historical

June 4, 2021 by A.C. Rodgers

Catherine Howard from The Tudors

Catherine Howard (played by Tamzin Merchant) was the youngest of Henry VIII’s wives, marrying him and 17 and dying by his order between the ages of 18 and 19. The reason was adultery, though some argue that the charges were false. But even if they were true, it’s hard to blame the young queen for looking for love when her husband was 49 to her 17, a 32 year age gap.

Catherine’s story is one of tragedy and heartache, ending in her execution. It is the scene that sticks most with fans, closely followed by the way she danced both for the king and for herself. A specific request came in for her execution gown and that is what we focused on for this write up.

A simple white gown dyed black serves as the basis for the costume, one with a black slip underneath. A long black coat with attached goes over the top. And the costume would not be complete without a long blonde wig and a white cap.