Anne Boleyn: The Woman Henry VIII Wanted History to Forget

Henry VIII wanted to erase Anne Boleyn from history, destroying her portraits and legacy. But Elizabeth I made sure her mother would never be forgotten.

One of the most remarkable pieces of evidence of Elizabeth’s devotion to Anne comes from art historians. When comparing portraits of Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth, researchers found a striking similarity—so much so that it appears Elizabeth herself may have posed for portraits of her mother.

Since no confirmed lifetime portraits of Anne Boleyn have survived—most were destroyed under Henry VIII—artists had to rely on later interpretations. Some of the most famous Anne Boleyn portraits were painted after Henry’s death. When researchers overlaid certain portraits of Anne and Elizabeth, the proportions of their faces matched almost perfectly.

But Elizabeth’s tribute to Anne didn’t stop at paintings.

It turned out that the secretive Elizabeth carried her mother’s memory with her for her entire life. After her death, a ring was removed from her hand—a ring she had ordered at 40 and never took off.

This exquisite piece, crafted from solid mother-of-pearl, adorned with gold, rubies, pearls, and a diamond monogram, held a hidden secret. The enameled initials on the ring flipped open to reveal two tiny portraits—one of Elizabeth herself and the other of her mother, Anne Boleyn.

A daughter’s quiet tribute to the mother she never knew.

A secret memory, carried for a lifetime.