Online Talk - Henry Vlll's (two lesser known wives) - Katherine Howard & Parr!

Today's talk is going to be delivered by my friend and colleague Jean from the National Portrait Gallery - this is a popular public talk and gives some interesting insights into their lives - one was beheaded the other survived!

Here's a taster:
Katherine Howard is one of Henry VIII’s lesser-known wives. The most common things known about her are, firstly, that she was beheaded; and secondly (unlike Henry’s second wife Anne Boleyn) she was allegedly guilty of the charges for which she died. This perception of Catherine’s guilt – as the wife who cheated on Henry and paid for it with her life – has dominated modern interpretations of her brief life. She has been described as a “juvenile delinquent”, “a natural tart”, “an empty-headed wanton”, “a whore”, and “stupid and oversexed”. This demonstrates the two dominant perceptions of her in historical writing: that she was stupid and promiscuous! Or maybe she was just naïve...

Katherine Parr and Henry VIII met when she secured a position in Princess Mary's household in late 1542. Katherine was, by most accounts, vivacious, attractive and a scholar. She was also 30 years old, a mature contrast to Catherine Howard, and a more sensible choice for an ailing King in need of a nurse as much as a wife. By 1543, Katherine had already been married (and widowed) twice but was in love with Thomas Seymour. She gave him up to marry the King. This was as much a sign of her pious adherence to what she saw as God’s will as – perhaps – a practical acceptance that Henry wouldn’t last forever. Katherine married Henry on 12 July 1543 at Hampton Court Palace. A keen patron of the arts, Katherine was the first English queen to write and publish her own books...

To attend in the first instance RSVP. You do not need a Zoom account. But to stop Zoom bombers (persons hijacking the event - doing weird things). All you have to do is click on the location link and enter the meeting password: 854071 - Please log in around 5 minutes before it starts.

We have a form of etiquette, for example when you first enter the 'meeting room' you will be muted, I will unmute you as we start. However, when you are not speaking it is recommended that you mute yourself - this is so that others do not get a lot of background noise.

Why not have a virtual drink together too - glass of wine or beer - Coffee 'n' Cake ;)