Royal Romance: Henry VIII and True Love (episode 41)

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating love stories this month. And I thought I’d start with someone who certainly should have been an expert, someone who would have personally supported chocolate and flower vendors had he lived in another time—Henry VIII.

So I asked my people, fellow Tudor fans and enthusiasts, some important questions: Which wife did Henry VIII love most? Who was his favorite? Who loved him most? And, in this quest to find Henry VIII’s true Valentine, I have heard from many people who have strong feelings about the matter. It’s been so exciting to hear and read your thoughts about that much-marrying monarch and his quest for true love.

I think a key reason that Henry VIII had so much trouble having a successful marriage is that he wanted to have a marriage that fulfilled his personal as well as his political needs. In the sixteenth century, that wasn’t how it worked, at least among royalty. Marriages were business agreements, designed to form political alliances and strengthen the realm.

Henry VIII spent his entire reign searching for true love. Did he ever succeed? Did anyone love him for himself? Which wife was his favorite? Which wife did he love most?

I think there are three different answers here: the wife who loved Henry most, Henry's favorite wife (and why), and the wife Henry loved the most.

History shows us what's possible.