That is, the 500th anniversary of him becoming king. Or the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry VII. Or both.<\/p>\n
From the L.A. Times (and written by Susan James!):<\/p>\n
Best known of the English kings, Henry VIII has usually been portrayed as a gargantuan party boy seducing court ladies, quarreling with the church, arresting friends and beheading wives. But he brought more to the throne than that.<\/p>\n
Bright, cultured and handsome, Henry succeeded peacefully to the crown as he turned 18, securing the Tudor dynasty and making possible England’s golden age.<\/p>\n
Next year marks the 500th anniversary of that accession, and a variety of special events will be held in and around London to explore his life and reign.<\/p>\n
A major presentation at Hampton Court, Henry’s magnificent palace on the Thames, opens April 12 and runs daily through the year. It focuses on one day in the king’s life: July 12, 1543, the day he married his sixth queen, Catherine Parr.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n
Beginning Oct. 31, 2009, the palace will host a series of ghost tours through candlelighted rooms, including the Haunted Corridor where Henry’s fifth queen, Catherine Howard, ran screaming from guards sent to take her to the Tower.<\/p>\n
Tudor Christmas (Dec. 27 to Jan. 1) will be celebrated with traditional music, dancing and live entertainment as well as an open-air ice rink.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n