Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk, is often reduced to a footnote in history — simply the mother of the tragic Lady Jane Grey. But who was she really?

In this episode, I dive into the life of Frances Brandon, born on 16th July 1517 — niece of Henry VIII, daughter of Mary Tudor, Queen of France, and a woman maligned by centuries of misrepresentation.

Was she truly the cold, cruel mother some have claimed? Or has one quote from a teenage Lady Jane Grey unfairly shaped her legacy?

I'll explore:
- Frances’s elite Tudor lineage  - Her controversial portrayal as a harsh mother - Her entanglement in the 1553 succession crisis - The truth behind the myths, with insight from historian Susan Higginbotham
And the softer side of Frances, seen in her later love match and quiet life after tragedy

Joi ...