Jane Seymour

  When Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn began to sour, his attentions turned to the quiet and prim Jane Seymour. Jane had served as lady-in-waiting to both Queen Katherine and Queen Anne. Needless to say, Jane was said to have incurred the violent jealousy of the latter when Henry began to show her favour.

  After Anne Boleyn was executed on May 19, 1536, Henry wedded Jane within a matter of days. Interestingly enough, he regarded this marriage to be his 'first' lawful one. Jane proved to be a kind stepmother to the Princess Mary, and unlike her predecessor stayed out of politics (Jane's one attempt to plead for the restoration of the abbeys received a stinging rebuke from the King who reminded her of Anne Boleyn's fate!).

  In 1537, Jane gave birth to the longed for heir but she herself did not survive to Henry's great sorrow. Of all his six wives, he lies buried only next to Jane Seymour.

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Pictured: Henry VIII (Charles Laughton) and Jane Seymour (Wendy Barrie) from the film The Private Life of Henry VIII.


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