Hello, I'm Lucy Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces. You're listening to our podcast

that explores the history and stories of our six palaces. These talks are a collection of some of our

best live events. I really hope you enjoy listening. In the 1500s, the Tudor Court was the place to be seen.

This series of talks looks into court life in the 16th century during the reign of King Henry

the 8th.

In this episode, historian Lauren Johnson explores Henry Leight's early years and his journey from

modest prince to bold, uncompromising king.

Well, good evening to everyone here and thank you very much for joining me.

To discuss, in fact, the making of a monarch the creation of King Henry the Eighth.

I'm sure you'll agree with me that tonight we're in an ideal location to discuss Henry.

As Hampton Court Palace is his most famous home, a building Henry himself converted into

a palace of pleasure, a symbol of his power and wealth.

And it's that powerful Henry the Eighth that we all know so well the one who

appears in his most famous portrait by Hans Holbein so in this image he

dominates the frame meeting the viewer's eye almost daring you to challenge his

authority and even surrounded by sumptuous displays of his wealth, our gaze is drawn right to him.

But the Henry in this portrait,

and who put his stamp on Hampton Court Palace,

the one that we already all know fairly well, I think,

was already a fully grown adult.

If anything, by the time Holbein gets round to painting him,

Henry is pushing middle age by Tudor standards.

...