Katherine Parr: Camilla's favorite Tudor Queen

The Duchess of Cornwall wrote a foreword to a collection of prayers of Katherine Parr, a former Queen Consort of England and sixth wife of King Henry VIII. In 1543, Katherine anonymously published her first book, "Psalms or Prayers". Her second book, "Prayers or Meditations", became the first book published by an English queen under her own name. Following the King Henry's death she published another book, "The Lamentation of a Sinner".

The book, "The Spice of Wisdom", features several prayers written by Katherine and updated into modern English, and covers a huge variety of themes, from those for “when in pain” to those asking “for help in trouble” and to prayers “for our enemies”. Reverend John Partington, who updated the book, said he was “chuffed” when the Duchess agreed to write the foreword, adding that there were “definitely parallels” between the lives of the two women.

He said: “I was very gratified because in some ways, she has a similar position to Katherine Parr. The Duchess of Cornwall, like Katherine Parr, has significance as a royal wife, and just as Katherine had an important influence in the development of the English monarchy, in our generation Camilla is a leading figure in the royal family at a time of change.”

Camilla became involved with the book as a result of her friendship with Lady Ashcombe, the current owner of Sudeley Castle, where Katherine lived after Henry VIII died and where she was buried after her own death in 1548.

In 2012 the Duchess was patron of the Castle’s 500th anniversary celebrations of Katherine’s birth. During a visit to the castle, Camilla met Reverend Partington, who is vicar of the surrounding parish of Winchcombe. The Duchess was shown a copy of the prayer book and the Reverend led her to the queen’s tomb in St Mary’s Church where they said some of the prayers.