Robert Dudley had been counted among Princess…

Robert Dudley had been counted among Princess Elizabeth's special friends by Philip II's envoy to the English court a week before Queen Mary's death.

He had on November 18, 1558, the morning after Elizabeth's accession, witnessed the surrender of the Great Seal to her at Hatfield, and on the same day became Master of the Horse, an important court position entailing close attendance on the sovereign.

It suits him, as he is an excellent horseman and shows great professional interest in royal transport and accommodation, horse breeding, and the supply of horses for all occasions.

Dudley had also been entrusted with organizing and overseeing a large part of the Queen's coronation festivities.

Dudley had in April 1559 been elected a Knight of the Garter in the good company of England's only duke and an earl, causing great wonder.

The ambassador of the neutral Republic of Venice, by his office the most detached of the foreign envoys, soon wrote home: "My Lord Robert Dudley is ... very intimate with Her Majesty.

On this subject I ought to report the opinion of many but I doubt whether my letters may not miscarry or be read, wherefore it is better to keep silence than to speak ill." Philip II had already been informed shortly before Dudley's decoration: “Lord Robert has come so much into favour that he does whatever he likes with affairs and it is even said that her majesty visits him in his chamber day and night.

People talk of this so freely that they go so far as to say that his wife has a malady in one of her breasts and the Queen is only waiting for her to die to marry Lord Robert ... Matters have reached such a pass ... that ... it would ... be well to approach Lord Robert on your Majesty's behalf ...

Your Majesty would do well to attract and confirm him in his friendship.” Within a month, the Spanish ambassador, Count de Feria, counted Robert Dudley among those three persons who "rule everything".

Visiting foreigners of princely rank are bidding for his goodwill.

He acts as official host on state occasions and is himself a frequent guest at ambassadorial dinners.