Catherine Howard , also called Katherine Howard or Katheryn Howard was the fifth wife of Henry VIII of England , and sometimes known by his reference to her as "the rose without a thorn".

Catherine's birth date and place of birth are unknown . She was the daughter of Lord Edmund Howard, a younger son of the 2nd Duke of Norfolk. Catherine married Henry VIII on 28 July 1540, at Oatlands Palace in Surrey, almost immediately after the annulment of his marriage to Anne of Cleves was arranged. However, Catherine's past history and, eventually, her marital conduct were known to be unchaste. She was beheaded after less than two years of marriage to Henry on the grounds of treason, meaning adultery committed while married to the King.