31 May – Lady Margaret Beaufort

On this day in Tudor history, 31st May 1443, Lady Margaret Beaufort, the woman known as the matriarch of the Tudor dynasty, was born.

Find out a few facts about her in this #TudorHistoryShorts video...

Here's a more detailed video on her:

You may also be interested in Nathen Amin's expert talk on the Beauforts - click here to view that.

On this day in Tudor history, 31st May 1529, a special legatine court opened at Blackfriars in London. The court’s purpose was to hear the case for an annulment of Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon, and it was presided over by papal legate Cardinal Lorenzo Campeggio and Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.

Find out about the context of this court, what happened at the court and what happened next...

Also on this day in Tudor history, 31st May 1533, Anne Boleyn’s coronation procession took place.

Find out more about this huge procession, which included including lavish pageants, orations, music, and wine flowing in the conduits and in fountains...