Review of 2025

Not Jane related but in January I visited the wonderful Medieval Women: In Their Own Words exhibition at The British Library.

Highlights included, the Foundation charter of Bordesley Abbey for Empress Matilda, a seal impression of Isabella of France, The Talbot Shrewsbury Book and Book of the Fraternity of the Assumption of Our Lady London.

: (c) British Library

At the end of the month, a new biography about Jane’s grandmother, ‘Mary Tudor: Queen of France’ was published. I interviewed the author, Amy McElroy, the following month and you can also read my review.

In February, a letter written by Queen Mary I during Wyatt’s rebellion was sold at auction. The letter mentioned the Duke of Suffolk, Jane and Guildford.

The paperback of ‘Young Elizabeth: Princess, Prisoner, Queen’ by Nicola Tallis was published and Michael O’Mara gave 2 lucky competition winners signed copies.

The Wrest Park portrait returned home in March, and new analysis of the portrait was all over the media. The Tudor Chest Podcast discussed The face of Lady Jane Grey with Rachel Turnbull.

In April I interviewed Catherine Hanley about her latest book, ‘Lionessheart: The Life and Times of Joanna Plantagenet.’

Also this month, The Tudor Chest Podcast asked What was Wyatt’s Rebellion?

In July 2024, a possible portrait of Lady Jane appeared at auction. The portrait was sold, restored and then sold again, and in May 2025, its new owner, Lady Jane portraiture expert, Dr Stephan Edwards, published analysis of the painting.

Also in May, I was delighted to take part in the book tour for ‘Katharine of Aragon, Spanish Princess: ‘I am not as Simple as I May Seem’, when I interviewed the author, Heather Darsie.

In July, The Tudor Chest Podcast discussed The Life of Lord Guildford Dudley, the First Male Tudor consort.

A visit to Inner Temple Library in August was a highlight of the year, as I got to view Edward VI’s ‘Devise for the Succession’ and several other Jane related documents!

‘The Race for Elizabeth I’s Throne: Rival Tudor Cousins’ by Beverley Adams, which features Jane and her sisters, was published this month.

Tudors Dynasty and Beyond podcast discussed Tragedy of the Tudor Heirs: Jane, Catherine, and Mary Grey.

In September, I interviewed Elizabeth Norton about her new book, ‘Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy.’

The US premiere of ‘Three Queens’ by Rosamund Gravelle took place in Pennsylvania and the playwright spoke to ‘If It Ain’t Baroque’ podcast – Three Queens: Stage Meets History.

The Grey sisters featured in Tracy Borman’s ‘The Stolen Crown: Treachery, deceit and the death of the Tudor dynasty’ and Jane and Katherine also got a mention in Tracy’s article in the October issue of BBC History Magazine.

: (c) Hodder & Stoughton

: (c) BBC History Magazine

Tudors Dynasty and Beyond podcast discussed Executed Queens: Mary, Queen of Scots, Anne Boleyn, Katheryn Howard & Jane Grey.

The world premiere of the musical, ‘Bloody Mary and the Nine Day Queen’ by Gareth Hides with Anna Unwin, took place at the Union Theatre, London and ran from 21-29 October.

In November, Dr Emma Luisa Cahill Marrón, Residential Fellow at the Yale Center for British Art, gave a talk about her work on the miniature, once suggested to be Jane Grey, ‘Research in Action: Portrait of an Unknown Lady.’

Dr Stephan Edward’s analysis of the Wrest Park portrait was published in The British Art Journal Online.

In December I interviewed Richard Heath about his new book, ‘Killing Monarchs: Regicide in the Tudor & Stuart Age’, which was published in September.