The Death of Jane Seymour - 24 October 1537
On This Day (24 Oct) in 1537, Jane Seymour, the third wife and queen of Henry VIII, died at Hampton Court Palace, 12 days after giving birth to her only child.
After a prolonged and difficult labour lasting 30 hours, Jane had delivered her highly-anticipated child at 2 o'clock in the morning, on 12 Oct 1537: a baby boy, named Edward.
The young prince was christened in a midnight ceremony on 15 Oct, at Hampton Court's Chapel Royal. As was tradition, Jane and Henry did not attend the ceremony, but greeted the guests in the Queen's apartments prior and following the ceremony. Jane participated as was expected of her, with no signs of poor health.
Jane however started to become unwell the following afternoon, on 16 Oct, initially suffering from diarrhoea. Overnight, her condition worsened, with it becoming evident that she was suffering from puerperal fever, likely secondary to a tear in her perineum caused during childbirth. Jane's condition continued to fluctuate until she entered into an irreversible state of delirium.
By the evening of 23 Oct, Jane's death appeared imminent, and Henry was called to her bedside, and reportedly remained with her throughout the night. Last rites were administered to her and she passed away in the early hours of 24 Oct.
The following day, Jane's entrails were removed, and buried within the Chapel Royal, with her embalmed body, dressed in a golden robe, jewels and crown, placed in the presence chamber, where it lay in state until 31 Oct, when it was subsequently moved to the Chapel Royal.
On 12 November 1537, a funeral service was held at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for Jane Seymour, Queen of England.
