Six wives: Catherine Howard
Kate McCaffrey and Dr Tracy Borman chart the tragic story of Catherine Howard, Henry’s vivacious fifth wife, who was ultimately sent to the executioner’s block
Catherine Howard was a teenaged bride who captivated King Henry VIII, but was brought down by secrets from her past that refused to remain buried. In episode five of our new series on the dramatic marital history of England’s most notorious monarch, Ellie Cawthorne is joined by Kate McCaffrey and Dr Tracy Borman to rehabilitate the executed queen’s image.
Related content
- Profile | 11 facts about Catherine Howard
- Explainer | Henry VIII’s six wives: your guide to the Tudor king's queen consorts
- Quiz | Henry VIII’s wives: how well do you know the six women he married?
On the podcast | Explore the full Six Wives series
The story of King Henry VIII’s six wives is a tale of political crisis and personal tragedy, sacrifice and survival, sex and death, scandal, love and betrayal. But, after centuries of myth have built up around this story, has it clouded our view of the real women involved? We’ll be peeling back the layers of mythmaking to take another look at these fascinating women, who shaped the course of Henry’s reign – and the history of England.
- Episode 1 | Catherine of Aragon
- Episode 2 | Anne Boleyn
- Episode 3 | Jane Seymour
- Episode 4 | Anne of Cleves
- Episode 6 | Katherine Parr
In video | Discover the secrets of the Tudor queens
In our accompanying six-part video series, leading Tudor historians delve into the fascinating lives of each of Henry VIII’s iconic queens. Could Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard have avoided the executioner’s block? Why can Anne of Cleves be seen as the true survivor? And who was the queen whom Henry loved most?
Find out in this video series exclusively available to HistoryExtra subscribers. All episodes are available to watch now:
- Episode 1 | Catherine of Aragon: A woman born to rule
- Episode 2 | Anne Boleyn: From trailblazer to traitor
- Episode 3 | Jane Seymour: The queen Henry loved most?
- Episode 4 | Anne of Cleves: The ultimate survivor
- Episode 5 | Catherine Howard: Victim of the patriarchy
- Episode 6 | Katherine Parr: Political powerhouse
Want to learn more about the queens?
- Explore the full podcast and video series plus a range of companion content from across HistoryExtra on our Six Wives hub
Authors
Ellie Cawthorne is HistoryExtra’s podcast editor. She also contributes to BBC History Magazine, runs the podcast newsletter and hosts several live and virtual BBC History Magazine events.
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