My ancestor executed Lady Jane Grey: The Crown actor Jason Watkins is stunned to discover he is related to Tower of London jailer who oversaw beheading

For six years, Jason Watkins has been the voice of the show that takes viewers behind the walls of London’s most imposing landmark. 

And the star narrator of Channel 5 production Inside the Tower of London had always believed that his family had a special link to figures associated with the 950-year-old building.

Now, in a new documentary, the star of shows including Netflix series The Crown discovers that the connection is true: he is distantly related to the man who oversaw the beheading of Lady Jane Grey.

Sir John Brydges was the Lieutenant of the Tower when Lady Jane – who had reigned as Queen of England for nine days before being deposed by King Henry VIII’s daughter Mary I – was imprisoned and then executed in 1554.

Watkins discovers that he is related to Brydges through his link to a much more famous Briton – celebrated author Jane Austen.

The actor and the author of Pride and Prejudice share a common 16th century ancestor, and Brydges was Austen’s six times great-grandfather, historian Dr Tracy Borman tells him.

She says in the programme: ‘When we first met you told me that you thought you might be related to John Brydges, that there was a family connection between the two. 

‘And I’m delighted to say, you are absolutely correct. Brydges was Jane Austen’s six times great grandfather, so you are related to John Brydges, albeit distantly.’

The Crown star Jason Watkins has discovered his family links to the man who ordered the beheading of Lady Jane Grey, who was Queen of England for nine days

Brydges’ intense compassion for Lady Jane was depicted in Paul Delaroche’s 1833 painting of the queen’s execution

In an interview with Channel 5 to promote the documentary, Jason Watkins & Lady Jane Grey: A Tower of London Special, the actor says: ‘I hugely enjoyed narrating Inside the Tower of London for seven series because the tower is full of history and incredible characters, so to discover I have connections to this landmark is amazing.’ 

He added: ‘As Lieutenant of the Tower he was entrusted to carry out this incredibly difficult role, yet Lady Jane Grey gave him a prayer book with an inscription thanking him for taking care of her. 

‘He can’t have been a stone for her to have written that. It’s sobering to think I’m related to John Brydges, but he had one of the most trusted jobs in the land.’

Watkins had been brought up with the family myth that his great-great grandfather was Jane Austen’s nephew.

Although this was not correct, Dr Borman discovered that he is still distantly related to Austen.

He is separated by 12 generations from 16th century nobleman William Astyn, who died in 1522. 

His son Stephen was also the six times great-grandfather of Austen, who died aged 41 in 1817. 

Watkins was informed of his links to John Brydges by historian Tracy Borman. Above: The pair together

Jason Watkins has fronted Inside the Tower of London since it was launched in 2018. Above: Two Yeomen Warders who feature in the show

Brydges, a soldier, was appointed Lieutenant of the Tower – the second most senior man at the establishment – by Queen Mary.

Responsible for guarding suspected traitors, it was his job to ensure Lady Jane did not try to escape when she was imprisoned along with her husband in 1553.

Brydges gave Lady Jane the freedom to walk the Tower gardens and she had three ladies in waiting along with a servant at her service.

Lady Jane and her husband, Guildford Dudley, spent six months as prisoners before her cousin Mary decided they were too much of a risk to her reign and ordered their beheading.

Lady Jane had been left the English throne by King Edward VI, the sickly son of Henry VIII.

She briefly ruled after Edward’s death in 1553, but Mary then seized the throne.

Lady Jane and Dudley were executed on February 5, 1554. The former queen’s husband died first on Tower Hill, before his headless corpse was brought back for burial.

Brydges was so moved by Lady Jane’s composure that he begged her for something to remember her by.

So she inscribed her prayer book with a message that read: ‘You have desired so simple a woman to write in so worthy a book.’ 

She also described herself as Brydges’s friend.

It shows Brydges gently guiding the blindfolded Lady Jane to the block where she was to rest her head, after she had panicked and cried out, asking where it was.

The soldier then watched as Lady Jane was beheaded with a single stroke of the executioner’s axe.

