Storms at sea. Panic at court. And a queen under guard.

On this day in Tudor history — 30th July 1588 — England’s fate shifted with the wind. The once-mighty Spanish Armada, already damaged by the Battle of Gravelines, was now scattered and driven northwards by violent storms. Many in England saw it as divine intervention — a “Protestant Wind” sent by God to defend the realm.

In this podcast, I explore:
- How the Spanish fleet faltered in the aftermath of Gravelines
- Why Sir Francis Drake was so delighted
- The stormy fate of the Armada
- Queen Elizabeth I’s cautious moves to protect herself
- And how the events of that day fed into national pride and Protestant identity

I’m Claire Ridgway, author and historian, and I invite you to join me as we revisit one of the most dramatic ...