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



Monday May 24, 2021
24 May - Robert Cecil, Elizabeth I's "pygmy"
Monday May 24, 2021
Monday May 24, 2021
On this day in history, 24th May 1612, in the reign of King James I, Elizabeth I's former Secretary of State, Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, died.
Find out a bit more about the man Elizabeth I called "my pygmy" from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:https://youtu.be/qlINJwhUsNA
Claire is the founder of the Tudor Society, an online membership site for those who love Tudor history. There, you can learn from Claire and many other expert historians and authors, enjoy Tudor-focused magazines and live Q&A sessions with experts, and have access to all kinds of talks, articles, quizzes, virtual tours and more. Try it with a 14-day free trial - https://www.tudorsociety.com/signup/
Claire has written some bestselling Tudor history books:
On This Day in Tudor History - https://amzn.to/3oceahH
The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown - https://amzn.to/3m8KaSi
George Boleyn: Tudor Poet, Courtier and Diplomat - https://amzn.to/2TdwyZr
The Anne Boleyn Collection - https://amzn.to/3kiQc1T
The Anne Boleyn Collection II - https://amzn.to/3o9LUwi
The Anne Boleyn Collection III - https://amzn.to/3kiQc1T
The Life of Anne Boleyn Colouring Books - https://amzn.to/3jkJ5Vz
Claire has also done an online history course, The Life of Anne Boleyn, for MedievalCourses.com - https://medievalcourses.com/overview/life-anne-boleyn-mc06/
You can find Claire at:
https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
https://www.tudorsociety.com
https://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/



Sunday May 23, 2021
23 May - Henry Grey is finally made a Knight of the Garter
Sunday May 23, 2021
Sunday May 23, 2021
On this day in Tudor history, 23rd May 1547, in the reign of King Edward VI, Henry Grey, 3rd Marquis of Dorset, was finally installed as a Knight of the Garter.
Grey had wanted this honour for years and had been nominated many times, so what had changed? How did he end up joining the Order of the Garter. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:https://youtu.be/aJsrw8Q_vqk
Find out in today's #TudorHistoryShorts talk from Claire Ridgway.



Saturday May 22, 2021
22 May - Edward Seymour is in favour
Saturday May 22, 2021
Saturday May 22, 2021
On this day in Tudor history, 22nd May 1537, in the reign of King Henry VIII, Queen Jane Seymour's brother, Edward Seymour, was appointed to the privy council.
It was just one reward of many and you can find out more about Edward Seymour's rise from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:https://youtu.be/-7xo_RiEiGA
Claire is the founder of the Tudor Society, an online membership site for those who love Tudor history. There, you can learn from Claire and many other expert historians and authors, enjoy Tudor-focused magazines and live Q&A sessions with experts, and have access to all kinds of talks, articles, quizzes, virtual tours and more. Try it with a 14-day free trial - https://www.tudorsociety.com/signup/
Claire has written some bestselling Tudor history books:
On This Day in Tudor History - https://amzn.to/3oceahH
The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown - https://amzn.to/3m8KaSi
George Boleyn: Tudor Poet, Courtier and Diplomat - https://amzn.to/2TdwyZr
The Anne Boleyn Collection - https://amzn.to/3kiQc1T
The Anne Boleyn Collection II - https://amzn.to/3o9LUwi
The Anne Boleyn Collection III - https://amzn.to/3kiQc1T
The Life of Anne Boleyn Colouring Books - https://amzn.to/3jkJ5Vz
Claire has also done an online history course, The Life of Anne Boleyn, for MedievalCourses.com - https://medievalcourses.com/overview/life-anne-boleyn-mc06/
You can find Claire at:
https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
https://www.tudorsociety.com
https://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/



Friday May 21, 2021
21 May - Philip of Spain
Friday May 21, 2021
Friday May 21, 2021
Today is the anniversary of the birth of King Philip II of Spain, husband of Queen Mary I. Historian Claire Ridgway commemorates his birthday by sharing a few facts about this European ruler.
Claire is the founder of the Tudor Society, an online membership site for those who love Tudor history. There, you can learn from Claire and many other expert historians and authors, enjoy Tudor-focused magazines and live Q&A sessions with experts, and have access to all kinds of talks, articles, quizzes, virtual tours and more. Try it with a 14-day free trial - https://www.tudorsociety.com/signup/
Claire has written some bestselling Tudor history books:
On This Day in Tudor History - https://amzn.to/3oceahH
The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown - https://amzn.to/3m8KaSi
George Boleyn: Tudor Poet, Courtier and Diplomat - https://amzn.to/2TdwyZr
The Anne Boleyn Collection - https://amzn.to/3kiQc1T
The Anne Boleyn Collection II - https://amzn.to/3o9LUwi
The Anne Boleyn Collection III - https://amzn.to/3kiQc1T
The Life of Anne Boleyn Colouring Books - https://amzn.to/3jkJ5Vz
Claire has also done an online history course, The Life of Anne Boleyn, for MedievalCourses.com - https://medievalcourses.com/overview/life-anne-boleyn-mc06/
You can find Claire at:
https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
https://www.tudorsociety.com
https://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/



