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** Today ~ 17th November ~ is the day when the English crown officially passed from one female Monarch to another with the death of Queen Mary I and the accession of Queen Elizabeth I. One of the first things Elizabeth ~ daughter of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII ~ did when she became Queen was appoint her Privy Councillors, making William Cecil her Secretary of State and then made the following statement to him as depicted in this scene from ‘Elizabeth R’ (1971) starring Glenda Jackson as Queen Elizabeth I and Ronald Hines as William Cecil. On the day of her accession Queen Elizabeth I made her accession speech to the Privy Councillors at Hatfield House. In the speech she said; “My lords, the law of nature moveth me to sorrow for my sister; the burden that is fallen upon me maketh me amazed; and yet, considering I am God’s creature, ordained to obey his appointment, I will thereto yield, desiring from the bottom of my heart that I may have assistance of his grace to be the minister of his heavenly will in this office now committed to me.” She then made reference to that that she was no ordinary woman, saying “And as I am but one body naturally considered, though by his permission a body politic to govern.” Elizabeth was basically saying that there were now ‘two Elizabeth’s’ ~ Elizabeth the Monarch and Elizabeth the Woman. When Anne Boleyn was executed in 1536, no one could have predicted that her young daughter would eventually not only become Queen of England in her own right, but become one of the most iconic Monarchs and figures in history. She would never marry and for the next 44 years, the men of her council would bow to her and her alone. During her long reign Elizabeth did her best to celebrate her mothers memory, through acts restoring her to her title of Queen Anne Boleyn, commissioning works celebrating her as well as surrounding herself with relatives, friends and supporters of Anne. Read more in Tracy Borman ‘Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter who changed History’.

✨ POV: You’re looking at the hair of one of Henry VIII’s wives ✨ When Katherine Parr’s tomb was rediscovered in the neglected ruins of Sudeley Castle by John Lucas in the 18th Century, her body was found perfectly preserved. A lock of her hair, and some of her teeth were taken as relics and proof of the discovery, and they remain on display at Sudeley in our Exhibition Rooms alongside Katherine’s Prayer Book and love letters to Thomas Seymour. These delicate remains give us a hauntingly real connection to Katherine, and we often find visitors transfixed, and in awe of them. Visit us as we celebrate Katherine Parr this week, to see these rare Tudor relics for yourself, and walk in the footsteps of the incredible lady who survived Henry VIII. #SudeleyCastle #KatherineParr #TudorHistory #TudorQueen #UKHistory #HiddenHistory #UKCastle #HistoricHomes #HistoryReels #Cotswolds #UKCastles #HistoricEngland

A lovely day at Sudeley Castle, photos to follow ☺️💕

🕰️ HISTORIC FACT FRIDAY 🕰️

Did you know that Sudeley stood in ruin and silence for nearly 200 years?

After the English Civil War, our once-grand Tudor fortress was deliberately destroyed under the orders of Oliver Cromwell. The towers crumbled, the great halls were ruined and left open to the sky, and nature slowly took over, weaving its way through the stones.

By the late 1700s, Sudeley’s haunting beauty began to capture the imaginations of passing travellers and artists.

During the Age of Enlightenment, historic ruins became places of fascination, much like today, where visitors could touch the past and learn all about its history.

It was during this period of rediscovery that a group of lady sightseers made a particularly remarkable find. While exploring the overgrown remains of St Mary’s Chapel in 1782, they noticed a carved block of alabaster partially hidden behind brambles. This fragment turned out to be part of Queen Katherine Parr’s original Tudor tomb, which had been lost since the 16th century. This discovery marked the beginning of Sudeley’s modern story.

In 1818, topographical artist John Buckler painted a series of delicate watercolours capturing the castle’s ruined state, including its ivy-clad walls and tumbled towers.

These paintings were recently rediscovered and now form an outdoor exhibition at the Castle, which we have called Ruins to Revival.

This exhibition documents Sudeley’s dramatic journey from deliberate destruction and centuries of abandonment to its astonishing Victorian revival. Visitors can view original watercolours, explore fragments of the ruined castle walls, and see the original alabaster block that helped rediscover Katherine Parr’s burial.

