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 29, 2021
On this day in Tudor history, 29th May 1533, the citizens of London were treated to a spectacular river procession. It was part of the coronation celebrations for England’s new queen, Anne Boleyn. Here’s my longer, more detailed video on the procession: If you prefer reading articles then you can click here.
Claire | May 29, 2019
Every year, I find it very odd to go from talking and writing about the events leading up to Queen Anne Boleyn’s execution in May 1536 to suddenly writing about the celebrations leading up to her coronation on 1st June 1533. I find it hard to get my head around how Anne Boleyn could go […]
Claire | May 29, 2018
Just ten days ago I was paying my respects to Queen Anne Boleyn at the Tower of London on the anniversary of her execution and now I’m writing about what must have been a happy and exciting time for Anne. Just three years separated these anniversaries. After around six years of waiting, Anne Boleyn was […]
Claire | May 29, 2017
On this day in history, 29th May 1533, the day after Archbishop Cranmer had proclaimed that Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne Boleyn was valid, the celebrations for the new queen’s forthcoming coronation commenced. The celebrations would last for four days, from 29th May to the coronation ceremony and banquet on 1st June, Whitsun. These celebrations […]
Claire | May 29, 2016
On Thursday 29 May 1533, two days after the marriage of King Henry VIII and Queen Anne Boleyn had been proclaimed valid by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, the celebrations for Anne’s coronation began in earnest. The four days of celebrations kicked off with a river procession, or pageant, down the River Thames from Billingsgate to Greenwich […]
Claire | May 29, 2015
Anne Boleyn was crowned queen on 1st June 1533 but her coronation wasn’t just a one day event, the celebrations and pageantry were spread over four days. The Milanese ambassador estimated that the celebrations cost the City of London around £46,000 and Henry half that again – phew! The first event took place on Thursday […]
Claire | May 29, 2014
Anne Boleyn was crowned queen on 1st June 1533 at Westminster Abbey, but the coronation celebrations actually kicked off on 29 May 1533 with a river procession from Billingsgate to Greenwich Palace, where Anne joined the procession, and on to the Tower of London. It must have been quite a spectacle, with around 120 large […]
