Queen Elizabeth I
Childhood Years
After the disgrace and execution of her mother, Elizabeth's life was never quite the same again. Although
Elizabeth was too young to be greatly impacted by the death of a somewhat absent parent, Anne Boleyn had always ensured that she
was well cared for, had visited her often, and had showered her with pretty clothes to wear. Now Elizabeth was considered illegitimate, as the King had annulled his marriage to her mother,
and her future was uncertain. By the summer of 1536 Baroness Bryan, who headed Elizabeth's nursery and was in charge of
raising her, was at her wits end as Elizabeth's household was in disarray and the royal toddler had outgrown all
the clothes sent to her by her mother. Indeed, the baroness had to write to the King's chief advisor, Thomas Cromwell, to
ask for new clothes. By now, King Henry was married to his third wife, Jane Seymour, but Jane had
little interest in being a mother to Elizabeth.
Jane Seymour
Wiki Commons
In the October of 1537, after almost three decades on the throne, Henry VIII's wish for a son to
succeed him finally came true when Jane gave birth to a healthy baby prince at Hampton Court Palace. The King was
overjoyed, and the country celebrated, but the King's joy soon turned to sadness as Jane died two weeks later
from childbirth complications. So deep was the King's grief that he mourned Jane, his favourite wife because she had
given him a son, for over two years. It was not until the January of 1540 that the King married again, this time
choosing a foreign bride, Anne of Cleves. The marriage did not last long, as the King found her unappealing, and
by the summer he was married to his fifth wife, Katherine Howard.
Katherine Howard
Wiki Commons
Elizabeth was very fond of Katherine, who was Anne Boleyn's first cousin, and finally had a stepmother who adored
her. Katherine showered Elizabeth with gifts and is said to have made Elizabeth the guest of honour when she first
dined in public. Elizabeth was now seven years old and a very clever and gifted child. Her
governess was Kateryn Champernon, a jolly Devonshire woman who had taken over from Blanche Milborne, Lady Troy, who had
been Elizabeth's governess since Baroness Bryan had left her nursery to take care of Prince Edward in 1537. Mistress Champernon was responsible
for educating Elizabeth and she taught her all kinds of subjects from mathematics to ancient mythology.
Kateryn Champernon
Wiki Commons
These years were happy ones for Elizabeth, and she grew and thrived, but in the winter of 1541 her little
world came crashing down. Queen Katherine was accused of adultery, the allegations probably true this time, and in
the February of 1542 she was executed at the Tower of London. For Elizabeth, this was a devastating turn of events, and
with everyone gossiping about the Queen, she may also have learned the truth about her own mother's fate. From this time
onwards Elizabeth is said to have resolved to never marry. In eight short years she had lost her mother, had had
three stepmothers, two of whom were now dead, and had surely heard stories about Katherine of Aragon's sad fate.
Kateryn Parr
Wiki Commons
By the time King Henry married his sixth and final wife, Kateryn Parr, Elizabeth was almost ten years of age. Now wanting a
companion more than a young lover, as the King was in poor health, he settled on a twice widowed woman. Queen Kateryn proved to be
the perfect consort. She was kind and gentle, humble and attentive, and a good stepmother to the King's youngest children.
Elizabeth came to think the world of her and spent more time at court than ever. Elizabeth was also close to
her half-brother, Prince Edward, as they lived in the same palace for most of the year and saw each other often, and her half-sister, Mary,
was also very kind to her in these years.
By the time Elizabeth reached her teens she was a very stylish and accomplished young lady. Kateryn Champernon was still her governess,
though was known as Kateryn Astley since her marriage, and Elizabeth had a schoolmaster of her own, William Grindal. By
the winter of 1546, however, King Henry VIII was very ill and in the January of
1547 he finally passed away. Elizabeth was with Prince Edward when told of her father's death and the two youngsters clung tight to each other
and wept together for a long time. They both knew their lives had changed forever, and their tears may well have been
from fear of the future as from grief for the passing of their magnificent, if at times tyrannical, father. Both
were now orphans and Edward, who was only nine years of age, had to comprehend the reality that he was now King.
