# Katharine Howard — The Fifth Queen Crowned character guide > Katharine Howard in The Fifth Queen Crowned by Ford Madox Ford. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Lady Katharine Howard, Kate Howard, Howard, Kate **First appearance:** 0002-the-fifth-queen-crowned ## Snapshot Henry VIII's fifth queen, she kneels and pleads with a hostile princess, offering to kiss the mire off the vilest man's shoes to win souls for Rome. ## Who they are Katharine Howard sits at the center of a court where her crown depends on reconciling Henry's estranged daughter to a king who broke from Rome. Her weapon is not force but a patient, self-abasing eloquence — she stretches out her hand and begs Lady Mary to love the green land that bore them both. That same humility makes her vulnerable to the men who watch her kneel and calculate how to bring her down. ## Relationships ### [King Henry VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/characters/king_henry_viii) _romantic_ Katharine is Henry's young, naive bride, and their relationship is a mix of genuine affection from her and possessive, aging desire from him. ### [Anne Boleyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/characters/anne_boleyn) _rivalry_ Anne sees Katharine as a rival for Henry's affection and a threat to her position, while Katharine is caught in Anne's political games. ### [Lady Mary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/characters/lady_mary) _friendship_ Katharine and Mary share a bond of sympathy and mutual support, as both are victims of Henry's whims and court intrigue. ### [Magister Udal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/characters/magister_udal) _professional_ Katharine relies on Udal as a messenger and advisor, but she is wary of his self-serving nature and shifting loyalties. ### [King Henry VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/characters/king_henry_viii) _romantic_ Katharine is Henry's young, naive bride, and their relationship is a mix of genuine affection from her and possessive, aging desire from him. ### [Anne Boleyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/characters/anne_boleyn) _rivalry_ Anne sees Katharine as a rival for Henry's affection and a threat to her position, while Katharine is caught in Anne's political games. ### [Lady Mary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/characters/lady_mary) _friendship_ Katharine and Mary share a bond of sympathy and mutual support, as both are victims of Henry's whims and court intrigue. ### [King Henry VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/characters/king_henry_viii) _romantic_ Katharine is Henry's young, naive bride, and their relationship is a mix of genuine affection from her and possessive, aging desire from him. ### [Magister Udal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/characters/magister_udal) _professional_ Katharine relies on Udal as a messenger and advisor, but she is wary of his self-serving nature and shifting loyalties. ### [Lady Mary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/characters/lady_mary) _friendship_ Katharine and Mary share a bond of sympathy and mutual support, as both are victims of Henry's whims and court intrigue. ### [Anne Boleyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/characters/anne_boleyn) _rivalry_ Anne sees Katharine as a rival for Henry's affection and a threat to her position, while Katharine is caught in Anne's political games. ### [Magister Udal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/characters/magister_udal) _professional_ Katharine relies on Udal as a messenger and advisor, but she is wary of his self-serving nature and shifting loyalties. ## In the story ### [The Fifth Queen Crowned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/the-fifth-queen-crowned) Now Queen, she seeks to mend relations with Lady Mary but faces the king's displeasure and the threat of her past. ### [Part I: The Major Chord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/part-i-the-major-chord) Introduced as a central figure, her position and future are immediately tied to the whims of the court and the king. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/ii) Queen Katharine asserts her authority, challenges Norfolk's hypocrisy, and reflects on her loneliness and the threats against her. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/iii) The Queen, who is pleased by the King's submission to the Pope and seeks to console her maid Margot by finding her a husband. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/iv) Acts as a mediator between the King and Mary, trying to calm the heated exchange and manage the King's temper. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/v) The Queen, now in charge of the castle and realm in the King's absence. She is writing a letter to the Pope, overseeing accounts, and engaging in learned pursuits. She shows a preference for being loved rather than feared and reflects on the nature of authority and friendship. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/vi) The target of the plot; her resolve is noted, and she is isolated as enemies gather. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/vii) The Queen, who pleads with Lady Mary to reconcile with the King and feign political alliances, enduring Mary's taunts and accusations. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/viii) Reflects on her impoverished childhood and grants Lascelles's request for his sister's placement, showing her compassion and naivety. ### [Part II: The Threatened Rift](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/part-ii-the-threatened-rift) The queen, whose position is threatened by the king's northern journey and the plots of her enemies. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/i) Rides out to meet the King, shows compassion for a robbed traveller, and comments on the loss of monasteries. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/iii) The Queen, whose compassion leads her to order the care of the sick man, unaware of his true identity. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/iv) Queen Katharine, proud and virtuous, refuses to heed warnings about Lascelles, trusting in her own innocence. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/v) The Queen, exultant and decisive, handles the crisis of Culpepper's intrusion with swift action, hiding him before the King arrives. ### [Part III: The Dwindling Melody](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/part-iii-the-dwindling-melody) Imprisoned and awaiting her fate, her influence waning as former allies distance themselves. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/i) The Queen, who pleads for her cousin Culpepper's leniency and admires the King's quick wit in saving her from scandal, though she is saddened by the need for such deviousness. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/ii) Stands composed and queenlike, but shows anguish at the delay of the letter to Rome. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/iii) The target of the plot; her meeting with Culpepper is used as evidence of her alleged lewdness. ### [Part IV: The End of the Song](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/part-iv-the-end-of-the-song) The central figure of the tragedy, whose story concludes in this final part. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/i) The Queen is sad and anxious about the King's delay in sending the letter to Rome, but she continues to persuade him and cooks for him. She refuses to read the paper with tales against her, trusting the King. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/ii) Though not present, she is the target of the conspiracy, accused of bewitching the King and unchastity. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/iv) The Queen walks in the gallery, netting a silken purse. She remains silent and statue-like as Mary Hall confesses, thinking of her Redeemer. She eagerly asks if the King said more than 'Body of God! mine own bedchamber!' and shudders upon hearing he said no more. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/chapters/v) Queen Katharine confronts the King and the council, offering a false confession to stop the torture of her witnesses. She refuses the King's pleas to save her life and delivers a final, damning speech about his character. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/characters/katharine_howard - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_crowned_se/characters