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Catherine Parr, Queen Consort and Queen Regent as played by Joely Richardson
Motto: "To Be Useful In All That I Do"

Born November 11, 1512 - Died September 5th, 1548
Queen Consort from July 12th 1543 to January 28th 1547 (date that Henry died)

Character's Backstory: Catherine's mother was a lady in waiting to Queen Katherine of Aragon, and named her daughter after her mistress. Her father, Sir Thomas Parr, died in 1517 and left Catherine's mother alone with three young children to raise. Catherine was married off to her first husband at the age of 15; all of her first three husbands were at least 20 years her senior, and widowers with children of their own. Well educated, Catherine was fluent in French and later in life taught herself Italian, Latin, and Greek. While married to Henry VIII she took an interest in all three of his royal offspring and encouraged their education, especially in the 'New Religion.' She was able to secure John Cheke and Roger Ascham (two of the greatest educators of the time) as tutors for Edward and Elizabeth; her own education was probably improved as a result of their appointment. Her reformed views got her into trouble with Henry, who didn't like being lectured by a woman on religious matters.

Gentility: Daughter of two courtiers in Henry VIII's court

Positions: Queen Consort (1543 to 1547), Queen Regent (1544), Queen Dowager

Personality Type: Survivalist, devoted to her husband and family, intelligent, strong in her faith, adored by all three of Henry's children. Believed that women should be allowed to deepen their knowledge of 'protestantism,' and to read and write devotional works as well. Praised for her "certain virtue, wisdom and gentleness".
Lord Chancellor Thomas Wriothesley commented that Henry "had never a wife more agreeable to his heart."
"Other women had married Henry in fulfillment of their personal, their political or their dynastic ambitions. Catherine married him because God had told her to"......."She proved to be the perfect companion, engaging Henry in long discussions about his favourite topic, Religion" - Historian David Starkey

Signature Look: Thought to stand about 5'10", Catherine would have been the tallest of Henry VIII's six wives. The colour of her hair is disputed since in some portraits it is shown as reddish brown, but in others seems to be a darker shade. A lock of her hair at Sudeley castle is blonde, but that may be due to depigmentation of melanin coloring over the centuries.
However her badge (right) shows a maiden with blonde hair and her biographer Susan James has identified a lady with blonde hair as Catherine (see below). She was known for her love of impressive jewels, sumptuous French and Italian gowns, and shoes (in one year, she would order 47 different pairs).

Endearing Traits: Her compassion, her closeness to her stepchildren (especially to Elizabeth) and her sense of duty.
She began the first "Bible Study" group within the court in 1544, allowing only highly regarded court members into the royal chambers to participate in the group. Here, the members studied the translated word of God, deepened their understanding of the Holy Spirit, meditated, prayed, and held fellowship with one another. Henry allowed this activity under strict supervision, often claiming: "I think at times my Kate hath taken Jesus Christ as her bridegroom o'er me."
She was very involved in her three stepchildren's lives; for their part, they were very taken by her kindness and gentle nature.

Annoying Traits: At times obsessively pious to the point of self-loathing, she would list her sins in a journal. She published them in her second book as "Lamentations of a Sinner." She was careful to have 'Lamentations' published only after Henry's death, since it would have proved that she was a Lutheran. Although a woman whose ideas were well ahead of her time, she still advocated that women and girls should serve their husbands and God to the best of their abilities. This view was stated in her first book, which was published while Henry was still alive. [ Presumably Henry would have had no quarrel with that opinion.]

Joely Richardson as Catherine Parr on the set

Parr's signature



'They curse and ban my words everyday,
and all their thoughts be set to do me harm...
I am so vexed that I am utterly weary.'
Catherine Parr (1544), about the Catholic faction's attempts to discredit her



parr badge

"Catherine's apartments were more like a revivalist meeting than a royal court. All Catherine's leading ladies had adopted her advanced religious opinions and they had the enthusiasm of converts. They read books, they listened to sermons and they tried to win others over. All this was at the very margins of legality because Henry trod a fine line in religion, slapping down those who were too radical as well as those who were too conservative" - David Starkey

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CHARACTER CONNECTIONS


Family Members

Father: Sir Thomas Parr of Kendal
Mother: Lady Maud Green
Brother: Sir William Parr, Marquess of Northampton
Sister: Anne Parr, Countess of Pembroke
Daughter: Mary Seymour (d. 1548) - Not much is known about this daughter. Some sources believe she died, others are unsure. No evidence exists to prove with definitive certainty whether Mary Seymour lived or died.
Uncle: Sir William Parr, Baron Horton
Grandfather: Sir William Parr
Grandmother: Elizabeth FitzHugh, Baroness Vaux of Harrowden

Marriages

1st Husband: Edward Borough, 2nd Baron Borough of Gainsborough (1529 to 1533)

2nd Husband: John Neville, 3rd Baron Latymer of Snape (1534 to 1543)

3rd Husband: King Henry VIII (1543 to 1547)

4th Husband: Sir Thomas Seymour, Lord High Admiral (1547 to 1548) - her only "love match"

 Friends

Archbishop Thomas Cranmer
Katherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk (Catherine Brandon in the series)
Lady Jane Grey (godmother to her daughter Mary Seymour)
The Seymours
Miles Coverdale
John Pankhurst
Anthony Cope
Anne Askew
Prince Edward Tudor, whom she loved as a son.
Princess Elizabeth Tudor, whom she loved as a daughter and with whom she was especially close.
Princess Mary Tudor. Catherine regarded Mary as a sort of sister rather than a stepdaughter, since she was herself only four years older than Mary.
Queen Catherine gave Mary great love and support, even though the young woman knew that her stepmother was a reformer. Mary got along well with Catherine while she was Queen, but disapproved of her hasty remarriage to Thomas Seymour after King Henry's death.

Enemies

Thomas Wriothesley
Bishop Stephen Gardiner
The Catholic Faction--Many. She had a few staunch Catholic friends like Mary who got along with her; as for the bulk of traditional Catholics, many were keen on seeing Catherine Parr removed by any means necessary.
Anne Stanhope, Lady Seymour - there was some rivalry between the two women after Henry's death; Lady Seymour felt she should be considered first lady of the court since her husband was Lord Protector.

UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTER QUOTES









DEFINING EPISODES | MEMORABLE SCENES








    Links:




    PHOTOS

    		Catherine Parr
    Catherine Parr
    c.1546, a year before the death of Henry VIII.
    By an unknown artist.
    The inscription on the portrait reads –
    CATHARINA REGINA UXOR HENRICI VIII
    (QUEEN CATHARINE WIFE OF HENRY VIII)
    [This portrait has recently been identified as Catherine Parr by
    historian Susan James, but the identification is disputed. Many portraits of the era were misidentified, and subsequently bore incorrect labels]