Lady Jane Grey Reference Guide

Melita Thomas (author of The House of Grey: Friends & Foes of Kings)

(c) Amberley Publishing

I am afraid I don’t think Jane was queen at all, as the letters patent were unable to overturn a Parliamentary act.

However, in the spirit of the enquiry, I’d say it is a tricky question. If she had defeated Mary to become queen in fact, then her reign would have started on the death of Edward on 6th July, so we can argue that her reign began that day. However, she did not inherit from Edward by process of law, so we could say that her reign began on her proclamation, which was 10th July. Arguing against that, monarchs become monarchs immediately, they don’t need to be proclaimed, taking us back to 6th July. So, on balance, although she was not legally queen at all, I would go with 13 days.

Kathryn Warner (author of The Granddaughters of Edward III)

(c) Pen & Sword

I’d say 13 days, from the death of Edward VI, because reigns are usually deemed to begin from the death of the previous monarch. In July 1307, Edward II didn’t know for four days that his father Edward I was dead, but his reign had started anyway.