How Long Is “Lover”?

To mark the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's accession to the throne, Dr David Starkey has written and presents a vivid four-part biography which goes inside the mind of the pivotal figure of British history, examining the inner life of an icon of British history. The third programme in the series traces Henry's ten year affair with Anne Boleyn. Henry began to pursue Anne in early 1526. As lust turned to love, he conceived the idea of marrying her. But that required a Papal annulment of his marriage to Katherine. David Starkey's research in the Vatican archives has revealed the real story of Henry's futile six-year struggle to get what he wanted from Rome. During this time, and prompted by Anne, Henry began to re-think the nature of the English monarchy. He came to believe that the King, not the Pope, should rule the Church in England. The result was the break with Rome, a new wife for Henry, and a new religion for his subjects. But the marriage did not last. Henry's court had always been a dangerous place, and when Queen Anne turned against Thomas Cromwell, Henry's chief minister, Cromwell knew that he had to move against her to save himself. He manipulated Henry's naturally suspicious nature to engineer Anne's execution. Money and power had triumphed over love.