Six wives, six lives that we think we know everything about. But beyond their mostly doomed marriages to Henry VIII, and in most cases, tragic ends,

here were six women who shaped history in their own unique ways.

The National Portrait Gallery in London is hosting a new

exhibition called Six Lives, displaying the images that have shaped our

perception of Henry VIII's Queens. It was just the excuse I needed to bring together the most

illuminating interviews about them from the not just the Tudor's archives. Across

six episodes I'll also be exploring some of the latest research and speaking to the curator of the National Portrait Gallery's exhibition, Dr Charlotte Bulland, to paint an even fuller portrait of each of Henry VIII's wives.

I've already discussed Catherine of Aragon and Berlin and Jane Seymour.

Today is the turn of Wife Number 4, Anne of Cleves.

Famed since the 17th century as the so-called Flanders Mayor, whom Henry allegedly

rejected on the basis of her ugliness. The real Anne of Cleves and the real story behind her marriage and its dissolution turns out to be quite different to the fable we've been told.

In this episode I'll be speaking to Heather Darcy, Dr Valerie Shoot,

and the National Portrait Galleries Dr Charlotte Boland.

I'm Professor Suzanne Ellipscomb,

and this is not just the tutors.

Her birth name was Anna von Denmark, Duchess of Julius Cleve and Berg.

We know her by an anglicized version of her name, Anne of Cleves.

Depending on whether you count Anne Berlin, name. of England. She was the first and only wife whom he did not know in person in advance

of their betrothal. This was a political match designed to give Henry another

chance at begetting sons, but also to offer

defense for England in the midst of trying international circumstances.

The break with Rome had taken its toll. In 1538 the Pope had published his long

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