The short reign of Queen Mary I lasted from 1553 to her death in 1558. In that time, she gained a reputation as a tyrannical zealot, condemning her detractors to death by burning and earning herself the long standing label of Bloody Mary. But what’s not remembered quite as often is her life before this reign, and what exactly led her to this point… Or indeed, what even truly happened during her years on the throne.
Mary is reciting the Lord’s Prayer in Latin here. At this time, it was unusual for young girls, even of noble birth, to learn Latin, but Mary’s mother Catherine insisted on it and even personally oversaw many of Mary’s lessons when she was a child. Much of Mary’s childhood was spent learning skills that would make for a successful Queen and attractive to a future suitor, such as dance and music.