In the 19th century, Sudeley was purchased by John and William Dent, who were wealthy glove-makers from Worcester. The Dent brothers poured their hearts into restoring Sudeley. The crowning glory of their work was the restoration of St Mary’s Church, where Katherine Parr’s remains were reinterred in a new marble tomb, which was a much more fitting resting place for a Tudor queen.

Make sure to visit the Ruins to Revival exhibition on your next Sudeley visit!

📅 Sudeley Castle is open daily until 2nd November 2025.
👉 Pre-book online to save 10% via the link below

An astronomical feat of engineering ⏱️ This clock at Hampton Court Palace was designed and built for Henry VIII in 1540. But how did it work? Psst… before you reach the end of the video, can you tell us what happened at 8am on 19th May 1536? 🤔

🎃🎆 INTRODUCING PHANTOMS & FIREWORKS 🎆🎃

For the very first time, Sudeley Castle will open its gates after dark for a Halloween celebration like no other. As dusk falls, the castle will come alive with mischievous Halloween fun and a haunted trail leading you towards the heart of the evening...

✨ JOIN US FOR ✨

👻 Spooky adventure to the castle dungeons
🕷️Walkabout costumed characters & shadowy folklore
🍭 Castle Door Trick or Treat
🎶 Ghoul Skool Disco
🎆 Family-friendly fireworks
🍕 Pizza, sweet treats & warming drinks

📅 Friday 31st October from 6:30pm - 8:30pm
🎟️ TICKETS ON SALE NOW ➡️ https://sudeleycastle.co.uk/shop/products/event-tickets/phantoms-fireworks

✨ Welcome to our Katherine Parr Celebration at Sudeley Castle ✨

Katherine Parr Week is in full flow here at Sudeley, and our Chapel has come alive with stories of the queen who survived Henry VIII.

Expert-led talks continue daily at 11am & 2:30pm, shedding new light on Katherine’s remarkable life and legacy. Please note this will only take place at 2:30pm on Thursday 4th September.

All week long, you can follow the enchanting trail that leads to Katherine’s resting place, her tomb glowing with flowers and candlelight.

And don’t forget, this Sunday 7th September, our re-enactors (pictured: Past-Times Living History) return to the Chapel with spellbinding performances at 12:30 & 2:30pm, bringing history to life before your eyes.

💌 REMINDER: A royal treat for namesakes: Katherines, Catherines, Kathryns (and every variation!) enjoy free entry this week with photo ID.

🎟️ PRE-BOOK YOUR TICKETS TO SAVE 10% ➡️
https://sudeleycastle.co.uk

477 years ago today, Sudeley Castle witnessed both joy and sorrow in the life of Queen Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s last wife.

On 30th August 1548, Katherine gave birth to her long-awaited daughter, Mary Seymour, within the walls of Sudeley. It would have been a moment of immense happiness to finally have a child of her own, after serving as stepmother to Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I.

Unfortunately this joy was heartbreakingly short-lived. Within days, Katherine fell gravely ill with puerperal fever (childbed fever), a common but deadly infection in Tudor times. Despite the efforts of those around her, she passed away on 5th September 1548, just six days after Mary’s birth, at only 36 years old.

Katherine’s funeral at Sudeley Castle was the first Protestant funeral for an English Queen, and young Lady Jane Grey, who lived at Sudeley at the time, acted as chief mourner. Her tomb remains in St Mary’s Chapel, making Sudeley the only private castle in England to be the resting place of a Queen.

Less than a year after Katherine’s death, tragedy struck again as her husband, Thomas Seymour, was beheaded for treason, and their daughter Mary was left an orphan.

Though initially cared for by Katherine’s close circle, Mary’s story remains largely unknown. She never inherited Sudeley, and all records of her cease after 1550. Many historians believe she sadly died in infancy.

We celebrate Katherine Parr Week at Sudeley from 1st - 7th September, which is the perfect time to come along and learn more about one of England's most learned queen.