The Mary Rose Trust launches first History Festival called Six Queens, One King and His Ship
Festival taking place 481 years to the day since the Mary Rose sank
A festival dedicated to celebrating the women who defined Henry VIII’s reign has been launched by The Mary Rose Trust.
The festival callad Six Queens, One King and His Ship will take place at various locations across Portsmouth on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19. As well as providing a “rare opportunity” to hear from the leading experts in Tudor history, the festival will raise vital funds for the Trust which received no government funding.
A series of historians will each tell the tale of one of Henry’s Queens at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard while July 19 will be the 481st anniversary of the sinking of The Mary Rose. A commemoration will take place with a service of remembrance at Portsmouth Cathedral followed by a boat trip to the wreck site in The Solent.
Dominic Jones, Chief Executive Officer of The Mary Rose Trust said: “The event is a first for the Mary Rose and will help raise much needed funds to continue the vital conservation, research and educational work of the Trust. It’s such an exciting chance to be part of our story and a unique opportunity to learn about the six Queens who helped shape the world we live in today. I hope many more people will want to come along and join us for this special weekend.”
The event will be chaired by the historian and broadcaster Prof Suzannah Lipscomb who is a Trustee of the Mary Rose.
She said: “The Mary Rose was Henry VIII’s beloved warship, commissioned when he was a young man to celebrate his joint coronation with Katherine of Aragon, and sailing until the twilight years of his reign and marriage to his final wife, Catherine Parr. The ship was witness to each of his six queens, and their story is bound up with the story of The Mary Rose.”
The below experts will each be offering fresh insight into the lives of the queens:
- Dr Charlotte Bolland (National Portrait Gallery) — Katherine of Aragon
- Dr Estelle Paranque — Anne Boleyn
- Dr Elizabeth Norton — Jane Seymour
- Dr Owen Emmerson — Anne of Cleves
- Gareth Russell — Katherine Howard
- Dr Linda Porter — Catherine Parr
Tickets range from £250 to £1,000 while those who cannot attend in person can purchase a £60 ticket to watch the lectures live streamed.
More details can be found at https://maryrose.digitickets.co.uk/category/66529