Kateryn, the Quene

I have a bit of a thing about Katherine Parr. I think she's amazing. And hopefully that's as banal as my new blog all about her will get.


I've been a fan of hers for about a decade. Before that, like many, I saw her as the rather dull sixth wife who managed to survive marriage to Henry VIII because a) he was getting old and b) she was too boring to get her head cut off. Then I read one line attributed to her and everything changed.

Since then, I've been looking for her in her words, her story and the places she lived. And I've uncovered a woman so fascinating that I am always amazed she isn't one of the most talked about Tudors. But then that's maybe the point of Katherine. She was a consummate back seat driver, always putting the spotlight on others while taking the reins herself.

Clever, talented and cunning as well as beautiful, stylish and rather racy in her own way, the Katherine I have come to know is compellingly interesting and endlessly complex. I want to share my ideas on her and help bring her to life. Hence the blog.

The words may be mine but the story is that of the always fascinating Kateryne, the Quene.