Before Elizabeth I became one of England’s greatest monarchs, she faced a scandal that could have destroyed her reputation , and possibly her future.

In 1547, after the death of Henry VIII, the young Princess Elizabeth went to live with her stepmother, the dowager queen Catherine Parr. Catherine had secretly married Thomas Seymour, the ambitious uncle of the new king, Edward VI.

What followed became one of the most troubling and controversial episodes of Elizabeth’s youth.

According to sworn testimony later given to the government, Thomas Seymour repeatedly entered the teenage princess’s chamber early in the morning and behaved in ways that alarmed members of the household. Rumours spread, servants were questioned, and eventually the government became involved.

When Seymour was arrested for treason in 1549, Elizabeth herself was interrogated.

In this video, we explore the evidence, the testimonies, and the political crisis surrounding the Thomas Seymour scandal, and examine how this early experience may have shaped Elizabeth’s famous caution and determination to control her own life.

 

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