In the words of Wikipedia, "Tradition has it that The Merry Wives of Windsor was written at the request of Queen Elizabeth I. After watching Henry IV Part I, she asked Shakespeare to write a play showing Falstaff in love."
These words can also be found on the RSC's website, where they are followed by "But it seems likely that this is not true, as the sources for the story are unreliable."
The RSC adds: "It is possible that the play was commissioned for a celebration on 23 April 1597, although it is equally likely that a masque performed at the celebration was later incorporated into the play. This would date the composition to around the same period as Henry IV Part II, which seems likely."
© Haydn Thompson 2022