Henry VIII's children

All three of Henry VIII's legitimate children – Mary, Elizabeth and Edward – became queens or kings of England. They played an important role in both British history and the history of the royal palaces. However, none of them had children themselves, and on Elizabeth’s death, the Tudor dynasty ended.

Mary, born in 1516, was the only surviving child of King Henry VIII’s 24-year marriage to Katherine of Aragon. Seventeen years later, Elizabeth was born to Henry and his second wife Anne Boleyn, in 1533. Henry's third queen Jane Seymour gave him his long-awaited male heir, Edward, in 1537.

Henry also had an illegitimate son, named Henry Fitzroy (meaning ‘son of the king’), born in June 1519. In 1524, aged 6, the King made Fitzroy Duke of Richmond, and ensured he was well provided for. Fitzroy enjoyed a ‘prince’s life’ until his premature death at 17, probably from tuberculosis.

Header: Detail of The Family of King Henry VIII, Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2017

Elizabeth I, born 1533, reigned 1558-1603

Elizabeth was the only daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. 

After the execution of her mother on charges of adultery and treason when Elizabeth was only 2, the little princess found her royal status threatened.

In the later years of Henry VIII’s reign, his three children were all once again included in the succession, and so – eventually – Elizabeth became queen after both her brother Edward and her sister Mary died childless.  

Portrait of Princess Elizabeth, c.1546.  Attributed to William Scrots (active 1537-53), Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2017