‘Professor Suzannah Lipscomb goes in search of the truth about Lady Jane Grey, the young Tudor claimant who was Queen of England for less than 2 weeks. Moving beyond the popular image of Jane as a hapless victim placed on the throne by her cousin Edward VI and her manipulative father-in-law the Duke of Northumberland, Suzannah challenges the mythology surrounding Jane, typified by Paul Delaroche’s famous painting of her execution.
The series explores Jane’s short life through extraordinary examples of her own writing, her exceptional education and her self-assured personality.’
Episode 1 Highlights
National Portrait Gallery
Suzannah Lipscomb – ‘In England’s long succession of monarchs, there is one name that is rarely listed, a Tudor girl who was Queen for just a few days. Lady Jane Grey.
For nearly 2 centuries this picture, Paul Delaroche’s celebrated painting of 1833 has shaped our idea of Lady Jane Grey.
Who was this intriguing 17-year-old noblewomen, plucked from relative obscurity, to become the first Queen to rule England in her own right?
The best evidence we have are her own words….
British Library
Andrea Clark – discussing Jane’s prayerbook. What makes this book truly extraordinary is that it contains personal messages written by Jane in the margins.
Bradgate Park
Stephan Edwards discussing Jane’s education – Jane’s only real equivalent in this era is Elizabeth Tudor.
Suzannah Lipscomb – Who was she? What sort of young woman should we imagine her to be?
Stephen Edwards – Jane was exceptionally well educated, she was assertive. Her mother was assertive…she was surrounded and came from a female milieu of assertive women.
A woman who meant to be her own person and not be guided and controlled by men.
Syon
Suzannah Lipscomb – It is very tricky to confirm a genuine portrait of Lady Jane Grey, and none can be securely dated to her lifetime.
This portrait has been identified as Elizabeth I. The case for this being Jane:
1. Provenance. We know that Jane’s sister Catherine later married Edward Seymour. His grandson, William, owned this portrait. In his wife’s will it says, “A picture of Queen Jane Grey.”
2. Strong family resemblance with portraits of her sister Catherine.
3. Cleft in chin. Distinct to this person alone.
Letter to Sir Thomas Seymour
Suzannah Lipscomb – She wrote this when she was only 11 years old….This handwriting speaks to her education.
Inner Temple Library
Edward’s Devise for the Succession
Robert Hodgson – He strikes through the S and it becomes Lady Jane and her heirs male, which puts Lady Jane on the throne.’
