What If Katherine Howard Had Culpepper’s Baby?

2026-02-27

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Katherine Howard is remembered as the tragic teenager who lost her head at seventeen. But what if she didn't have to? In the winter of 1541, everyone at the English court thought Henry VIII was dying. They were just waiting him out. All Katherine had to do was survive a few more months. And then Cranmer slipped that letter under Henry's door, and everything fell apart. But what if two things had gone differently? What if Katherine had gotten pregnant during her secret meetings with Thomas Culpepper? And...

Katherine Howard is remembered as the tragic teenager who lost her head at seventeen. But what if she didn't have to?

In the winter of 1541, everyone at the English court thought Henry VIII was dying. They were just waiting him out. All Katherine had to do was survive a few more months. And then Cranmer slipped that letter under Henry's door, and everything fell apart.

But what if two things had gone differently? What if Katherine had gotten pregnant during her secret meetings with Thomas Culpepper? And what if Henry had died when everyone expected him to?

Today we're following that thread all the way to the ending Katherine Howard never got.

I've also been reading Philippa Gregory's newest book, The Boleyn Traitor, and it gave me a lot to think about regarding Jane Boleyn's role in all of this. Links below!

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