Henry Eighth: Wives, Children, Height, Death & More

Few kings in British history have left behind as many contradictions as Henry VIII, a charismatic prince who became a dangerously obese tyrant and a skilled athlete who could barely walk by his final years. This article traces how his physical decline—driven by a catastrophic jousting injury, faulty biology, and sheer stubbornness—shaped the reign of England’s most famous Tudor king and answers the most common questions about his six wives, his children, and the painful death that finally caught up with him.

Reign: 1509–1547 ·
Number of wives: 6 ·
Legitimate children: 3 (Mary, Elizabeth, Edward) ·
Height at death: Approx. 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) ·
Weight at death: Approx. 300 lbs (136 kg) ·
Date of death: 28 January 1547

The table below summarizes key biographical details of Henry VIII.

How many babies did Henry VIII have?

Henry VIII fathered three legitimate children who survived infancy, alongside at least one acknowledged illegitimate son. Several pregnancies ended in miscarriage or stillbirth, adding to the king’s desperation for a male heir that drove his break with Rome.

What were the names of Henry VIII’s legitimate children?

• Mary I (born 18 February 1516) — daughter of Catherine of Aragon, later England’s first queen regnant (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Elizabeth I (born 7 September 1533) — daughter of Anne Boleyn, later the iconic Virgin Queen
• Edward VI (born 12 October 1537) — son of Jane Seymour, Henry’s longed-for male heir

Did Henry VIII have any illegitimate children?

Yes. Henry acknowledged Henry Fitzroy (born 1519), his son by mistress Elizabeth Blount. Fitzroy was created Duke of Richmond and Somerset and considered as a potential heir before dying childless in 1536 (Historic UK (history education resource)). Historians debate whether the king had other illegitimate children, including a daughter named Catherine Carey, but evidence remains inconclusive.

The implication: Henry’s reproductive history was not a personal matter but a national security crisis. A single surviving son—and a frail one at that—made the Tudor succession dangerously fragile.

Why is Henry the 8th so famous?

Henry VIII is famous for six wives and the English Reformation, but his fame rests on something deeper: he personally dismantled centuries of Catholic tradition and rebuilt England’s religious identity around himself. No other British monarch has so directly transformed the country’s soul and governance.

What were Henry VIII’s major accomplishments?

• Established the Church of England with himself as Supreme Head (1534 Act of Supremacy) (UK Parliament (official legislative body))
• Oversaw the Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536–1541), which redistributed vast Church lands to the Crown and nobility
• Passed the Acts of Union with Wales (1536–1543), formally integrating Welsh law and administration into England
• Built a powerful navy, including the famous warship Mary Rose

How did Henry VIII break with the Catholic Church?

Henry’s desire to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon (who had failed to produce a male heir) was blocked by Pope Clement VII. In response, Henry pushed through the Act of Supremacy in 1534, declaring the king “the only supreme head on earth of the Church of England” (The National Archives (UK government archive)). The break wasn’t just theological—it was a power grab that gave Henry control over church revenues, appointments, and doctrine.

The pattern: Henry’s fame is built on a cascade of personal decisions—divorce, defiance, dissolution—that had political consequences far beyond his own desires. He changed England because he first changed his marital status.

How big was Henry VIII when he died?

Henry VIII’s physical transformation from athletic Renaissance prince to morbidly obese invalid is one of history’s most documented declines. By 1547, he was a man whom his own servants had to carry around the palace.

“I would rather be torn to pieces than that you should have any cause to be discontented.” — Henry VIII, in a letter to Anne Boleyn, 1528

What was Henry VIII’s height?

Henry stood approximately 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm), exceptionally tall for the 16th century. According to Historic Royal Palaces (official custodian of Hampton Court), he was “over six feet tall and broad in proportion.” A peer-reviewed medical review in PubMed Central confirms this height and notes that his armour at age 23 shows a slim waist of 89 cm (32 inches).

What was Henry VIII’s weight at death?

