Hello Claire, I am here to ask another what if question. I was wondering recently (after reading Weir’s Children of Henry VIII) how do you imagine England would have faired had Edward not died so young, or if he had married and had children. Or even if he had died after Mary had, would the crown still have gone to Jane or would he have agreed to make Elizabeth his heir. Also, in your opinion, what are the best books to look at for more on Edward? thanks again!
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Hi,
Interesting "what if"s! If Edward VI had lived until he was say 50 then he would have died in 1587/1588 and would have outlived Mary so there would have been no Mary I and no reverting back to Catholicism, particularly as England would have been Protestant for so long. He would also have married and hopefully have produced a surviving male heir who would have inherited the throne and carried on the Tudor dynasty and Protestantism.
If he died young, but after Mary, then it's hard to say whether he would have chosen Lady Jane Grey or Elizabeth as his successor. It would depend on his relationship with Elizabeth during the time leading up to his death and his relationship with Jane's family and the Dudleys. An unknown!
Chris Skidmore has written a book on Edward VI - "Edward VI: The Lost King of England".
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