Claire | June 3, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 3rd June 1535, Thomas Cromwell, King Henry VIII’s vicar-general, issued orders regarding the royal supremacy to the bishops of the kingdom. But what was the royal supremacy and what were the clergy expected to do? Let me explain… And on that very same day, King Henry VIII’s former Lord […]
Claire | June 1, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 1st June 1533, Whitsunday, at Westminster Abbey, Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, was crowned queen in ceremony performed by her good friend, Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. It was a long day for Anne, who was around 6 months pregnant. The day started with a procession from Westminster […]
Claire | May 31, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, Saturday 31st May 1533, a pregnant Queen Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII, processed from the Tower of London to Westminster Hall. This eve of coronation procession was huge and comprised lots of entertainment, including lavish pageants, orations, music, and wine flowing in the conduits and in […]
Claire | May 30, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, on the night of 30th/31st May 1533, as part of the celebrations for Queen Anne Boleyn’s coronation, which was scheduled for 1st June, eighteen men were created Knights of the Bath. What did this mean? What happened in this night-long ceremony? Find out… Exactly three years later, on 30th […]
Claire | May 29, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 29th May 1533, just a day after Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne Boleyn had been declared valid, the celebrations for Anne’s coronation began. The celebration consisted of a spectacular river pageant on the Thames. In this video, I describe the amazing river procession, using details from contemporary sources. Fire-breathing […]
Claire | May 28, 2022
It seems so strange to go from counting down to Anne Boleyn’s execution in May 1536 to sharing events from a time of victory and joy for her in May 1533. On this day in Tudor history, 28th May 1533, over four months after Henry VIII had married Anne Boleyn at Whitehall Palace, and six […]
Claire | April 12, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 12th April 1533, Anne Boleyn made her very first public appearance as King Henry VIII’s official queen consort. Anne made quite an entrance! Accompanied by sixty ladies and “loaded with jewels”, she processed to Easter Eve mass at Greenwich Palace, setting tongues wagging. Hear an account of this event… […]
Claire | April 11, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 11th April 1533, Good Friday, King Henry VIII informed his council that Anne Boleyn, the woman he’d married in January 1533, was his rightful wife and queen, and should be accorded royal honours. Finally, things were going right for the couple, who had been waiting for this moment since […]
