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History Daily

Henry VIII’s Fifth Wedding

History Daily

History Daily

History

4.42.5K Ratings

🗓️ 28 July 2025

⏱️ 18 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

July 28, 1540. King Henry VIII of England marries his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, 32 years his junior.


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Transcript

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0:00.0

There are more ways than ever to listen to History Daily ad-free. Listen with Wondry Plus in the Wondry app. As a member of NoisorPlus at noisor.com or in Apple Podcasts, or you can get all of History's Palace, a royal residence in Surrey, England.

0:32.2

Dressed in a dazzling, embroidered gown, Catherine Howard and her ladies in waiting are escorted through the endless chambers

0:38.8

of the palace. Sunlight trickles through glass windows as she passes, dancing over Catherine's

0:44.3

soft, fair skin, and auburn hair. She's just 17 years old, barely more than a girl, but today

0:51.0

she will become Queen of England. Reaching a large wooden door, she pauses. The palace chapel lies beyond and her new husband

0:58.9

is waiting for her. The heavy door swings open, and standing at the far end of the chapel,

1:04.8

King Henry VIII stares at Catherine, his mouth twitching toward a smile. Henry is over 30 years older than Catherine.

1:12.6

He's dressed magnificently today,

1:14.5

but even the finest tailors in the land can't disguise Henry's bloated body.

1:18.9

But though Catherine may find him physically repulsive,

1:21.9

she understands what marrying into royalty means for her family's standing and for her own.

1:27.8

Catherine casts her eyes downward as she walks toward the king.

1:31.9

Only a few of Henry's inner circle have been allowed to attend today's ceremony, but it doesn't

1:36.4

make the moment any less daunting. Beneath her glittering gown, Catherine's heart pounce because

1:41.8

she remembers the fates of Henry's previous wives. He may be

1:45.7

smiling now, but she knows how quickly his favor can turn to fury. Catherine Howard becomes

1:55.6

King Henry VIII's fifth wife. In the days ahead, he will shower her with gifts and affection. But the honeymoon

2:02.3

won't last. Soon, old secrets will resurface threatening Catherine's new life and bringing a sudden

2:08.4

end to King Henry's latest marriage, which began on July 28, 1540.

2:17.3

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2:23.7

but what happens when you can't manage it? A bruised banana, some squish bread, it's often at the

2:28.2

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