What did Katherine Parr really look like? The Face of Henry VIII’s Last Queen.
"Hastings" portrait of Katherine Parr, attributed to the artist Master John, c. 1547.
Katherine Parr is often hailed as the wife of King Henry VIII who “survived” - the nursemaid, or the “old one”.
But the reality was different than that. Katherine was a champion for religious reform, a fierce supporter of her stepchildren, and a celebrated author. Her reign as queen and life after Henry is much more interesting than you might think - including a dangerous brush with death. Watch our full video for Katherine’s history, as well as bonus re-creations at the end.
Full length portrait of Katherine Parr from c. 1545, attributed to the artist Master John. This portrait was misidentified as Lady Jane Grey for decades.
We only have a few portraits of Katherine existing today.
Almost every portrait of Katherine has been misidentified at some point, as Mary I, Lady Jane Grey, or others. It’s an interesting pattern, which I think kind of contributes to her reputation as Henry’s “forgotten Queen”. The image to the right was identified as Lady Jane Grey for decades.
The way portraits of Katherine were finally identified is through jewelry. In each portrait, Katherine is wearing a specific crown-shaped jewel on her chest, which was linked to records of her possessions.
The portraits we have that were made from life, are this one, painted around 1547, and this one, painted around 1545. Both are attributed to the artist Master John.
Katherine was an attractive woman. She had dark blonde or reddish hair, fair skin, and piercing gray eyes. Her tall, thin frame was always flattered by the most luxurious clothing and jewelry.
As Queen of England, she was greatly loved and praised for both her beauty and her intelligence. A Spanish visitor said “The Queen has a lively and pleasing appearance, and is praised as a virtuous woman.”
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Also contributing to her beauty was her personality - she was funny, smart, and lively. I feel like she’d be the person keeping you entertained at a party. Katherine adored dancing, cards, and dogs.
I really love the 1547 portrait of Katherine. It just looks so much more lifelike to me than other Tudor portraits - she has these captivated cat-like eyes and sort of an elegance about her.
A re-creation of Katherine Parr in her own time, with traditional Tudor clothing.
If she lived today:
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A re-creation of Katherine Parr as a modern day woman.
Main Sources: Profile of Katherine Parr published by the Tudor Times & Catherine Parr: Henry VIII’s Last Love by Susan James