But then she too fell in love, and incurred the queen's fury. Too plain to be considered significant, it seemed that Lady Mary Grey, at least, would escape the burden of her royal blood. While Elizabeth's closest adviser fought to save Katherine, her younger sister Mary remained at court as the queen's Maid of Honour. The beautiful Katherine ignored Jane's dying request that she remain faithful to her beliefs, changing her religion to retain Queen Mary's favour only to then risk life and freedom in a secret marriage that threatened Queen Elizabeth's throne. The dramatic lives of the younger Grey sisters remain little known, but under English law they were the heirs - and rivals - to the Tudor monarchs Mary and Elizabeth I. Growing up in Jane's shadow, her sisters Katherine and Mary would have to tread carefully to survive.

Behind the legend, however, was an opinionated and often rebellious adolescent who died a passionate leader, not merely a victim. Misremembered as the 'Nine Days Queen', she has been mythologized as a child-woman destroyed on the altar of political expediency. Lady Jane Grey is an iconic figure in English history. 'Leanda de Lisle brings the story of nine days' queen, Lady Jane Grey and her forgotten sisters, the rivals of Elizabeth I, to vivid life in her fascinating biography' Philippa Gregory The dramatic untold story of the three tragic Grey sisters, all heirs to the Tudor throne, all victims to their royal blood.

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