Christine Hartweg (author of ‘John Dudley: The Life of Lady Jane Grey’s Father-In-Law ’)
I do believe that Jane Grey was queen from the day her predecessor died, 6 July 1553. It is true his death was kept secret for three or four days, but the same happened after Henry VII and Henry VIII died. So, yes, a 13-days-queen.
Richard Heath (author of ‘Killing Monarchs: Regicide in the Tudor and Stuart Age’)
I referred to Jane as the ‘Nine Days Queen’ in my book ‘Killing Monarchs’. Although Edward VI died on 6th July, Jane was not proclaimed queen until 10th July. Usually, the next monarch’s reign starts on the death of the previous monarch, but as Jane was not the obvious or widely recognised successor then the date of the proclamation seems the right choice to mark the beginning of her reign. On 18th July the Privy Council decided that they now supported Mary’s claim to the throne. So including both the 10th and the 18th, Jane was queen for nine days.
