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She was born at Newcourt, Bacton, Herefordshire in a Welsh speaking household. One of the daughters of Henry Parry of Newcourt, thrice Sheriff of Herefordshire, Steward of Ewyas Lacy and of Dore Abbey, a relative of the Welsh family of Herbert, Earls of Pembroke, also a relative of the prominent Stradling family of St Donat’s Castle in Glamorgan, Wales. Her mother was Alice Milborne, the English daughter and co-heiress of Simon Milborne. Her paternal ancestors were of prominent border gentry stock. Although brought up in a Welsh cultural environment, Parry was bilingual in Welsh and English. Indications exist of earlier family connections to the Lollards, not least her mother’s family connection to Sir John Oldcastle. However, it appears that she and her sisters were educated by the Augustinian nuns of Aconbury. She arrived at the Court with her aunt, Blanche Milborne Lady Troy, who was the Lady Mistress to Edward VI and his half-sister Elizabeth I as children. Blanche attended Elizabeth when she was imprisoned in the Tower of London and when she was under house-arrest. After Elizabeth’s accession in 1558, and Kat Ashley’s death in 1565, Parry was appointed the Chief Gentlewoman of the Privy Chamber, and was one of those who controlled access to the Queen. She was in charge of the Queen’s jewels (a collection which grew in quantity, magnificence and value) from before Elizabeth’s accession, and of the Great Seal of England for two years, also of the Queen’s personal papers, clothes, furs and books, many of which were presented to the Queen as New Year gifts. She received considerable sums of money on behalf of the Queen.