A pale figure is reported to appear on the Silverstick Stairs, which once led up to the room where Jane Seymour gave birth and died, on the anniversary of Edward's birth in October 1537. Jane was the third wife of King Henry VIII and she died from post-birth complications at Hampton Court only a few days after delivering the king's longed-for son, Prince Edward. Although he was delighted to have a male heir, the King was devastated at the sudden loss of his 'perfect' queen.
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Not only is the ghost of Jane Seymour reported to still wander the palace, but also the spirit of Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife. However, Catherine is reportedly far more vocal than Jane Seymour and her sightings are more regularly reported.
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Catherine was executed at the Tower of London in 1542 at the age of 19 for committing adultery and treason. According to the legend, after being arrested at Hampton Court, the young girl desperately tried to escape from her guards and ran along the Haunted Gallery, crying out for mercy from King Henry.
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However, she never made it to the King as he was praying in the Chapel at the time. Guards captured her and she was taken away, never to see Henry again. It is believed that her ghost still wanders the gallery, re-enacting her heart-breaking journey, screaming for mercy, and reliving the anguish for eternity