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 Tudors
-
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...
-
The Ambassadors: Mysteries of a Tudor...
Tracy Borman unravels the web of messages and secrets hidden in one of the most spectacular and mysterious Tudor paintings, Holbein’s the Ambassadors.
In 1533 England was in turmoil - Henry VIII had secretly married Anne Boleyn and had his marriage to Katherine of Aragon annulled.
This was the ...
-
A Tudor Wonder - Hardwick Hall - with...
A History Hit treat for the holidays, this special new film reveals an extraordinary Tudor life-story and an amazing creation. We meet the extraordinary Bess of Hardwick and go inside the incredible home she built, a spectacular construction in glass and stone that defined the elegance and grande...
53 Comments