Queen Jane Seymour dies at Hampton Court

Queen Jane Seymour died at Hampton Court Palace on 24 October 1537, soon after bearing a son. Visitors tell of a ghost in white with a candle.

A record of Queen Jane's burial calls her the mother of Edward VI and says she died on Wednesday 24 October 1537 at Hampton Court, in childbed. It was twelve days after she gave birth to Prince Edward.

The ghost tradition came later. Royal Central says that when Edward's birthday comes round, a pale, sorrowful woman in white with a burning candle is said to show up by the Silverstick Stairs of the palace, a stairway that once climbed toward the chamber in which Jane bore her son and died. She is also said to wander Clock Court, possibly seeking her son and husband. Another account describes the figure as fair, pale and slender. She usually comes out of the queen's rooms, crosses the silver-stick gallery, goes down the staircase and then vanishes. These are traditions people repeat, and no witness is named for them.