Henry VIII: The Fraud?

Divorced, Beheaded, Died. Divorced, Beheaded, Survived!  

...Or at least, that’s what we thought!  

Henry VIII was born on the 28th June 1491 – the son of Henry VII. He was King of England

from the 22 April 1509, and his coronation took place on the 24th June 1509. Upon his death on the 28th January 1547, aged 55, he was buried at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.  

When Henry VIII was married to Catherine Parr (who was his last wife) he may have had a mistress; we believe that the identity of this mistress is Catherine Willoughby.  

Kathrine of Aragon was said to be his wisest wife - or at least, she kept her head! Even the Pope didn’t want Henry VIII to divorce, as Katherine was a loyal Catholic, so, Henry VIII made his own church, which we now recognise as The Church of England. This started his tumultuous relationship with marriage... 

As we know, Henry VIII had many of his marriages annulled (meaning legally they were not his wives), and when Anne Boleyn was his mistress, he paid to make sure that no one knew about the affair. Despite this, word got out. How do we know that he did not do the same with Willoughby? However, this information is speculative, and there is no historical study of Willoughby available.  

 PERSONAL CONNECTIONS: 

Lord Leventhorpe was a servant for Henry VIII, but a short period after, they became good

friends and Lord Leventhorpe gave Henry VIII Pishiobury House for Anne Boleyn. Lord Leventhorpe was so well-liked by Henry VIII that he was made one of the executors of his will.  

Legend has it that the oldest inn in Hertfordshire, the Hand and Crown, was home to falconry! Henry VIII frequented the inn to shoot birds of prey and give them as gifts to Anne Boleyn during their courtship.