Reginald “Reggie” Kray remains one of the most infamous figures in British criminal history. As one half of the Kray twins, he ruled London’s East End underworld during the 1950s and 1960s. His life story is one of notoriety, violence, love, and tragedy, encompassing a famous twin brother, two very different marriages, a long prison sentence, and a final release cut short by terminal illness. This article provides a factual account of his life, family, and death, based on available records.
Who Were Reggie Kray’s Wives?
Reggie Kray was married twice. His first wife, Frances Shea, is remembered for her tragic death at a young age. His second wife, Roberta Jones (later Roberta Kray), shared his final years and built her own career as an author. These two relationships form a significant part of his personal story.
Key Insights into His Life
- Reggie Kray was the identical twin of Ronnie Kray, together forming the most notorious gangster duo in London’s East End during the 1950s and 1960s.
- He married Frances Shea in 1965; she died by suicide two years later, a tragedy that haunted him.
- After his release on compassionate grounds in 2000, he died just 36 days later from cancer.
- His second wife, Roberta Kray, later became a crime novelist and is his widow.
Snapshot Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth | 24 October 1933, Haggerston, London |
| Death | 1 October 2000, Norwich, England |
| Spouse 1 | Frances Shea (m. 1965; died 1967) |
| Spouse 2 | Roberta Jones (m. 1997; his death) |
| Siblings | Ronnie Kray (twin), Charlie Kray (older brother) |
| Prison sentence | Life imprisonment for murder of Jack McVitie (1969) |
| Release | 26 August 2000 (compassionate grounds) |
| Cause of death | Bladder cancer |
Frances Shea
Frances Shea was Reggie Kray’s first wife. They married in 1965, but the marriage was short-lived. According to sources, she died by suicide in 1967 at the age of 23. Some secondary biographies describe her death as a major emotional event in Reggie’s life, though verified details about her life and the circumstances surrounding her death remain limited in authoritative sources.
Roberta Jones / Roberta Kray
Reggie’s second wife was Roberta Jones. They married in 1997 while he was still serving his life sentence in prison. After the marriage, she took the name Roberta Kray. The available records do not provide much biographical detail about her beyond the marriage itself. However, it is well-documented that she later became a published author of crime novels.
The death of Frances Shea in 1967 occurred in the same year that Reggie Kray committed the murder of Jack ‘the Hat’ McVitie, a crime for which he was later convicted. The emotional toll of her suicide is often cited as a turning point in his life.
Who Were the Kray Twins and Their Family?
The Kray twins, Reginald and Ronald, were identical twin brothers who became major figures in London’s organised crime scene. They were born on 24 October 1933 in Haggerston, East London, to Charles David Kray and Violet Annie Lee. Their rise to power began in the late 1950s and continued until their arrest in 1968. Their operation was known as “The Firm.”
Charlie Kray
Charles “Charlie” Kray was the older brother of the twins. He was also involved in their criminal activities. Sources confirm he died in 2000. He is sometimes included in broader discussions of the Kray family’s legacy.
Gary Kray
Gary Kray is frequently mentioned online, but authoritative sources confirm he is the son of Charlie Kray and therefore Reggie’s nephew. He has occasionally spoken publicly about the family’s history, but his life has remained largely out of the criminal spotlight.
The Kray family circle is small. Reginald and Ronnie were the identical twins at the centre. Their older brother, Charlie, was also involved in crime. Charlie had a son named Gary, making Gary the nephew of the famous twins. None of the three brothers—Reggie, Ronnie, or Charlie—had any children of their own.
What Is the Last Photo of Ronnie Kray?
There is a well-known photograph of Ronnie Kray from his later years. It was reportedly taken while he was a patient at Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security psychiatric hospital in England. The image shows him elderly and using a wheelchair. While this photo is often described as his “last photo,” the exact date of the photograph is not universally established in the research materials provided. The interest in this image speaks to the enduring public fascination with the twins, even after their incarceration.
What Happened to Reggie Kray After Prison?
Release
Reggie Kray was released from prison on compassionate grounds on 26 August 2000. He had served 32 years of a life sentence for the murder of Jack McVitie. His release was granted because he had been diagnosed with terminal bladder cancer.
Death
After his release, Reggie Kray lived for only a short time. He died on 1 October 2000 in Norwich, Norfolk, England. The cause of death is consistently reported as bladder cancer. His death occurred just 36 days after he was freed, and he was 66 years old.
Reggie Kray’s final release was a brief one. Freed on 26 August 2000, he died on 1 October 2000. This period of just over a month was his first taste of freedom outside of prison walls in over three decades.
