Anne Boleyn books shown on execution anniversary

Two rare manuscripts are being displayed in a Kent castle on Tuesday, marking the 490th anniversary of one of the most infamous executions in history.

Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife, was beheaded on 19 May 1536, having been accused of accused of adultery, incest and treason after failing to produce a male heir.

Two of her religious books will be on display at Hever Castle, her childhood home, in what is believed to be the first time the books have been reunited since Anne's death.

A copy of the Old Testament book Ecclesiastes, on loan from Alnwick Castle, will be displayed beside Anne's book of hours, or prayer book, owned by Hever.

The prayer book will be open at a page containing her signature and the words "Le temps viendra, Je Anne Boleyn", or "the time will come, I am Anne Boleyn", while the Ecclesiastes will be opened at a page containing her royal emblem.

"It's quite a radical text," said Kate McCaffrey, Hever Castle historian.

"It's taken from a book printed by someone called Simon Dubois, who was known as a heretic of the church so it's quite radical for Anne to have owned something like this."

Describing the Ecclesiastes as "one of her dream loans", McCaffrey said: "It's made for her in 1534 when she's Queen of England and at the height of her power.

"It's in its original binding, which is incredibly rare, it's a velvet binding with beautiful embosses in each corner that have her royal symbols on them.

"It smacks of her queenship, it's a real statement," she said.

"The contents are a religious reform text, so it speaks of her style and substance."

The books will be displayed together until January 2027 but will only be opened on Tuesday, to protect the pages from being damaged by light.

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