Jane Seymour by Hans Holbein
More Images Born: 1508 or 1509 Possibly at Wolf Hall, Wiltshire
Married to King Henry VIII: 30 May 1536 Queen's Closet, Whitehall Palace
Died: 24 October 1537 Hampton Court Palace
Buried: 13 November 1537 St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
Jane Seymour may have first come to court in the service of Queen Catherine, but then was moved to wait on Anne Boleyn as she rose in the King's favor and eventually became his second wife.
In September 1535, the King stayed at the Seymour family home in Wiltshire, England. It may have been there that the king "noticed" Jane. But, it isn't until February of 1536 that there is evidence of Henry's new love for Jane.
By that point, Henry's disinterest in Anne was obvious and Jane was likely pegged to be her replacement as Queen.
Opinion is divided as to how Jane felt about being the new object of Henry's affections. Some see Jane's calm and gentle demeanor as evidence that she didn't really understand the position as political pawn she was playing for her family. Others see it as a mask for her fear. Seeing how Henry's two previous Queens had been treated once they fell from favor, Jane probably had some trepidation, although Anne Boleyn's final fate had not been sealed at that time.
One other view was that Jane fell into her role quite willingly and actively sought to entice the King and flaunt her favor even in front of the current Queen.
How Jane actually felt, we will never know. Henry's feelings were pretty clear though. Within 24 hours of Anne Boleyn's execution, Jane Seymour and Henry VIII were formally betrothed. On the 30th of May, they were married. Unlike Henry's previous two Queens, Jane never had a coronation. Perhaps the King was waiting to Jane to 'prove' herself by giving him a son.
Less than two months after Henry and Jane's marriage, the Duke of Richmond, Henry Fitzroy
