On this day in 1553 a spectacular triple wedding took place at Durham Place, the London home of the Dudleys. The couples included 16-year-old Jane Grey, who was to marry Guildford Dudley. Jane’s younger sister, Katherine Grey, was paired with Henry Herbert and Guildford’s sister, the young Catherine Dudley, was matched with Henry Hastings.

These unions were arranged by the girls’ fathers to secure alliances. Guildford’s father, the ambitious John Dudley Duke of Northumberland, was one of Edward VI’s principal advisors and he appointed Jane’s father, Henry Grey, to the Privy Council. King Edward gave permission for the marriages and a few weeks later, he would improve Jane’s position in the line of succession by including her, not just her children.

On 6th July, Edward died and Northumberland moved swiftly to install his daughter-in-law on the throne and stop Princess Mary from gaining power. It was with some reluctance that Jane accepted the crown, but she did refuse to name Guildford as king – instead offering to make him a duke. In the end, it did not matter. Jane was queen for only nine days. Mary rallied her supporters and was declared queen, while Jane and Guildford were imprisoned.

Jane’s fall from grace also put pressure on her sister Katherine’s marriage to Henry Herbert. Henry’s father, keen to distance himself from the Grey family, separated the pair and applied for an annulment.

The story of Jane and her sisters Katherine and Mary is the subject of my upcoming novel, The Last Tudor, which will be out on 8th August and can be pre-ordered here: https://goo.gl/mSoshh

Images: Lady Jane Grey by unknown artist, c.1590s, National Portrait Gallery (NPG 6804); The Last Tudor covers: UK (left); US (right)