Brydges’ intense compassion for Lady Jane was depicted in Paul Delaroche’s 1833 painting of the queen’s execution. 

Lady Jane Grey was imprisoned by her cousin Queen Mary I and then executed

Astonishingly, Watkins also discovers that he is directly related to another Lieutenant of the Tower of London, Sir Edward Hales, who was in post in the 1680s. 

Just a month after Lady Jane’s execution, Brydges was put in charge of the imprisonment of Mary’s sister, the future Queen Elizabeth I.

The princess, then aged just 20, had been accused of plotting against Mary.

Brydges allowed Elizabeth to leave her cell for exercise. On those walks she could still see the scaffold where Lady Jane was put to death.

The Lieutenant also invited Elizabeth to dine with her in his home and allowed her servants to bring food from outside the Tower.

However, when the Tower of London’s constable found out about the dinner, Brydges was relieved of his duties.

Elizabeth was then put under more stringent imprisonment. She was confined to her rooms, forbidden to write letters and had her conversations monitored.

But Mary eventually admitted that there was not enough evidence to condemn her sister to death, and so Elizabeth was released on the anniversary of her mother’s execution – May 19, 1554.

Later that year, Brydges was given Sudeley Castle in the Cotswolds and made Baron Chandos as a reward for his loyal service.

Astonishingly, Watkins also discovers that he is directly related to another Lieutenant of the Tower of London, Sir Edward Hales, who was in post in the 1680s.

Dr Borman shows him records revealing that his ten times great grandfather was the three times great grandfather of Sir Edward.

Sir Edward was appointed by King James II in 1687. Like the monarch, Sir Edward as a devout Catholic.

Watkins also discovered that he is related to author Jane Austen, the author of Pride and Prejudice

Jason Watkins as prime minister Harold Wilson in the third season of Netflix series The Crown

His appointment as Tower Lieutenant was therefore controversial. When James was deposed during the Glorious Revolution in 1688, Sir Edward was by his side as he fled England.

However, boat carrying the royal party was stopped and boarded and Sir Edward, who was not wearing a disguise, was recognised.

King James was placed under house arrest and Sir Edward was imprisoned in the Tower.

Sir Edward spent 18 months in the prison he had overseen and was then exiled to France.

Dr Borman said: ‘This was honestly one of the best things I’ve ever done and working with Jason was so much fun, because he’s a very funny man who’s genuinely interested in the Tower’s history.

‘We had a battle of the ancestors because he’s related to a number of people from the Tower’s history and, during the course of filming, I discovered I have a famous ancestor linked to the Tower as well. We were on a journey together in this series.’

The historian discovered that she is related to famous physicist Sir Isaac Newton, who was made Master of the Mint at the Tower in 1699. 

Jason Watkins & Lady Jane Grey: A Tower of London Special, airs tonight at 9pm on Channel 5. 

Lady Jane Grey: The nine-day Queen who was executed at the Tower of London  

Often described as one of the most tragic figures in Tudor history, Lady Jane Grey was a grandniece of Henry VIII and first cousin once removed of Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I.

She was the eldest daughter of Henry Grey and his wife, Lady Frances Brandon.

Through her mother, she was also the great-granddaughter of Henry VII.

Lady Jane had two younger sisters, Lady Catherine and Lady Mary.

Often described as one of the most tragic figures in Tudor history, Lady Jane Grey was a grandniece of Henry VIII and first cousin once removed of Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. Above: Helena Bonham Carter as the queen in the 1986 film Lady Jane

When the 15-year-old king Edward lay dying he nominated Jane as successor to the Crown in his will, ahead of his half-sister Mary.

But Lady Jane had the shortest reign in England’s history, from July 10 until July 19, 1553, when the Privy Council then proclaimed Mary as Queen.

Jane was then imprisoned in the Tower of London. She and her husband Lord Guildford Dudley were both charged with high treason, found guilty and sentenced to death, though their lives were initially spared.

She was still a teenager at the time of her death on February 12, 1554, and was posthumously viewed as a protestant martyr.

Her father, the Duke of Suffolk – the son and heir of Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset – was also found guilty of treason and executed days after his daughter was beheaded.