In 1509 Henry VIII ascended the throne.He would be King of England until his death. Author Alison Weir wrote the book, ‘Henry VIII: The King and Court’ and here are some extracts from it.

"Henry VIII succeeded to the throne in 1509 to great acclaim. He had all the virtues of a Renaissance prince, yet by the time he died in 1547 he had acquired the reputation of a tyrant whose hands were soaked in the blood of the many he had executed – among them two of his six wives. Because he married so many times he has gone down in history as a veritable bluebeard.Over the centuries the truth about the King has become blurred by his legend.

How has the truth about him become blurred over the years? And what are some of the things people believe about him?

"Henry still lives in the popular imagination as a man who thought nothing of chasing the ladies, and who threw chicken bones over his shoulder as he presided over court feasts in the Great Halls. As a rule Henry did not dine in the great halls of his palaces. And his manners were highly refined as was the code of etiquette followed at his court. "

Well this year it’s 500 years since Henry VIII became King of England and it’s amazing that we still know so little about him.