Catherine Howard (also spelled Katherine or Katheryn), born between 1520 and 1525 and executed on February 13, 1542, in London, was the fifth wife of Henry VIII of England, who nicknamed her "the thornless rose." As such, she was Queen Consort of England from 1540 to 1542. Catherine married Henry VIII on July 28, 1540, at Oatlands Castle in Surrey, just after the annulment of the king's marriage to Anne of Cleves.

She was, through her father, a cousin of Anne Boleyn.

Henry was 49 years old, and Catherine 19 or 20, when he noticed her among the ladies-in-waiting of his previous wife, Anne of Cleves. Lively and full of energy, young Catherine had little choice in the matter. The couple married in 1540, three weeks after the king's separation from Anne, and she became his trophy wife.

Likely repelled by her much older husband (who suffered from various ailments such as leg ulcers), she fell in love with Thomas Culpeper, one of Henry's young advisors.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, learned of this affair. He confronted Henry about Catherine, also mentioning her relationships with other men before their marriage. She was accused of premarital depravity, concealing her indiscretions, and adultery: acts of treason. She was executed on February 13, 1542.

In her fatal fall, she also brought down:

Jane Boleyn, known as Lady Rochford (c. 1505 – February 13, 1542), Viscountess Rochford, was the sister-in-law of Queen Anne Boleyn, Queen Consort of England. She was executed with Catherine Howard on the orders of Henry VIII at the Tower of London.

Lady Rochford was a lady-in-waiting to the new queen and wielded considerable influence over her, becoming one of her favorites. When the young queen grew tired of her aging, obese husband, it was Lady Rochford who helped arrange secret meetings between Catherine and the charming courtier Thomas Culpeper.