The traditional view is that Lady Jane Grey was born in early October 1537.
No official record of her date of birth exists. A letter written by John Aylmer to Henry Bullinger in May 1551 refers to Jane’s age.
In his talk ‘A Queen of a New and Pretty Invention – Lady Jane Grey and the Loseley Manuscripts’ at the Surrey History Centre in October 2007, Dr Stephan Edwards argued that Jane was probably born before July 1537. His article on this subject, ‘On the Birthdate of Lady Jane Grey’ was published in ‘Notes and Queries’ in September 2007.
A follow up article, ‘A Further Note on the Date of Birth of Lady Jane Grey’ was published in the June 2008 edition of ‘Notes and Queries.’ Dr Edwards states evidence from Michelangelo Florio’s (Jane’s Italian tutor) account of Jane’s life, in which Florio states that Jane was seventeen years old at the time of her death. He concludes that Lady Jane Grey was born in the second half of 1536.
In his book, A Queen of a New Invention: Portraits of Lady Jane Grey Dudley, England’s ‘Nine Days Queen’ Edwards suggests that Jane was born in the winter of 1536/7. In his book, The Lady Jane Grey’s Prayer Book, he states that Jane was born in late 1536.
On the Birthdate of Lady Jane Grey by John Stephan Edwards (Notes and Queries, Vol 54 No 3, Sep 2007).
A Further Note on the Date of Birth of Lady Jane Grey by John Stephan Edwards (Notes and Queries, Vol 55 No 2, June 2008).
A Queen of a New Invention: Portraits of Lady Jane Grey Dudley, England’s ‘Nine Days Queen’ by Stephan Edwards.
The Lady Jane Grey’s Prayer Book by Stephan Edwards.
A full version of John Aylmer’s letter can be found in the following:
Original Letters Relative to the English Reformation, written during the Reigns of King Henry VIII, King Edward VI and Queen Mary (Volume One) translated and edited by Rev Hastings Robinson.
Leanda de Lisle suggests that Jane was born in May 1537.
The Sisters Who Would Be Queen: The Tragedy of Mary, Katherine and Lady Jane Grey by Leanda de Lisle.
Eric Ives suggests that Jane was born in spring 1537.
Lady Jane Grey: A Tudor Mystery by Eric Ives.
David Baldwin suggests that Jane was born in May 1537.
Henry VIII’s Last Love: The Extraordinary Life of Katherine Willoughby, Lady-in-Waiting to the Tudors by David Baldwin
John Guy suggests that Jane was born in spring 1537.
The Story of Lady Jane Grey (Essay in Painting History: Delaroche and Lady Jane Grey) by John Guy
Amy Licence suggests that Jane was born in late 1536 or early 1537.
The Lost Kings: Lancaster, York & Tudor by Amy Licence
Aysha Pollnitz suggests that Jane was born a few months before Prince Edward.
Princely Education in Early Modern Britain by Aysha Pollnitz
Gareth Russell suggests that Jane was born in summer 1537.
An Illustrated Introduction to the Tudors by Gareth Russell
Nicola Tallis suggests that Jane was born in the latter half of 1536.
Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey by Nicola Tallis
Melita Thomas suggests that Jane was born between a year and six months before Prince Edward.
The House of Grey: Friends & Foes of Kings by Melita Thomas
