This beautiful signet ring was commissioned by Sir Thomas Gresham, an English merchant and agent of Henry VIII and all three of his children in …
The Grasshopper Ring
Henry VIII
CATHERINE PARR WAS NOT MARY’S LADY-IN-WAITING
There is a popular misconception that Henry VIII met his final wife, Catherine Parr, after she joined the household of his daughter, Mary, at some …
MARRIAGE DISPENSATION OF HENRY FITZROY AND MARY HOWARD
In 1529, the Duke of Norfolk informed the Spanish ambassador, Eustace Chapuys, that the King was arranging for his daughter, Mary Howard, to wed the …
THE TUDOR QUEENS’ CONSORT NECKLACE
The so-called ‘Consort Necklace’ is one of the most famous pieces of Tudor jewellery. Appearing in a number of portraits of Henry VIII’s wives, it …
ELIZABETH’S EARLY INFLUENCE
There is a popular misconception that Elizabeth was at best ignored, and at worst looked upon with disfavour by her father, Henry VIII, and only …
1536: HENRY’S FEELINGS TOWARDS ELIZABETH
It has long been assumed that in the months following the execution of her mother, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth was out of favour with her father, …
A MYSTERIOUS SPANIARD AT THE TUDOR COURT
François Van der Delft served as the Spanish ambassador to the courts of Henry VIII and Edward VI. In this capacity, he had a certain …
THE DESCRIPTION OF JANE SEYMOUR
Even before Anne Boleyn had been executed, eyes were starting to turn towards the future; predictions were being made about the next queen, and foreign …
SUMMONED TO ANNE BOLEYN’S CORONATION
I have written before about the enormous amount of organisation that went into Anne Boleyn’s coronation. One of the more important tasks was to send …
CORONATIONS: EDWARD THE CONFESSOR TO ELIZABETH I
The coronation the world is going to witness on Saturday is very much a medieval ceremony, even as it has evolved and continues to evolve …
