As a history lover, especially of the Tudor times, I recently felt extremely privileged to be invited to Hever Castle for the press launch of their new exhibition: Catherine & Anne: Queens, Rivals, Mothers.
The exhibition focuses on the relationship and similarities between Henry VIII’s first two wives, Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, and the time they spent together at court while Anne was Queen Catherine’s lady-in-waiting. The highlight of the exhibition is a spotlight on two prayer books, after new research revealed that each of the women owned the same edition of a Book of Hours. These were personal books which contained various sets of prayers designed to be read during different hours of the day and night.
Catherine’s book is currently on loan from The Morgan Library in New York and it was amazing to see it reunited with Anne’s for the first time in 500 years.
I found it fascinating to compare the books. Anne’s is the far more elaborate of the two, with gold binding and intricate designs. Nobody is entirely sure why they ended up with the same edition, but could they have been a gift from Henry, with Anne’s being an indication of his feelings for her as he lined her up to be Catherine’s replacement?
Another wonderful part of the exhibition is the display of costumes, four of which were seen recently in historical drama Becoming Elizabeth. Created by costume designer Bartholomew Cariss, they are copies of gowns worn in portraits by Henry’s children Mary, Elizabeth and Edward, along with one belonging to his sixth wife Katherine Parr. You can also see replicas of the robes and crown worn by Mary I and Elizabeth I at their coronations, which may also have been used by Catherine and Anne as well.
The exhibition runs until 10 November, and I would most certainly recommend a visit.
