Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 48 minutes ago
Is the REAL FACE of Katherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII, shown in a window in the chapel of King’s College, Cambridge in the guise of the biblical Queen of Sheba, presenting gifts to King Solomon? Several historians have mooted the idea that the window dates to the brief reign of Katherine Howard as Queen consort of England and that as Solomon appears to be modelled after Henry, so the Queen of Sheba might be showing us his most tragic Queen. As we have no confirmed portraits of Katherine Howard created during her lifetime, this would be an important find, if true.
In this art history documentary from History Calling I explore this fascinating historical mystery. I look at the history of the window which we know was commissioned during the reign of Henry VIII and ask, does it date to Katherine Howard’s time as Queen, what is the significance of the H and K initials are on it and the feathers of the Prince of Wales and could it go beyond biblical representation to capture the likeness of a real historical figure? Even if it does, does the Queen of Sheba show Katherine Howard, Catherine Parr, or nobody in particular?
Whether you're a Tudor history buff, an art history enthusiast, or just love a good historical mystery, this episode offers a compelling look at the intersection of power, identity, and hidden symbolism in early modern England.
Watch to the end to decide for yourself: is this the face of a forgotten queen?
#KatherineHoward #QueenOfSheba #CatherineHoward #KathrynHoward
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Join my mailing list (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
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YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
WHAT DID KATHERINE HOWARD LOOK LIKE?
youtu.be/Oavn6o0gETI
KATHERINE HOWARD OR ANNE OF CLEVES?
youtu.be/G8vm7FtdtXE
THE SHORT LIFE OF KATHERINE HOWARD
youtu.be/D4khu87Q1vo
WHEN WAS KATHERINE HOWARD BORN?
youtu.be/NOUVSCKw4BY
EXECUTION OF KATHERINE HOWARD AND JANE BOLEYN
youtu.be/LaiU2HHTuKQ
WHAT HAPPENED TO KATHERINE HOWARD’S BODY?
youtu.be/RF1GYu2njC8
DOES KATHERINE HOWARD’S GHOST HAUNT HAMPTON COURT PALACE?
youtu.be/w3bQpHxC1e8
LEARN MORE:
Want to watch/hear/read more about history (and a whole host of other topics)? Then you might benefit from a free Audible or Prime video trial. They are available from the following links:
AUDIBLE
amzn.to/44MvlMi
AUDIBLE PLUS & AUDIBLE PREMIUM PLUS
amzn.to/42rh3PF
PRIME VIDEO
amzn.to/3LW7ykg
READ
Carola Hicks The King's Glass: A Story of Tudor Power and Secret Art (2012 edition) amzn.to/4q09z2f
Josephine Wilkinson, Katherine Howard: The Tragic Story of Henry VIII's Fifth Queen (London, 2016) amzn.to/3rbFuPj
Gareth Russell, Young and Damned and Fair: The Life and Tragedy of Catherine Howard at the Court of Henry VIII (2017). amzn.to/2VExTgg
Antonia Fraser, The Six Wives Of Henry VIII (2nd edn, Phoenix, 2009) amzn.to/36IqD5r
David Starkey, Six Wives: the Queens of Henry VIII (Vintage, 2004) amzn.to/3wImKIh
BUY OR RENT:
Britain’s Bloody Crown Presented by Dan Jones (2016)
amzn.to/2TPep8i
The Tudors, season 1
amzn.to/2VCwQ0j
The Tudors, season 2
amzn.to/2VMPnHw
The Tudors, season 3
amzn.to/3BijsPB
The Tudors, season 4
amzn.to/3z16S58
Henry VIII and his Six Wives (2016 docu-drama)
amzn.to/3jiCkag
Six Wives with Lucy Worsley (2016 docu-drama)
amzn.to/3wH2mr2
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
Blue Yeti Microphone: amzn.to/3FgEDYq
Go-Pro Hero 13 camera: amzn.to/41H4Xnt
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/3vaVxjU
Memory Card: amzn.to/3KeLZZs
DJI Drone: amzn.to/39hROZm
THUMBNAIL: Window 4, King’s College, Cambridge Chapel. Taken from Catherine Smart, The Great Windows: King's College Chapel, Cambridge (2005), fair use.
