Family

Queen Elizabeth's I Family

Queen Elizabeth I was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. She had a half-sister named Mary and two half-brothers, one named Henry (1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset), the elder one, and the second one named Edward. Her grandmother was Elizabeth of York and her grandfather was Henry VII, both of them were from her father's side. 

 

After the dramatic execution of her mother, Henry VIII married again, this time to Jane Seymour, a young woman who  had been a maid of honour to Anne, just as Anne had been a maid of honour to Catherine, Henry VIII's previous wife. Jane Seymour died after giving birth to Prince Edward. Henry VIII was devastated at her loss and gave her a royal burial at the Chapel of St. George in Windsor Castle. Edward, like Elizabeth, had to grow up motherless and from an early age the both of them formed a secure friendship.

 

Elizabeth got along with her half-sister, Mary, but they were never close. They were both of different religions, Elizabeth being a Protestant, Mary being a Catholic; they were years apart, Mary being 17 years older than her! They were of different family connections, both having different mothers, and they had different personalities. Edward and Elizabeth shared many similarities though, both being from the same religion, both closer in age and both sharing a passion for learning, not to mention the very impressive education they were both given.

 

King Henry VIII's fifth wife, Catherine Howard, had a massive impact on

Elizabeth’s life. She was Elizabeth’s cousin on her mother’s side and loved her like her own daughter, playing with her and making sure she got the attention she deserved. When Elizabeth first dined in public, she gave Elizabeth the place of honour opposite of her, which surprised Elizabeth as she had always spent her life in the shadows and overlooked as insignificant.

 

Although it seemed that Catherine Howard was the perfect wife and mother it was discovered that she had committed adultery and she was taken to the Tower of London, condemned to death, and executed on Tower Green. This was a drastic moment for Elizabeth who was only 8 years old when this all took place.

 

After some time Elizabeth’s father began to fall ill. He had a large ulcer on his leg and his heavy weight created difficulties for him to move freely and easily.

He died on January 28th 1547 leaving Elizabeth and Edward at the Royal Palace of Enfield, London, without any parents. Both children knew their lives were about to change drastically especially as Edward was crowned King at the age of only nine. Edward later died on Jul 6th 1553 from an incurable illness giving the throne over to Mary I. During Mary’s reign, Elizabeth was imprisoned for nearly a year on suspicion of supporting the Protestant rebels.