By his 50s, Henry’s waist had expanded to 137 cm (54 inches). The same PubMed Central review estimates he weighed about 15 stone (95 kg) in his 20s and 28 stone (178 kg) by his death. Historic UK (history education site) notes that his final suit of armour in 1544 suggests a minimum weight of 300 lb (136 kg).

How did Henry VIII’s health decline?

• 1536 jousting accident: A fall from his horse crushed both legs, causing chronic, festering ulcers that never fully healed (Historic Royal Palaces; PubMed Central)
• Weight gain: Once unable to exercise, Henry’s weight ballooned. The PMC review says he refused to curb his daily intake and needed a hoist to mount his horse by age 44
• Mobility loss: He was carried around the palace in a chair and used a “tramme” (an early wheelchair) (Historic Royal Palaces)
• Possible diabetes: Vein Specialists (medical practice focused on venous disease) notes Henry probably suffered from diabetes, circulatory problems, and infected leg ulcers

Who was Henry VIII’s favorite wife?

The consensus among historians is clear: Jane Seymour. She is the only wife to receive a queen’s burial next to Henry at Windsor Castle—a privilege Henry granted no other consort (Historic Royal Palaces).

Why did Henry VIII favor Jane Seymour?

Jane succeeded where Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn failed: she gave Henry a living male heir, Edward, on 12 October 1537. She also avoided the political meddling that had doomed the other wives. Jane adopted a quiet, submissive demeanour that Henry found soothing after Anne Boleyn’s fiery ambition. When she died of puerperal fever just 12 days after Edward’s birth, Henry reportedly called her “the fairest of all his wives” (Encyclopaedia Britannica).

How did Henry treat his other wives?

• Catherine of Aragon: Divorced after 24 years of marriage, separated from her daughter Mary, died alone at Kimbolton Castle
• Anne Boleyn: Executed on trumped-up charges of treason, adultery, and incest
• Anne of Cleves: Divorced after six months, called a “Flanders mare,” but pensioned off generously
• Catherine Howard: Executed after less than two years of marriage for adultery
• Catherine Parr: Survived him, though Henry briefly considered having her arrested for religious nonconformity

The trade-off: Henry’s “favorite” wife was the one who died before she could disappoint him. Jane’s brief marriage was a perfect record because it had no time to turn sour.

Who did Henry VIII regret killing?

Henry VIII is not known for remorse, but evidence suggests he carried at least two executions heavily—and they were not his wives.

“I die the king’s good servant, and God’s first.” — Thomas More, last words before execution, 1535

Did Henry VIII regret executing Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell?

Thomas More, Henry’s former Lord Chancellor and a man of towering integrity, was executed in 1535 for refusing to accept the Act of Supremacy. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, Henry later admitted to More’s son-in-law that he regretted the execution, saying he wished he had sought More’s opinion privately before taking action.

Thomas Cromwell, Henry’s chief minister and architect of the Reformation, was executed in 1540 after falling from favour following the disastrous Anne of Cleves marriage. The king later expressed regret, reportedly saying he “wished he had not parted with Cromwell” when he needed a capable adviser in his final, paranoid years (Historic UK).

What about Anne Boleyn?

Did Henry regret killing Anne? The evidence is mixed. Crucially, Henry allowed Anne a private execution by a skilled swordsman (rather than the axe) and gave her a proper burial in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula. But he also celebrated his marriage to Jane Seymour the very next day. Some historians see the respectful execution as a gesture of residual affection; others see it as pragmatism to avoid a public scene (BBC History).

Why this matters: Henry’s regret was selective and political. He missed Cromwell’s competence when England faced war and rebellion. He missed More’s integrity when he needed an honest voice. He didn’t miss Anne because she had already fulfilled her purpose—ending his first marriage and giving him Elizabeth.

Timeline of Henry VIII’s reign

The following timeline highlights the major turning points in Henry VIII’s reign.

The pattern: Henry’s reign divides cleanly into two halves. The first (1509–1536) was energetic, ambitious, and expanding. The second (1536–1547) was physically declining, politically reactive, and increasingly cruel. The jousting accident was the hinge.

For a detailed account of Henry VIII’s six wives and legacy, see Henry VIIIs six wives and legacy.

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