This print shows Henry VIII and the three of his children who ruled after him, Edward, Mary and Elizabeth. Each monarch holds their royal coat of arms, and a symbol of their royal authority - a sword or a sceptre.
The Kings and Queens of England, by Hendrik Goltzius, AD 1584.
Henry VII became the first Tudor king after he won the Battle of Bosworth against Richard III. Henry married Elizabeth of York. He combined the white rose of York and his own family symbol - the red rose of Lancaster - to create the famous Tudor rose symbol.
Glass flask showing Henry VII, from Venice, Italy, AD 1500.
Henry VIII was the second son of Henry VII. When Henry's older brother Arthur died, Henry changed from being the spare son to the heir to the throne. All of Henry VIII’s children were half-brothers and sisters since each of them had a different mother.
Gold medal of Henry VIII, London, England, AD 1545.
Anne Boleyn was Henry VIII’s second wife, and the mother of the future Elizabeth I. Henry was married six times, to three Katherines, two Annes and one Jane. Henry had Anne Boleyn beheaded in 1536 in order to marry Jane Seymour.
Drawing of a woman, Hans Holbein the Younger, AD 1532-1535.
Edward VI, Jane Seymour's son, became king in 1547 when he was just 9 years old, but his powerful uncles ruled the country. When he was 15 Edward became very ill. Before he died he said that he wanted his cousin, Lady Jane Grey, to be the next ruler.
Edward VI coronation medal, England, AD 1547.
When Edward VI died some people supported Edward’s cousin Lady Jane Grey to be the next ruler, while others thought that it should be Edward’s sister Mary. In the end Jane only reigned for nine days before Mary marched into London and seized the throne.
Close-up of printed book, England, AD 1650-1699.
When Mary I became queen she married King Philip II of Spain. Phillip was never allowed to be called King of England and he actually spent most of his time in Spain. During her 5 year reign she was worried that her sister Elizabeth would take the throne.
Medal showing Phillip and Mary, Milan, Italy AD 1555.
Elizabeth I became queen on Mary's death. She made sure that everybody knew she was queen by travelling around her kingdom taking her large royal household with her. She also took part in processions through London streets lined by cheering crowds.
Procession of Queen Elizabeth, Joseph Bouvier, about AD 1835.
When Elizabeth I died in 1603 she had no children, so the throne went to James VI of Scotland (a distant cousin). The rule of the Tudors came to an end, and James became James I of England, the first member of the new Stuart dynasty.
The Lyte Jewel, London, England, AD 1610-11.
