Hampton Court Palace’s most famous royal resident was undoubtedly Henry VIII. Born in 1491, Henry was crowned king of England in 1509 at the age of 18 after his elder brother, Arthur, tragically died of consumption in 1502.
Henry had not received an extensive training in the ways of kingship, but despite these difficulties, he proved himself to be a charismatic young man of many accomplishments. He was energetic, being particularly keen on hunting and tennis; he also played musical instruments, danced, sang and took a strong interest in theology. In his twenties he was described as the handsomest prince in all Christendom, and prided himself on having better legs than the king of France. Unfortunately, this youthful image was to become irreconcilable with the corpulent tyrant he was to become.
Henry VIII sought glory through war and launched a series of unsuccessful campaigns against the French, which were ended by a peace treaty in 1526. As monarch he was initially reluctant to apply himself to the business of government, an apathy which allowed his chief minister, Thomas Wolsey, to gain immense power and influence. However from 1525 onwards Henry took a firm grip on the reigns of power, stripping Wolsey of his titles and seizing his palace at Hampton Court.
The rest of Henry’s reign saw him driven by desperation to father a legitimate male heir. This famously resulted in his taking of six wives, two of which he subsequently beheaded along with two chief ministers. His first marriage to Catherine of Aragon produced a daughter, Mary, but no male heir, and after the Pope’s refusal to grant a divorce Henry broke with the Church of Rome declaring himself head of the Church of England.
Despite five further marriages Henry only produced one male heir, Edward VI, who died just six years after his father.