Scandal under Edward VI
The Seymour scandal
After the death of her father in 1547, Elizabeth went to live with her favourite stepmother, Katherine Parr, in Chelsea. It seemed a sensible arrangement but was to prove a near disaster. Later in the year, Katherine married Thomas Seymour, the Lord Admiral and King Edward's younger Seymour uncle.
Thomas was vain, handsome, ambitious and extremely jealous of his elder brother's power as the Lord Protector. His marriage to Katherine brought him into close contact with Elizabeth, who was blossoming into an attractive young woman. He began making physical advances towards the teenage princess and the ensuing scandal thrust Elizabeth abruptly into the harsh adult world.
Katherine died in 1548, shortly after giving birth. Seymour decided he could best further his political ambitions by marrying Elizabeth and seizing control of the King. He was arrested in January 1549 and executed for treason by his brother, the Lord Protector, in March 1549. Elizabeth was interrogated about her part in the plans but skillfully denied the charges of treason and was eventually exonerated. This was her first brush with being accused of treason but it was not to be her last.
Elizabeth's self-possession helped her survive the scandal and she demonstrated a remarkable maturity for a 15-year-old. The very public nature of the scandal made her acutely aware of the importance of protecting her sexual reputation.
Disinherited again
In 1553, Edward VI died at the age of 15. Earlier in the year, he had overturned his father's will, disinherited his sisters and named his Protestant cousin, Lady Jane Grey as successor. (View Edward VI and Lady Jane Grey's family tree [PDF file].)
The problem was that Mary, next in line, was Catholic and that the established religion under Edward was Protestantism. Following his Protestant beliefs, Edward had also decided that women were not fit to rule but could serve as regent for their sons until they reached the age of 18.
The problem he faced, however, was that all the candidates for succession were female. He named Lady Jane Grey, who was married quickly, and her male heirs as his successors. Edward's plan was foiled, however, as Jane only lasted nine days before Mary gathered enough support to ride to London and claim the throne.
Survival under Mary I