Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn - the first two wives of Henry VIII - are so often portrayed as opposites. Katherine as the loyal, scorned wife - Anne as the bright, bewitching upstart.
But now Prof. Suzannah Lipscomb returns to Hever Castle to explore what Anne and Katherine were really like - two well-educated women whose personalities and actions lie at the heart of the upheaval of Henry VIII’s reign. They shape this story - and play just as large a role in it as any of the men.
Suzannah sifts through the evidence, the love letters sent by Henry Viii and two near-identical bibles owned by Anne and Katherine that Hever have brought together for the first time in nearly 500 years. They are full of clues about the women's personalities and beliefs.
Although Anne and Katherine’s rivalry changed history, Suzannah poses a surprising question: did these fascinating, well-educated women have more in common than separated them?
And make sure you stay tuned right to the end - you won't want to miss the secret pink bathroom where Anne read Henry's love letters!
Up Next in Suzie's Documentaries
-
Becoming Elizabeth: Not Just the Tudo...
How do you tell the story of one of the most interesting and tumultuous times in history - when Henry VIII died, leaving three children from three different mothers?
A fantastic panel of historians and writers gathers to discuss the Starz TV series “Becoming Elizabeth”, and explore the real ev...
-
The Queens Council
Earlier this year, to coincide with the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, History Hit took the long view on some of the other women who were queens in Britain - from the 12th century Empress Matilda right through to Queen Victoria.
In a lively and fascinating debate, Prof Suzannah Lipscom...
-
Becoming Anne Boleyn
March 2022 marks the 500th anniversary since Anne Boleyn made her debut at the court of King Henry VIII.
Prof. Suzannah Lipscomb investigates the story of Anne’s remarkable upbringing in England, the Netherlands and France before she arrived at the heart of Tudor England. For all Anne Boleyn’s...
50 Comments