I’m trying something a bit different with my next video on The Anne Boleyn Files YouTube channel.
I’m going to be using YouTube’s Premiere feature so that we can all watch it together, and I’ll be there in the live chat discussing it with you as it plays.
I thought we’d start with a suitably juicy topic: Did Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves consummate their marriage?
We know what was claimed when Henry wanted their marriage annulled, but what does the evidence actually tell us about what happened – or didn’t happen – in the royal bedchamber? And what might Henry’s rather revealing comments about Anne, and about his own performance, tell us?
I’m going to be digging into the evidence and questioning some of the things we’ve been told about this famously unsuccessful marriage.
So, bring your popcorn, and let’s watch it together.
21 July 2026 at 9pm UK, 4pm New York.
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“Anna… was preoccupied with three things in April 1540. First, that Henry had not fully settled upon her Anna’s possessions as queen, because he was waiting for parliament to finalize it. Secondly, that her coronation probably would not take place in 1540, which displeased Anna and might have made her sad, fearful, or both. Finally, despite her exertions, Anna was not pregnant….… [I n early June 1540]Anna remained in as good of spirits as she could, requiring Harst to share a meal with her and her ladies. … Harst updated Chancellor Ghogreve on Cromwell’s tribulations. It seems that Harst suspected things were not going to go well for Anna in the coming days. To that end, he suggested to Ghogreve that marriages be secured for Amalia and Wilhelm as soon as possible…. Harst’s worry over Anna being cast aside by Henry continued to increase throughout June. He worried that, because Anna was not pregnant, Henry would treat her like Katharine of Aragon. Anna, for her part, did not outwardly appear to share Harst’s worries.
Things took a turn by 26 June 1540, such that Harst wrote to Duke Wilhelm directly. … Harst began worrying that Anna was being pushed away because she still had not conceived a child with Henry, and Harst was even more worried that Anna would be labeled as infertile…Harst was notified by 8 July 1540 over the alleged concerns of Anna’s precontract to Francis of Lorraine, and that any children Anna conceived with Henry could be deemed illegitimate. Harst balked at the accusation, especially after so much proof was provided to show the contract was canceled. …On 10 July, Harst expressed outrage at learning that Anna was presented with a set of documents which were virtually incomprehensible to her, and that the poor woman was “hoodwinked” by Henry and his officials. Henry duly informed Anna that if she complied with Henry’s wishes, she would be treated well. If not, then Henry could not make her any promises. Anna shed bitter tears and told Henry that he was the only husband she had ever had. Henry was unmoved.
Anna did express some resistance to the annulment, namely when Henry wanted her to agree that he never touched her. Anna told Harst that Henry, “has lived with her like husband and wife aught to live together.” Anna further reiterated her position by stating she would rather be decapitated than agree to such a falsehood. Unfortunately for Anna, Henry swore on a Bible that the two never consummated their marriage.
After this series of heavy blows, Anna consented to the annulment. …Harst described Henry as a tyrant, poor Katheryn Howard as a wh*re, and pleaded for a delegation from Cleves and Saxony to come to Anna’s aid. Harst was possessed of the fears…that Anna would be poisoned or that Henry would try to conceive a child with Anna despite their marriage being annulled. This shows two things, first, Harst’s nihilist attitude, and second, the unfettered wildness of Henry’s actions.”.
https://tudorsdynasty.com/anna-and-henry-turns-out-they-did/