Imagine the surprise when King Henry himself joined us to tell of his life as second son – destined for the church – until the death of his elder brother and his quest to find the perfect wife – a woman like his mother, beautiful, obedient and able to produce a male heir.
He married Catherine of Aragon, his brother’s widow, to obtain the balance of her marriage settlement and also because it was politically advantageous. After ten years of marriage which produced only one daughter he became attracted to Mary Boleyn and then her sister Anne. She, however, wanted to be queen so he declared himself Head of the Church and divorced Catherine. Anne only produced a daughter and he tired of her ambition so he arranged to have her executed for treason and took comfort with Jane Seymour. Unfortunately she died after giving birth to a son.
Another political marriage was sought and he chose Anne of Cleve after seeing her portrait by Hans Holbein. She, however, was not to his taste and he divorced her amicably. The Duke of Norfolk sought power by advancing his niece Katherine Howard but she had affairs with younger men and had to be executed for treason. He now needed someone who would care for him and chose twice widowed Katherine Parr and lived with her until his death.
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