Historic Gloucestershire castle celebrates 500th anniversary (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Dr David Starkey, garden designer Sir Roddy Llewelyn and Michael Porter to be guest speakers as Sudeley Castle celebrates 500th anniversary of the birth of Katherine Parr

4:17pm Thursday 26th April 2012 in What's On

SUDELEY Castle is marking a special jubilee this year - the 500th anniversary of the birth of Queen Katherine Parr.

Katherine Parr was the last wife of Henry VIII and spent her final days at Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe. She is the only Queen of England buried in a private residence. For the next six months the castle will host a range of special events to mark the royal date.

The Duchess of Cornwall is patron of the Queen Katherine Parr Quincentenary Festival.

Special events include talks by renowned Tudor historian Dr David Starkey, garden designer Sir Roddy Llewelyn and Michael Porter, creator and producer of the TV series The Tudors. There is a special Katherine Parr exhibition which includes a film made with Dr Starkey. There will be Tudor fun days for the children - a chance to meet a living "Henry VII" and some of his merry wives and enjoy falconry displays and minstrels.

Another new feature this year is the nature trail designed to help visitors, young and old, discover the wildlife which lives on the Sudeley estate.

The Shop at Sudeley has been expanded to offer a range of beautiful garden and household goods specially selected by Lady Ashcombe, chatelaine of Sudeley.

From the castle's famous gardens to the adventure playground there is something for the whole family at Sudeley to enjoy.

Sudeley Castle is open daily until October 28.