This exhibition explores the life of one of the most significant figures in the history of the English monarchy, bringing together treasures from the Royal Collection and the archives of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. 

The story of Henry VIII continues to generate widespread interest today. In popular tradition, he is often cast as a tyrant, famous for marrying six times and executing two of his wives, and for his split with papal authority in Rome and the dissolution of the monasteries.  When Henry ascended the throne in 1509 he was a striking, auburn-haired youth, ‘much handsomer than any sovereign in Christendom’, and known for his great physical energy. A miniature of the king by Lucas Horenbout shows a lithe figure of 35 years old. The king enjoyed hunting and hawking at Windsor, and his hunting sword is included in the exhibition.