A world-first exhibition at Hever Castle, Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn, brings together a collection of portraits which are all believed to depict the Tudor queen.
The exhibition is running at Hever Castle in Kent until 2nd January 2027 and aims to answer questions about what Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, really looked like.
Nearly 500 years after her execution, historians continue to debate the topic of her appearance. Some have argued that Anne’s great beauty captured the eye of the king, while others put forth the case that it was her wit, style and intelligence, not her looks, which drew Henry to her.
Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn features a large number of portraits, from different periods of history, which are all believed to depict Anne Boleyn. The research comes from Dr Owen Emmerson, a historian at Hever Castle and analyses how and why her image changed over the centuries.
It also showcases results of scientific analysis carried out on Hever Castle’s Hever Rose panel portrait of Anne Boleyn, revealing for the first time when and how the painting was created.
Dr Emmerson, author, broadcaster and assistant curator at Hever Castle said, said: “This exhibition presents an unprecedented gathering of portraits identified as Anne Boleyn, more than have ever been displayed together before.
“It challenges the long-standing belief that her image was systematically erased after her downfall, instead revealing that a greater number of likenesses of Anne survive, created during her lifetime, than previously recognised.”
The exhibition is staged in various rooms throughout the castle, including the Staircase Gallery, Book of Hours Room, Long Gallery, Council Chamber, and a specially created exhibition space in what was the Astor Suite.
Group visits
Entry to Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn is included with admission to Hever Castle. Groups can take advantage of discounted rates, deposit-free bookings, free coach parking, free entry for the group leader and coach driver and special group packages.
Among the packages available are castle and garden tours, Hidden Hever tours exploring hidden rooms throughout the castle, and In the Footsteps of Tudors; a package which includes a house tour of Penshurst Place to find out why the Sidney family were gifted the property in 1552 by Henry VIII’s son, Edward VI, followed by a visit to Hever Castle for a free-flow visit to explore the childhood home of Anne Boleyn.
For more information about the exhibition and group visits to Hever Castle visit www.hevercastle.co.uk.
