In real life, Queen Edith was the ultimate survivor. Married to Edward the Confessor and also sister to King Harold, she was from a long line of rebellious and determined Saxon-Danish lords in the North, the Godwinsons. Edward got upset with her because of her family connection during their marriage and banished her to a nunnery, then called her back out after her father and brothers returned to England. After Edward’s death and Harold’s defeat, she managed to keep a presence in the court of King William and was widely respected and loved.  She has been speculated upon as the patron of the Bayeux Tapestry – it is my idea that she created it as a propaganda tool to sop the egos of Eustace of Boulogne and Odo, who hated each other but who were important allies of William’s. Edith is one of the only people who are not afraid of Odo.