The Tudors Dynasty podcast.

Born around 1519, Mary Howard was the daughter of Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey,

later, Third Duke of Norfolk, and his second wife, Lady Elizabeth Stafford.

Not only was Mary born into the well-established Howard family,

but her mother, a Stafford, was the daughter of

Edward Stafford, Third Duke of Buckingham. The Duke was executed in 1521 when Mary was two years old

under the reign of Henry VIII. Mary was the only daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Howard, and received an education that was appropriate to her birth.

Since Mary's father was Thomas Howard, her first cousin was also Anne Boleyn.

Anne's mother and Thomas Howard were siblings, and this familial connection led to a proposed marriage between

Mary and the king's illegitimate, yet recognized son, Henry Fitzroy. While many have said that the

marriage was Norfolk's niece Anne Boleyn's idea, it had been maintained by Norfolk that it was the idea of the king.

However, the marriage between Fitzroy and Mary Howard had likely been promoted by Anne to help

strengthen her ties to the throne. And really, who could blame her? This was the game that had to be

played at Tudor Court. Like the later marriage of Henry the 8th and Anne of Cleaves, there was no dowry expected

with this marriage, which actually was unusual for the time. This could also indicate the

influence that Anne Boleyn had over the king. Mary Howard's mother Elizabeth was totally against the marriage.

Whether she blamed Anne Boleyn for the breakdown of her own marriage,

that's a story for another time,

or was disgusted with the amount of control that she had in the negotiations,

Elizabeth was not happy and made it known.

This eventually led to Elizabeth Howard being banished from courts.

When King Henry VIII and Ambulin went to Calais in October 1532,

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