Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

Step back into a world of intrigue, passion, and ruthless ambition — welcome to Tudor England. Join historian and bestselling author Claire Ridgway as she uncovers the riveting stories of the Tudor dynasty. From the scandalous love affairs of King Henry VIII to the tragic fall of Anne Boleyn, the fierce reign of Elizabeth I, and the lesser-known secrets of Tudor court life, this podcast brings history to life in vivid detail. Hear dramatic tales of betrayal, execution, forbidden love, and political manoeuvring that shaped England forever. Discover daily Tudor history with fascinating “On This Day” episodes — unique insights you won’t find in typical history books. Get behind-the-scenes stories from Claire’s own research trips to historic sites like the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Hever Castle, and more. Enjoy interviews with top historians and experts in Tudor studies, plus lively Q&A sessions tackling listeners’ burning Tudor questions. 🖋 Who is Claire Ridgway? Claire is the author of the bestselling On This Day in Tudor History series and numerous other Tudor books loved by readers around the world. She founded The Tudor Society, connecting enthusiasts with experts through live online events, and runs the hugely popular history websites The Anne Boleyn Files and www.ClaireRidgway.com. Her mission: to uncover the human stories behind the crown — the hopes, fears, and triumphs of not only kings and queens but also the courtiers, rebels, and ordinary people who lived under the Tudor rose. What can you expect? - Gripping accounts of famous events like the Field of Cloth of Gold, the Dissolution of the Monasteries, or the Babington Plot. - Intimate portraits of Tudor figures: Anne Boleyn’s charm and downfall, Thomas Cromwell’s rise and brutal fall, Elizabeth I’s cunning survival. - Dark mysteries and unsolved deaths — who really killed Amy Robsart? Was Katherine Howard truly guilty? - Special episodes on Tudor fashion, food, medicine, and the day-to-day lives of Tudor men and women. Join thousands of Tudor fans worldwide Never miss an episode — subscribe now and become part of a global community that can’t get enough of Tudor drama. Explore more with Claire’s books, free resources, and live historical events at www.ClaireRidgway.com. Ready to travel back 500 years? Press play and let the adventure begin.
Episodes
Episodes



Sunday Dec 11, 2022
The Tudors in their own words - Catherine Howard to Thomas Culpeper
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Today's "The Tudors in their own words" quote is from Catherine Howard, fifth wife of King Henry VIII, from a letter she wrote to Thomas Culpeper.
Historian and author Claire Ridgway shares Catherine's words.
You can read the full letter online at https://tudorhistory.org/letters/culpepperletter.html



Saturday Dec 10, 2022
The Tudors in their own words - Anne of Cleves to Henry VIII
Saturday Dec 10, 2022
Saturday Dec 10, 2022
Today's Tudor quote is from Anne of Cleves, fourth wife of King Henry VIII, and is taken from a message she wrote to the king following the annulment of their marriage in July 1540.
Hear historian and author Claire Ridgway read Anne's rather sad words.



Friday Dec 09, 2022
Friday Dec 09, 2022
Today's Tudor quote is taken from the announcement Queen Jane Seymour sent to Henry VIII's privy council regarding the birth of her son, King Edward VI. Historian and author Claire Ridgway shares Jane Seymour's words.
Link to the full announcement - https://englishhistory.net/tudor/letter-of-queen-jane-seymour-to-the-privy-council-of-england-12-october-1537/
Link to news article on the discovery of the document - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2108110/Letter-informing-Henry-VIII-longed-sons-birth-469-years-stately-home.html?ito=feeds-newsxml



Thursday Dec 08, 2022
The Tudors in their own words - Anne Boleyn to her father, Thomas Boleyn
Thursday Dec 08, 2022
Thursday Dec 08, 2022
Today's Tudor quote is taken from a letter Anne Boleyn wrote to her father, Thomas Boleyn, while she was on the Continent at Margaret of Austria's court.
Here is the original letter: https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/anne-boleyn-court-margaret-austria/
Historian and author Claire Ridgway shares a young and excited Anne Boleyn's words.



Wednesday Dec 07, 2022
Wednesday Dec 07, 2022
Today's Tudor quote is taken from a letter Queen Catherine of Aragon wrote to her husband, King Henry VIII, while she was Regent of England and he was in France.
Historian and author Claire Ridgway shares Catherine's good news to Henry.



Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
The Tudors in their own words - Queen Elizabeth I’s words to Parliament
Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
Today's Tudor quote is taken from Queen Elizabeth I's final speech to Parliament on 30th November 1601, her Golden Speech.
Historian and author Claire Ridgway shares Elizabeth I's beautiful words.
You can read her full speech at https://www.tudorsociety.com/elizabeth-golden-speech-30-november-1601/



Monday Dec 05, 2022
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Today's Tudor quote is taken from a speech Queen Mary I made to the citizens of London in February 1554 to rally them to her cause against Wyatt's Rebellion.
Historian and author Claire Ridgway shares Mary I's words.



Sunday Dec 04, 2022
Sunday Dec 04, 2022

I'm historian Claire Ridgway
I'm the best-selling author of 13 history books and the founder of the TheAnneBoleynFiles.com, Elizabethfiles.com and The Tudor Society.
I help Tudor history lovers worldwide to gain access to experts and resources to discover the real stories behind myths and fiction, so that they grow in knowledge while connecting with like-minded people and indulging their passion for history.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. I was a contributor for the BBC docudrama The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family, and have been featured in BBC History Extra, USA Today, History of Royals Magazine, the Express, and Refinery 29, as well as on podcasts including Suzannah Lipscomb's Not Just the Tudors, Gareth Russell's Single Malt History, Natalie Grueninger's Talking Tudors, Hever Castle's Inside Hever, James Boulton's Queens of England, and many more.