Key Heritage Site: Hampton Court Palace (again) and Windsor Castle
- Background: Jane Seymour is often remembered as Henry VIII’s favorite wife, who gave birth to his only legitimate son, Edward VI, but died shortly after childbirth.
- Hampton Court and Windsor Castle: Jane spent time in both residences. Windsor Castle, the royal fortress and home to many Tudor monarchs, was also a place of courtly ceremony and politics during her time.
- Legacy: Jane’s reputation for kindness and her role as mother to the future king are commemorated in art and royal records preserved at these sites.
Anne of Cleves: The Surprising Survivor
Key Heritage Site: Deal Castle
- Background: Anne of Cleves was Henry VIII’s fourth wife, a German princess whose marriage to Henry was annulled shortly after. Remarkably, she survived the often perilous politics of the Tudor court.
- Deal Castle: Located on the Kent coast, Deal Castle was one of Henry VIII’s defensive forts, where Anne of Cleves was welcomed after her annulment and lived comfortably as the “King’s Sister.”
- Legacy: The castle offers a glimpse into Anne’s later life and the shifting roles of royal women. shutdown123