When we think about monarchs, we tend to think about a central person who ruled alone or with someone they married. We tend to forget that behind the monarchy is an entire village of people supporting them in this endeavor. For the most part, they were loyal to the crown, not necessarily to whoever wore it. Yet, there are some whose loyalty to a particular monarch extended far before their coronation. Take, for example, the story of Kate Ashley, formerly Kate Champernowne, a trustworthy governess of Elizabeth I. While she made some questionable decisions, her loyalty to Elizabeth never wavered. So who was Kate Ashley? Rosemary Griggs hopes to answer this question in her book, “Queen Elizabeth I’s Childhood Governess: The Real Kat Ashley.”

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books for sending me a copy of this book. I know a little bit of Kat Ashley’s story, primarily when it comes to the Thomas Seymour scandal. So I was hoping to learn more about this woman who was so close to Elizabeth.

Griggs begins with an explanation of the difference between a Lady Mistress and a governess, before diving into Kate’s family origins. The Champernowne family’s origins stretch as far back as the Norman Conquest. Kate was the daughter of Sir Philip Champernowne and Katherine Carew, and the sister of another Katherine and two sisters named Jane, just to add to the confusion. As a Champernowne, Kate was connected to the Courtenays and the Carews, which would be useful when Kate transitioned to the Tudor court, especially the connection to Anthony Denny. Griggs explains how Kate was able to join Elizabeth’s court shortly after the death of Anne Boleyn.

We get to see Kate move up the ranks to Elizabeth’s Mistress while falling in love and marrying John Astley. Kate was by Elizabeth’s side through most of Henry VIII’s reign, alongside Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, Mary I, and Elizabeth I’s early reign. She went through so much for Elizabeth, including numerous arrests and plots, but Kate stayed loyal until her dying breath. I enjoyed this book so much. I learned so much about Kate Ashley and her family, alongside Kate’s sacrifices for Elizabeth. If you want a fantastic biography about someone very close to Elizabeth I, I highly recommend you read “Queen Elizabeth I’s Childhood Governess: The Real Kat Ashley” by Rosemary Griggs.