influenced every aspect of her life. Then A sexual relationship with a member of the reasons for same sex in the downfall eyes of the Duchess was not a result Anglican Church, of the devious machinations of Abigail. She which Anne was responsible for her downfalla member, she was too domineeringwould have been regarded as a mortal sin, and tried leading to manipulate the Queeneternal damnation in hell. Moreover, into following political policies that were against Anne was very devoted to her deepest beliefshusband. The drama two always shared their bedroom which was unusual for a member of the 2018 movie, revolves on a supposed sexual relationship between Anne elite and Sarah, and later one between the she was devasted when George died in 1708.<ref>Green, David. Queen and Abigail. It is highly unlikely that this occurred as portrayed and it is probably based on groundless rumorsAnne (London: Collins, 1970), p 113</ref> It cannot be denied that, once, Anne shared a very intense friendship with Sarah, and it was one of the most important in her life. While However, we should not construct their relationship in modern terms.  There is also no evidence that Abigail was the movie is based on real events it distorts and misrepresents what happened and therefore, while it may be great drama, the motion picture is not historically accuratelover of the Queen. It appears that Anne was not as dependent on her as she had been previously on Sarah. Moreover, by the time that Abigail had become her favorite, she was a very sick woman and suffering greatly from gout. Rumors about Anne’s sexuality were spread by Whig propagandists because they believe that she was too close to their hated enemies, the Tories.<ref>Green, p. 201 </ref> It does seem that Sarah contributed to the rumors that the daughter of James II was a lesbian. She had anonymously circulated a poem that implied that Abigail and Anne were having a sexual affair. At the time, no one took this seriously and suspected that the Duchess was slandering the Queen out of spite. However, it does seem that Anne and Sarah’s intense friendship may have had some sexual aspect.  It does appear that the Queen, at least subconsciously had urges from her friend and her chief courtier. In a series of letters, that she wrote to the wife of the Duke of Marlborough, she displays love for ‘her closest friend in a way that we would classify as romantic, though perhaps not erotic way’ <ref>Field, Ophelia. "Queen Anne's Ladies." The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide 11, no. 3 (2004): 21</ref>. After the falls from favor, it does seem that Sarah tried to revel them to embarrass the Queen, but she never did. What is clear is that the last of the Stuart Dynasty and her two favorites did not have the type of relationships that were shown in the movie.<ref>Green, p 198</ref> ====Conclusion====The Favourite does accurately portray the fevered political atmosphere of the time and the infighting at the court. The movie also accurately portrays the character of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, but it gives us a caricature of Queen Anne and Abigail. The general outline of the plot is based on the fall of Sarah and how she lost her position as the Queen’s favorite. However, there were a great many exaggerations and Abagail did not poison Sarah, for example. Then the reasons for the downfall of the Duchess was not a result of the devious machinations of Abigail. She was responsible for her downfall, she was too domineering, and tried to manipulate the Queen, into following political policies that were against her deepest beliefs. ==Further Reading==

The drama of the 2018 movie, revolves on a supposed sexual relationship between Anne and Sarah, and later one between the Queen and Abigail. It is highly unlikely that this occurred as portrayed and it is probably based on groundless rumors. While the movie is based on real events it distorts and misrepresents what happened and therefore, while it may be great drama, the motion picture is not historically accurate. ====Further Reading====* Falkner, James. The War of the Spanish Succession (Kindle ed.) (Yorkshire, Pen and Sword Military, 2015).* Gregg, Edward. Queen Anne (Revised) (The English Monarchs Series) (2001 ed.) (Yale University Press, 2004).