500 years of Henry VIII
 

April 22 marks 500 years since Henry VIII's ascension to the throne. The famous English king is still popular where he ruled, on Showtime's The Tudors, and now even on Twitter.

You can follow the tweets of real-time events—500 years later—leading up to his coronation on June 24 as posted by Historic Royal Palaces under the name IamHenryVIII: http://tinyurl.com/ctnrpf

When I was recently in London I loved visiting Hampton Court, where he lived with each of his six wives. What are your favorite places to visit that are related to Henry VIII?

Didn't he die?

Cate I am a huge fan of all the wife's of Harry. And I am so into that period of time. And as for the Tudors I'm so obsessed I broke down and ordered Showtime after watching the re-runs at my DD house. I swear I've read every book on the six wives. And when I get the chance to go to the library I am all over the that period of time section.

I was thrilled to death when I went to London last year and got to see many of the places I had read about regarding KH8.

Thanks so much for that link. If you have any others to share please do...PLEASE.....

This was covered pretty thoroughly in http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-in-uk.cfm?60.

Not surprisingly, Fatso got much more attention in that thread than his far more talented father and younger daughter. We missed Ewelme in Oxfordshire: the nice stuff was all built a century before, but they're very proud of their pond near the watercress beds, where local legend has it that Anne Boleyn pushed Henry in during one of their spats about why he wasn't making an honest woman of her.

As flanner has mentioned, the <b>Tudor Sites in UK</b> thread has great contributions from many posters.

Also mentioned in that thread, are several Henry VIII exhibitions in London right now - one at Windsor Castle, one at Hampton Court Palace, and one at British Library.

One often forgotten tidbit - the famous portrait of Henry VIII by Hans Holbein resides at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid. Many visitors to the Thyssen seem to miss it.
http://www.museothyssen.org/thyssen_...n/ficha713.htm

There is a Holbein portrait of Henry is in Madrid. But <b> the </b> famous Holbein portrait was on the walls of Whitehall Palace and destroyed by fire at the end of the 17th century.

A contemporary copy was made, found its way into the family of Jane Seymour and is now in the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.

I didn't know that, flanner. Thanks for the information!

Wouldn't be nice if the portraits of Henry VIII and his wives could have a reunion in London for this 500th anniversary?

Nevermind, I guess I can always go to Madame Tussauds for the tea party.

flanneruk - Thanks for the link to that other helpful thread.

mamaw - I appreciate your enthusiasm! Henry VIII certainly inspires strong feelings.

yk - Another exhibition is on at the Tower of London called Dressed to Kill.

And here is another exhibition for this summer, this time in the Cotswolds...

http://exhibitions.sudeleycastle.co.uk/exhibit.php?e=9

There is a Holbein protrait of Henry VIII (apparently in his wedding finery for his marriage to Anne Boleyn) in the Palazzo Barberini in Rome.

I'm like Mamaw, in the past year I've read about everything I can find on the subject.

We've got our tickets to go the British Library for their exhibition in May. looking forward to it.