Claire | July 22, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 22nd July 1536, Henry VIII’s son by his former mistress, Elizabeth Blount, died at St James’s Palace. Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset, was just 17 years of age at his death, and the death of his only son was a huge blow to the king. In the […]
Claire | June 15, 2018
This date in history, 15th June 1519, is the date traditionally given for the birth of Henry VIII’s recognised illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset. Fitzroy was born at the Priory of St Lawrence, in Blackmore, Essex. His mother, Elizabeth (Bessie) Blount, had been sent away from court to the prior’s house […]
Claire | July 22, 2015
Today marks the aniversary of the death of Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset, at St James’s Palace, London. The seventeen year-old duke was the illegitimate son of Henry VIII, by his mistress Elizabeth (Bessie Blount), and the husband of Mary Howard, daughter of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk. It is thought that […]
Claire | February 25, 2014
Thank you so much to author and historian Elizabeth Norton for writing this guest post on Margaret Skipwith. Over to Elizabeth… Henry VIII’s love life was notoriously complicated although, unlike most of his royal contemporaries, he tended to marry women who would otherwise have been only his mistresses. The death of Jane Seymour in October […]
Claire | July 22, 2013
On the 22nd July 1536, the seventeen year-old Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset, and Henry VIII’s illegitimate son by Elizabeth (Bessie) Blount, died of some sort of pulmonary infection at St James’s Palace. He was buried at Thetford Priory and then, when the the priory was dissolved, moved to St Michael’s Church, Framlingham. […]
Claire | June 15, 2013
The 15th June 1519 is the date traditionally given for the birth of Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset, in Blackmore, Essex. Richmond was the acknowledged illegitimate son of Henry VIII by his mistress Elizabeth (Bessie) Blount. Bessie had been sent by Cardinal Wolsey to reside at the prior’s house of the Priory of […]
Claire | January 8, 2012
Thanks to Eilish Gallagher for letting me know about The Daily Mail article Henry VIII had a secret daughter who should have taken the throne before Elizabeth I, historian claims. This article is about historian Elizabeth Norton’s research into the life of Elizabeth Blount for her new book “Bessie Blount: Mistress to Henry VIII” and […]
Claire | July 22, 2010
On this day in history, the 22nd July 1536 (some sources state 23rd July), Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset, and the Earl of Nottingham, died at the age of 17. His death was a huge blow for Henry VIII, not only because he loved his son deeply but […]
