A PORTRAIT believed to be of King Henry VIII's sixth wife, Catherine Parr, has been added to a collection depicting his Tudor queens at Hever Castle in West Kent.

The 16th Century painting was unveiled by Dr David Starkey, eminent historian, writer and television presenter. It shows Catherine, who survived her royal husband, in a richly jewelled Spanish hood in cloth-of-gold.

She is wearing a dress of crimson velvet with cloth-of-gold sleeves, and at her neck is a large jewel known as an "ouche", hung from a string of pearls.

Dr Starkey said the choice of colours and clothing tied in with those she was known to favour. He said: "You can never be quite sure, but it's 90 per cent certain the painting is of Catherine Parr."

She lived from 1512 until 1548, and the portrait is in the style of the English School, circa 1530. It joins images of four of Henry's other wives in the Queen's Chamber at Hever Castle.

Two of them once lived in the moated castle, a few miles from Edenbridge. It was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, and later passed to Anne of Cleves.

Efforts are now being made to find an authentic portrait of Henry's fifth wife, Catherine Howard, so that all six queens are represented.

Hever Castle re-opened to the public on Monday, March 1 and it can be visited daily until November 30. Call 01732 865224 for further information.