Royal Court Treasures

On Saturday the V&A Museum in London opens its spring biggy Treasures of the Royal Courts: Tudors, Stuarts and the Russian Tsars, which trundles along in stately fashion until 14 July (CLICK). Celebrating 500 years of Anglo-Russian trade, the exhibition focuses on the royal courts of Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, the Stuarts, Ivan the Terrible and the early Romanovs, from 1509 to 1685. Among the 150 treasures on display is this rarely-seen Hamden Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I (c. 1560) loaned to the exhibition by Philip Mould. It is attributed to Steven van Herwijk or Steven van der Meulen. Admission costs £8 for adults (plus booking of £1.20) or £7 for silver surfers (plus £1 booking fee). Booking is recommended.