Royal History Geeks

When Henry VIII ascended the throne in 1509 he was weeks shy of his 18th birthday.  Most would have assumed that the young King would be crowned alone.

However, shortly after taking the throne, Henry announced that he was to marry the resident Spanish Princess, Katherine of Aragon.  The Infanta was the widow of Henry's brother Arthur and had once been betrothed to the new King himself.

The marriage would not end well.  But for Katherine, Henry's decision to marry her was more than a grand romantic gesture.  It rescued her from seven years of obscurity, isolation and genteel poverty.

This episode explores the history of the couple from their first meeting in 1501 to their eventual nuptials and speculates as to why Henry was in such a rush to take a wife.

This episode was originally broadcast on May 3 2023

After his ultimate and unlikely victory at Bosworth in August 1485, many expected Henry VII to quickly marry the Princess Elizabeth of York.  This would have restored the "true" Royal line to the throne.  It was Henry's promise to marry Elizabeth that had caused many of his men to support him.  

But, much to the likely horror of the nobility, Henry announced that he was to be crowned alone.  The coronation ceremony was hastily rewritten to remove the role of Queen Consort and much of the political class were likely left wondering if Henry was ever going to come true on his promise.

In this episode we explore the practical, ceremonial and political ramifications of Henry’s decisions and speculate about the motivations and factors that shaped his strategy.

This episode was originally broadcast on May 2 2023

In Gareth's new book "Do Let's Have Another Drink" the late Queen Mother steps forth as a figure of fun, a staunch defender of tradition and a woman you did not want to make an enemy of.

RHG caught up with Gareth to learn more about his new book and the life of Elizabeth Bowes Lyon: Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

If you enjoy what Gareth has to say, consider buying "Do Let’s Have Another Drink: The Singular Wit and Double Measures of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother".

This episode was originally broadcast on March 6 2023

Gareth Russell is emerging as one of the strongest narrative historians of a generation.  He has penned books on Catherine Howard, the history of English Kings and the sinking of the Titanic.

In this interview, Royal History Geeks asked Gareth about his research on Catherine Howard, his thoughts on the Crown season four and his obsession with Anne Boleyn.

This episode was originally broadcast on March 22, 2021

Royal History Geeks caught up with Dr Owen Emmerson, residents historian and castle supervisor at Hever Castle.

The magnificent Hever Castle was the home of Anne Boleyn.  We spoke to Owen about the huge role it has played in history and its importance in the lives of legendary figures.

We also talked about Hever's vast collection of portraiture and explored the elusive question of what Anne Boleyn may have actually looked like.

This episode was originally broadcast on 28 September 2020

Lady Margaret Beaufort was the mother of Henry VII.  She played a vital role in establishing the Tudor dynasty on the throne of England.  In recent years, she has been much maligned in popular fiction.

I am joined by two authors and experts to discuss the real Margaret Beaufort.  How accurate are the depictions we see in fiction?  What were her real qualities?  What is her legacy?

This episode was originally broadcast on 26 September, 2020

It was an immense privilege to sit down (over zoom) with historian and novelist, Alison Weir.

Alison is responsible for some of the best researched 'narrative history' on the Tudor and Plantagenet periods.  She has written novels as well as history books.  At the time of the interview, she had just released her 5th book in the 'Six Tudor Queens' fictional series: Katherine Howard, the Tainted Queen (Scandalous Queen in the USA).

Please visit Alison's website and consider buying her books from a local bookstore or online.