Thursday May 20, 2021
20 May - Henry VIII doesn’t let the grass grow under his feet!
Thursday May 20, 2021
Thursday May 20, 2021
On this day in Tudor history, 20th May 1536, King Henry VIII, who had just been widowed for a second time, moved on with his life.
It was just 24 hours after Queen Anne Boleyn's execution, but Henry VIII didn't let that stop him from getting betrothed to his new flame, Jane Seymour.
Claire is the founder of the Tudor Society, an online membership site for those who love Tudor history. There, you can learn from Claire and many other expert historians and authors, enjoy Tudor-focused magazines and live Q&A sessions with experts, and have access to all kinds of talks, articles, quizzes, virtual tours and more. Try it with a 14-day free trial - https://www.tudorsociety.com/signup/
Claire has written some bestselling Tudor history books:
On This Day in Tudor History - https://amzn.to/3oceahH
The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown - https://amzn.to/3m8KaSi
George Boleyn: Tudor Poet, Courtier and Diplomat - https://amzn.to/2TdwyZr
The Anne Boleyn Collection - https://amzn.to/3kiQc1T
The Anne Boleyn Collection II - https://amzn.to/3o9LUwi
The Anne Boleyn Collection III - https://amzn.to/3kiQc1T
The Life of Anne Boleyn Colouring Books - https://amzn.to/3jkJ5Vz
Claire has also done an online history course, The Life of Anne Boleyn, for MedievalCourses.com - https://medievalcourses.com/overview/life-anne-boleyn-mc06/
You can find Claire at:
https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
https://www.tudorsociety.com
https://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/



Wednesday May 19, 2021
Coming soon - The Boleyns of Hever Castle
Wednesday May 19, 2021
Wednesday May 19, 2021
Dr Owen Emmerson and Claire Ridgway are excited to announce the release date of their forthcoming book, "The Boleyns of Hever Castle".
It will be released as a coffee-table style book and ebook on 1st August 2021 and Owen and Claire are launching it with a special talk and book signing at the Festival Theatre, Hever Castle, on that date.Book your ticket at https://heverfestival.co.uk/index.php/the-boleyns-of-hever-castle/
---------------------
Hever Castle is a picture-postcard fortified manor house nestled in the Kent countryside. It is, of course, famous for its links with the Boleyns, an East Anglian gentry family who rose and fell dramatically at the court of King Henry VIII.
In The Boleyns of Hever Castle, historians Dr Owen Emmerson and Claire Ridgway invite you into the home of this notorious family.
Travel back in time to those 77 years of Boleyn ownership. Tour each room just as it was when Anne Boleyn retreated from court to escape the advances of Henry VIII or when she fought off the dreaded ‘sweat’. See the 16th century Hever Castle come to life with room reconstructions and read the story of the Boleyns, who, in just five generations, rose from petty crime to a castle, from Hever to the throne of England...



Wednesday May 19, 2021
19 May - Anne Boleyn's execution
Wednesday May 19, 2021
Wednesday May 19, 2021
On this day in Tudor history, 19th May 1536, Henry VIII's second wife, Queen Anne Boleyn, was executed at the Tower of London.
Find out more, and hear some of her final words, in this #TudorHistoryShorts from Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/RdI0GS_C35w
For a more detailed video on Anne Boleyn's execution, see https://youtu.be/Gpum3gzc3CU



Tuesday May 18, 2021
18 May - I have a little neck
Tuesday May 18, 2021
Tuesday May 18, 2021
On this day in Tudor history, 18th May 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn's execution was postponed.
Sir William Kingston, the Constable of the Tower of London, was surprised by the queen's reaction when he informed her of the delay - why? How did Anne react? What did she say?
Find out exactly what Anne Boleyn said in this #TudorHistoryShorts talk from Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/_69kA8P9rnE

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.









