The week's best royal photos
A visit to the Pope and more in The Royal Dispatch
Hello Royal Clubbers, it’s Millie here.
Queen Camilla and King Charles visited the Vatican this week, while the Belgian royals brought out their finery for a state visit. But before we dive into the best royal pictures of the week, it’s time to head back in time…
On this day…
On 25 October 1415, King Henry V of England led forces against a much larger French army at the Battle of Agincourt. The English army was not in good shape. They’d just undertaken a six-week siege and marched for over 200 miles, and many soldiers were suffering from dysentery.
In total, contemporary reports place Henry’s army at approximately 6,000 men: a force of 1,000 knights and men-at-arms and 5,000 archers, while the French army was estimated to number between 20,000 to 30,000 men – a severe numerical disadvantage.
The battle took place on a ploughed field, and Henry positioned his archers in a wedge formation with men-at-arms in the centre. The field was muddy and Henry’s army drove sharpened stakes into the ground to fend off the French cavalry, who were then picked off by the English archers.
The archers then began fighting hand-to-hand, and the French were so densely packed in at the field that they could not fight properly and the tide turned in the favour of the English, who won the battle quickly.
In total, English losses were estimated to be about 400 versus 6,000 for the French. The Battle of Agincourt made it possible for the English conquest of Normandy and the Treaty of Troyes, which named Henry V as heir to the French crown. It is also inspired one of the English language’s most famous soliloquies. Take it away, Kenneth…
Further reading
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