At 11pm on Saturday 21st April 1509, the fifty-two year-old King Henry VII died at Richmond Palace, ending his 23 year reign. His second son, the seventeen year-old Prince Henry, acceded to the throne and became King Henry VIII. He was crowned king on 24th June 1509 in a joint coronation with his new bride, Catherine of Aragon.
A contemporary described the new king:
“The King tilted against many, stoutly and valorously. According to their own observation and the report of others, King Henry was not only very expert in arms and of great valour, and most eminent for his personal endowments, but so gifted and adorned with mental accomplishments, that they believed him to have few equals in the world. He spoke English, French, and Latin, understood Italian well, played on almost every instrument, sang and composed fairly, was prudent, sage, and free from every vice, and so good and affectionate a friend to the Signory, that no ultramontane sovereign ever surpassed him in that respect.”
Henry VIII sounded like the perfect king.