Timeline of Key Events
- 1933: Birth of Reginald and Ronald Kray in Haggerston, London.
- 1950s: Rise of the Kray twins in London’s underworld, running protection rackets and nightclubs.
- 1965: Reggie marries Frances Shea.
- 1967: Frances Shea dies by suicide; Reggie kills Jack ‘the Hat’ McVitie.
- 1969: Convicted of murder, sentenced to life imprisonment.
- 1997: Marries Roberta Jones while still in prison.
- 2000 (Aug): Released on compassionate grounds due to terminal cancer.
- 2000 (Oct 1): Dies at age 66.
Establishing Facts from Uncertainty
Some details of Reggie Kray’s life are firmly established, while others remain less clear.
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Reggie Kray’s death date is firmly established as 1 October 2000. | The exact motives behind Frances Kray’s suicide are subject to speculation. |
| The circumstances of Frances Kray’s death are confirmed as suicide by overdose. | Biographical details about Roberta Kray before her marriage are not widely documented in primary sources. |
| Roberta Kray’s identity is well-documented: she married Reggie in 1997 and is an author. | The specific date and context of the “last photo of Ronnie Kray” are not universally verified. |
| Gary Kray is the son of Charlie Kray and nephew of the twins. | Some online sources may confuse the roles of different family members. |
The Legacy and Meaning
Reggie Kray’s life and crimes are inseparable from those of his twin Ronnie. Their notoriety was fuelled by the media’s fascination with gangster glamour in 1960s London. They became celebrities of the underworld. The tragedy of Frances Kray’s death had a profound impact on Reggie, affecting his mental state and possibly his subsequent violence. Post-conviction, both twins became semi-mythical figures, with Reggie sometimes portrayed as the more controlled and remorseful of the two. Roberta Kray’s later career as a writer adds a unique, posthumous dimension to the Kray legacy.
Where the Story Comes From
The most reliable facts about Reginald Kray come from established sources. The Wikipedia entry for the Kray twins provides a comprehensive overview. Publisher material from Pan Macmillan, which published books related to his story, is also considered authoritative. Institutional pages from the London Museum offer historical context. Official records can be found on the National Archives website. A contemporary report on his death was published by the BBC News. Further information about his second wife can be found on the Roberta Kray official website.
“The Kray twins became celebrities of the 1960s London underworld – but their violent crimes put them in prison for decades.”
— London Museum
“Reginald ‘Reggie’ Kray (24 October 1933 – 1 October 2000) was an English gangster and the twin to his brother Ronnie Kray.”
— Wikipedia
A Complete Portrait
From his birth in Haggerston to his death in Norwich, Reginald Kray’s life was one of extremes. He was a feared gangster, a husband to two very different women, and a man who spent the majority of his adult life behind bars. The story of the Kray twins remains a significant chapter in the history of organised crime in London. His personal relationships, his rivalry with his twin, and his final, tragic release from prison create a complex picture beyond the simple label of “gangster.” He remains a figure of endless fascination, a product of his time and place. For more on this era, see our feature on famous gangsters of the 20th century.
Who was Reggie Kray’s wife?
Reggie Kray was married twice. His first wife was Frances Shea (1965–1967). His second wife was Roberta Jones (married 1997).
Who were the Kray twins?
Reginald and Ronald Kray were identical twin brothers who led an organised crime gang in London’s East End during the 1950s and 1960s.
Who was Frances Kray?
Frances Shea was Reggie’s first wife. She tragically died by suicide in 1967 at age 23.
Who was Reggie Kray’s second wife?
Roberta Kray (née Jones) was Reggie’s second wife. They married in 1997 while he was still in prison. She later became a crime novelist.
Who is Roberta Kray?
Roberta Kray is the widow of Reggie Kray and a published author of crime fiction series set in London’s East End.
Who was Charlie Kray?
Charles ‘Charlie’ Kray was the older brother of the Kray twins. He was also involved in criminal activities and died in 2000.
Who is Gary Kray?
Gary Kray is the son of Charlie Kray and therefore nephew of Reggie and Ronnie Kray. He has occasionally spoken about the family legacy.
What is the last photo of Ronnie Kray?
The last known photograph of Ronnie Kray was taken during his later years in Broadmoor Hospital, showing him elderly and wheelchair-bound.
When was Reggie Kray released from prison?
He was released on compassionate grounds on 26 August 2000 due to terminal cancer.
How did Reggie Kray die?
He died of bladder cancer on 1 October 2000, just 36 days after his release.
Henry Wallace is Managing Editor at RegionalReport.co.uk, running the daily news list, the regional publishing schedule and newsroom workflow.