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
Is the REAL FACE of Katherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII, shown in a window in the chapel of King’s College, Cambridge in the guise of the biblical Queen of Sheba, presenting gifts to King Solomon? Several historians have mooted the idea that the window dates to the brief reign of Katherine Howard as Queen consort of England and that as Solomon appears to be modelled after Henry, so the Queen of Sheba might be showing us his most tragic Queen. As we have no confirmed portraits of Katherine Howard created during her lifetime, this would be an important find, if true.
In this art history documentary from History Calling I explore this fascinating historical mystery. I look at the history of the window which we know was commissioned during the reign of Henry VIII and ask, does it date to Katherine Howard’s time as Queen, what is the significance of the H and K initials are on it and the feathers of the Prince of Wales and could it go beyond biblical representation to capture the likeness of a real historical figure? Even if it does, does the Queen of Sheba show Katherine Howard, Catherine Parr, or nobody in particular?
Whether you're a Tudor history buff, an art history enthusiast, or just love a good historical mystery, this episode offers a compelling look at the intersection of power, identity, and hidden symbolism in early modern England.
Watch to the end to decide for yourself: is this the face of a forgotten queen?
#KatherineHoward #QueenOfSheba #CatherineHoward #KathrynHoward
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Join my mailing list (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
WHAT DID KATHERINE HOWARD LOOK LIKE?
youtu.be/Oavn6o0gETI
KATHERINE HOWARD OR ANNE OF CLEVES?
youtu.be/G8vm7FtdtXE
THE SHORT LIFE OF KATHERINE HOWARD
youtu.be/D4khu87Q1vo
WHEN WAS KATHERINE HOWARD BORN?
youtu.be/NOUVSCKw4BY
EXECUTION OF KATHERINE HOWARD AND JANE BOLEYN
youtu.be/LaiU2HHTuKQ
WHAT HAPPENED TO KATHERINE HOWARD’S BODY?
youtu.be/RF1GYu2njC8
DOES KATHERINE HOWARD’S GHOST HAUNT HAMPTON COURT PALACE?
youtu.be/w3bQpHxC1e8
LEARN MORE:
Want to watch/hear/read more about history (and a whole host of other topics)? Then you might benefit from a free Audible or Prime video trial. They are available from the following links:
AUDIBLE
amzn.to/44MvlMi
AUDIBLE PLUS & AUDIBLE PREMIUM PLUS
amzn.to/42rh3PF
PRIME VIDEO
amzn.to/3LW7ykg
READ
Carola Hicks The King's Glass: A Story of Tudor Power and Secret Art (2012 edition) amzn.to/4q09z2f
Josephine Wilkinson, Katherine Howard: The Tragic Story of Henry VIII's Fifth Queen (London, 2016) amzn.to/3rbFuPj
Gareth Russell, Young and Damned and Fair: The Life and Tragedy of Catherine Howard at the Court of Henry VIII (2017). amzn.to/2VExTgg
Antonia Fraser, The Six Wives Of Henry VIII (2nd edn, Phoenix, 2009) amzn.to/36IqD5r
David Starkey, Six Wives: the Queens of Henry VIII (Vintage, 2004) amzn.to/3wImKIh
BUY OR RENT:
Britain’s Bloody Crown Presented by Dan Jones (2016)
amzn.to/2TPep8i
The Tudors, season 1
amzn.to/2VCwQ0j
The Tudors, season 2
amzn.to/2VMPnHw
The Tudors, season 3
amzn.to/3BijsPB
The Tudors, season 4
amzn.to/3z16S58
Henry VIII and his Six Wives (2016 docu-drama)
amzn.to/3jiCkag
Six Wives with Lucy Worsley (2016 docu-drama)
amzn.to/3wH2mr2
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
Blue Yeti Microphone: amzn.to/3FgEDYq
Go-Pro Hero 13 camera: amzn.to/41H4Xnt
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/3vaVxjU
Memory Card: amzn.to/3KeLZZs
DJI Drone: amzn.to/39hROZm
THUMBNAIL: Window 4, King’s College, Cambridge Chapel. Taken from Catherine Smart, The Great Windows: King's College Chapel, Cambridge (2005), fair use.
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
