| Popular TV presenter and historian David Starkey visited Hever Castle, near Edenbridge, Kent to unveil a rare portrait of King Henry VIII’s mother last week.
He was thrilled and delighted at the prospect to undertake this honour as he is an expert of the Tudor era.
He gave a fine enlightening speech about Henry and his upbringing as a young boy surrounded by his sisters and taught by his mother the ways of the Tudor Dynasty, after this David unveiled the 16th century portrait of the famous King’s mother Elizabeth of York.
This special celebration at Hever Castle was to mark the start of the 500th anniversary of this monarchs rise to power and his eventually taking over the throne as King Henry VIII of England.
Henry was born in 1491, he grew up and began his rule as King of England on April 21st 1509 at the young age of 18. His life was filled with his exploits of womanising, determined to have an heir to the throne he courted many a beautiful young girl.
He would become notorious for his eventually marrying six wives, not only English but also from Europe...his first wife was Catherine of Aragon, followed by Anne Boleyn (Hever) Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and finally Catherine Parr.
Of these six wives Henry had an execution order carried out on Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, who were beheaded in the Tower of London.
Henry was to be succeeded by six children, but only three survived infancy, it was to become these three children that would rule England in later years...Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I.
In 1534 Henry brought about an Act of Supremacy declaring himself as “The only Supreme Head on Earth of the Church of England”.
Henry VIII’s rule was soon to be over for he died in 1547 aged 56, and was succeeded to the throne by his son Edward VI.
But this notorious King would not pass away into history and be forgotten, he will always be remembered for his marrying six wives, the only Monarch to do so in the history of the Throne of England. |