After the disgrace and execution of her mother, Elizabeth's life was never quite the same again. Although Elizabeth was too young to be greatly impacted by the death of a somewhat absent parent, Anne Boleyn had always ensured that she was well cared for, had visited her often, and had showered her with pretty clothes to wear. Now Elizabeth was considered illegitimate, as the King had annulled his marriage to her mother, and her future was uncertain. By the summer of 1536 Baroness Bryan, who headed Elizabeth's nursery and was in charge of raising her, was at her wits end as Elizabeth's household was in disarray and the royal toddler had outgrown all the clothes sent to her by her mother. Indeed, the baroness had to write to the King's chief advisor, Thomas Cromwell, to ask for new clothes. By now, King Henry was married to his third wife, Jane Seymour, but Jane had little interest in being a mother to Elizabeth.
Jane Seymour
Wiki Commons
In the October of 1537, after almost three decades on the throne, Henry VIII's wish for a son to succeed him finally came true when Jane gave birth to a healthy baby prince at Hampton Court Palace. The King was overjoyed, and the country celebrated, but the King's joy soon turned to sadness as Jane died two weeks later from childbirth complications. So deep was the King's grief that he mourned Jane, his favourite wife because she had given him a son, for over two years. It was not until the January of 1540 that the King married again, this time choosing a foreign bride, Anne of Cleves. The marriage did not last long, as the King found her unappealing, and by the summer he was married to his fifth wife, Katherine Howard.
Katherine Howard
Wiki Commons
Elizabeth was very fond of Katherine, who was Anne Boleyn's first cousin, and finally had a stepmother who adored her. Katherine showered Elizabeth with gifts and is said to have made Elizabeth the guest of honour when she first dined in public. Elizabeth was now seven years old and a very clever and gifted child. Her governess was Kateryn Champernon, a jolly Devonshire woman who had taken over from Blanche Milborne, Lady Troy, who had been Elizabeth's governess since Baroness Bryan had left her nursery to take care of Prince Edward in 1537. Mistress Champernon was responsible for educating Elizabeth and she taught her all kinds of subjects from mathematics to ancient mythology.
Kateryn Champernon
Wiki Commons
These years were happy ones for Elizabeth, and she grew and thrived, but in the winter of 1541 her little world came crashing down. Queen Katherine was accused of adultery, the allegations probably true this time, and in the February of 1542 she was executed at the Tower of London. For Elizabeth, this was a devastating turn of events, and with everyone gossiping about the Queen, she may also have learned the truth about her own mother's fate. From this time onwards Elizabeth is said to have resolved to never marry. In eight short years she had lost her mother, had had three stepmothers, two of whom were now dead, and had surely heard stories about Katherine of Aragon's sad fate.
Kateryn Parr
Wiki Commons
By the time King Henry married his sixth and final wife, Kateryn Parr, Elizabeth was almost ten years of age. Now wanting a
companion more than a young lover, as the King was in poor health, he settled on a twice widowed woman. Queen Kateryn proved to be
the perfect consort. She was kind and gentle, humble and attentive, and a good stepmother to the King's youngest children.
Elizabeth came to think the world of her and spent more time at court than ever. Elizabeth was also close to
her half-brother, Prince Edward, as they lived in the same palace for most of the year and saw each other often, and her half-sister, Mary,
was also very kind to her in these years.
By the time Elizabeth reached her teens she was a very stylish and accomplished young lady. Kateryn Champernon was still her governess,
though was known as Kateryn Astley since her marriage, and Elizabeth had a schoolmaster of her own, William Grindal. By
the winter of 1546, however, King Henry VIII was very ill and in the January of
1547 he finally passed away. Elizabeth was with Prince Edward when told of her father's death and the two youngsters clung tight to each other
and wept together for a long time. They both knew their lives had changed forever, and their tears may well have been
from fear of the future as from grief for the passing of their magnificent, if at times tyrannical, father. Both
were now orphans and Edward, who was only nine years of age, had to comprehend the reality that he was now King.
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