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Tudor Minute February 22: RIP Henry Duke of Cornwall

Hey, this is Heather from the Renaissance English History Podcast, and this is your Tudor Minute for February 22.

Today in 1511 Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon’s son, Henry, Duke of Cornwall, died at just 52 days old. He was the heir that Henry needed, and both parents were devastated when they heard. No one knows what killed Henry – it may have been SIDS. It was tragic for Henry and Katherine – Henry tried to comfort Katherine as best as he could, and they arranged a funeral filled with the honors for a Prince. The King and Queen didn’t go to the funeral in person so as not to attract attention away from the Prince, but he was buried in Westminster Abbey, carried in a small coffin from Richmond Palace to the river where it was brought up the river in a convoy of 3 barges.

180 paupers were paid to pray for the soul of the baby Henry. Henry VIII and Katherine were still young enough to have more children, though of course they would only have Mary, and it would be 26 years before Henry would have another son.

That’s your Tudor Minute for today. Remember you can dive deeper into life in 16th century England through the Renaissance English History Podcast at englandcast.com.