Katherine's strangest New Year

 

I have often wondered what was going through the mind of Katherine Parr at New Year, 1547. She was holding court at Greenwich as the year turned and the celebrations continued. However, her husband, King Henry VIII, was at Hampton Court. She would never see him again. Did Katherine know that a great change was on its way?

New Year, new start - what would Katherine Parr do?

 

It's a question that Katherine Parr herself would never have had to answer? How come I had so much time during 2020, thanks to lockdowns, and I still didn't do half of what I wanted? Us mere mortals can only contemplate that. Katherine, of course, would have put all the time to admirable use. She would have busied about all her duties, kept on top of everything in a calm and clever manner and probably found something to be mildly revolutionary about, changed a long held principle for the better and made everyone look the other way while she was doing it. That's the kind of woman we are dealing with. She's inspired me to spend every day of the year to come asking - what would Katherine Parr do?

Friday Walk at Sudeley Castle: gateway to beauty

The Tithe Barn, or what remains of it, stands at the  entrance to modern day Sudeley Castle and it's irresistible. This is the gateway to beauty.

Friday Walk At Sudeley Castle: Sunshine after the rain

Sudeley Castle, last home of Katherine Parr, is at its most glorious during the summer months but winter brings its own charm, too. As the cold, dark days wrap themselves around the buildings, they take on a special charm that allows contemplation and reflection. Shadows enhance the ancient stones while the structure of the gardens is on show as they wait for nature to dress them in finery, once again.

Katherine and the other final queens

Katherine Parr occupies a special place in royal history. Putting aside her remarkable achievements, and there are many, and her legacy of religious reform and literature, she is also one of those special queens consort. For every ruling dynasty must come to an end which means every royal house has a list of finals. Last king, last heir and last consort. Katherine occupies that place in the dramatic history of the Tudors. Here are her companions on this very regal list.

Weekend Reads: books about Katherine

Say hello to weekend reads. This is a place on the blog for a look at some of the books that feature Katherine, her family, her life and her times as well as related subjects. Yes, I'm being ambitious.

Friday Walk Through Sudeley Castle: the Queens' Garden

We all need a bit of calm and beauty right now in changing times that bring as much worry as uncertainty. So this week's Friday walk at Sudeley takes us through a garden inspired by Katherine. The Queens' Garden.

Katherine - with a K or a C?

So how should we spell Katherine's name? You can see from that sentence and the title of my blog that I'm a 'K' girl when it comes to my favourite queen. Yet, many history books, articles and references use the 'C'. So what is the right way and does it really matter?

Katherine and Elizabeth: a strange and endless bond

March 24th marks the anniversary of the death of Elizabeth I. Gloriana's glorious rule came to an end #OTD in 1603 and she left the country she ruled in a far better state than when she inherited it. And part of the reason for her success was Katherine Parr.

Friday Walk Through Sudeley Castle

As you enter Sudeley Castle's exhibition rooms now, there is a sign that always makes me stop and think. And I've read it dozens of times. It talks about the beautiful, rolling hills around the castle and how little they have changed since Bronze Age times. All those years, all those centuries, all those eyes seeing the same beauty. And among the viewers, Katherine Parr.

'A man of much wit': the death of Thomas Seymour

They may be the stuff of legend but the words said to have been spoken by the future Elizabeth I on March 20th 1549 have become one of her legendary quotes. When told that Thomas Seymour, Baron Sudeley had been executed for treason, one pithy phrase reportedly dropped from her lips. It has become his epitaph. 'Today died a man of much wit and very little judgement'.

Friday Walk Through Sudeley Castle:

This week's walk through Sudeley takes us to land that would have been trodden by Katherine but filled with something she would never have expected to see. Between her chambers in the castle and St. Mary's Church, there is now a living sculpture showing the queen with her protege, Lady Jane Grey, and it's charming and chilling in equal measure.

Mother of a Queen: Meet Maud

I don't really feel we should call Katherine's mother Maud Parr. She was such a ground breaking woman, such a force in her own right that she deserves her own name always. Meet Maud Green.