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.
How I can help you...
Online Events
I regularly host online Tudor history conferences to connect Tudor history lovers with Tudor historians all from the comfort of their own homes. They comprise talks, live events, live Q&A sessions and resources, and are educational and fun.
Check out the Events tab to find out about my latest event.
The Tudor Society
Ready to discover the truth about the Tudors?
Start learning from Claire and other Tudor history experts right now with stacks of free resources - Learn more
The Anne Boleyn Files
Interested in learning the facts behind the myths and fiction surrounding Anne Boleyn?
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.
Praise for Claire's work
"Claire's blog - recently made available in book form - is more rigorous than that of many professional historians." Susan Bordo, author of The Creation of Anne Boleyn: A New Look at England's Most Notorious Queen
"A sumptuously illustrated and impeccably researched history about the domestic life of a family that shaped British history. This is a fascinating window into both the Boleyns' lives at Hever and upper-class life on the eve of the Reformation." - Gareth Russell, Author of Young and Damned and Fair, on The Boleyns of Hever Castle.
"I've been a history buff all my life, both as a reader and as a writer. I thought I knew about Anne and her Boleyn family, Henry VIII and his court, but this book [The Anne Boleyn Collection] fills in so many blanks for me that I will read it more than once...This is a book for the legion of Tudor fiction readers, who want to know the stories behind the myths, the truth behind the legend...Absolutely fascinating read. " - Jeane Westin, Author of His Last Letter
"Claire has produced another must read for Anne Bolyen fans." Leanda de Lisle, author of Tudor: The Family Story, writing about "The Anne Boleyn Collection II.
More about me
I founded the Anne Boleyn Files in 2009, the Tudor Society in 2014 and I have a popular YouTube channel.
I help Tudor history lovers all over the world learn more about history, connect with experts and like-minded people, and uncover the facts behind the fiction, all from the comfort of their own homes.
I'm a former teacher and a recognised expert in Tudor history, and, as the founder of The Tudor Society, I've built a community of history lovers and experts where members can share their passion for history and receive accurate resources and information.
Becoming Elizabeth - Episode 3 - Either Learn or Be Silent
In this week’s episode of Becoming Elizabeth, episode 3 "Either Learn or Be Silent", things come to a head between Thomas Seymour and Elizabeth, but is historian Claire Ridgway still ...angry, or has she calmed down? How does she feel about the Elizabeth and Seymour storyline and just how close was this episode to history?
Claire looks at what history tells us about Seymour's behaviour with Elizabeth, including the dress-slashing scenes, as well as looking at the timeline of events, the Mary/Elizabeth letter storyline, Elizabeth's 15th birthday, Elizabeth and Lady Jane Grey, the Greys, Edward VI and Lord Protector Somerset, Pedro de Negro and Catherine Parr's feelings about her pregnancy. Phew!
Becoming Elizabeth - Episode 3 - Either Learn or Be Silent
In this week’s episode of Becoming Elizabeth, episode 3 "Either Learn [...]
In this week’s episode of Becoming Elizabeth, episode 3 "Either Learn or Be Silent", things come to a head between Thomas Seymour and Elizabeth, but is historian Claire Ridgway still ...angry, or has she calmed down? How does she feel about the Elizabeth and Seymour storyline and just how close was this episode to history?
Claire looks at what history tells us about Seymour's behaviour with Elizabeth, including the dress-slashing scenes, as well as looking at the timeline of events, the Mary/Elizabeth letter storyline, Elizabeth's 15th birthday, Elizabeth and Lady Jane Grey, the Greys, Edward VI and Lord Protector Somerset, Pedro de Negro and Catherine Parr's feelings about her pregnancy. Phew!
Becoming Elizabeth - Episode 2 Part 2 with feedback from Tom Cullen and Anya Reiss
Thank you to all those who commented on my last video with their views [...]
Thank you to all those who commented on my last video with their views on the Elizabeth and Seymour storyline. It's such an important topic and it was great to ...open up that dialogue.
Huge thanks go to Tom Cullen, who plays Thomas Seymour, and Anya Reiss, the writer, for reaching out to me, sharing their views and giving some insights into how and why Elizabeth and Seymour are depicted this way and where their storyline is going.
But what about the rest of the episode? Well, don't worry, in this episode I look at the relationship between Edward VI and Princess Mary, the fuss over Catherine Parr's jewels, and the characters Lady Jane Grey and Robert Dudley.
Becoming Elizabeth Epsiode 2 - Elizabeth I’s #metoo moment is ruined
Trigger alert: Claire discusses the harassment and abuse experienced [...]
Trigger alert: Claire discusses the harassment and abuse experienced by Elizabeth I, as featured in the episode.
Historian and author Claire Ridgway is rather cross this week as she talks about ...a key storyline in this week's "Becoming Elizabeth" episode. Claire says. "I’m so angry, spitting mad actually. I feel that Becoming Elizabeth has taken the #MeToo movement, thrown it on the floor and stamped all over it. This was an opportunity to educate; instead, we’ve ended up with a trashy romance."
Find out exactly what Claire thought of the Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour storyline. Spoiler alert - she didn't think much of it!
Becoming Elizabeth - Episode 1 - Keep the Knife Bright - Fictions versus history
In the first of these weekly videos on the Starz series "Becoming [...]
In the first of these weekly videos on the Starz series "Becoming Elizabeth", historian and best-selling author Claire Ridgway discusses Episode 1 "Keep your knife bright".
Claire looks at the main ...scenes of this episode and explores just how close they were to the real history of the events of early 1547, just after the death of King Henry VIII,
What really happened in early 1547? Was the timeline correct? Was Catherine Parr really already involved with Thomas Seymour? Did Edward Seymour dash off to Scotland? And what about Thomas Seymour and the young Elizabeth I? We know that Thomas's behaviour with Elizabeth caused a scandal, but were his advances welcome?
As we get ever closer to 19th May, have you ever wondered about Anne [...]
As we get ever closer to 19th May, have you ever wondered about Anne Boleyn and what was happening to her? Here's a quick timeline video showing some of the ...major events that led to Anne Boleyn being executed on 19 May 1536.
You'll discover how shockingly fast it all happened.[+] Show More
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Announcement - May Anne Boleyn Event now also on YouTube
Thank you so much for all your comments and feedback the other day. [...]
Thank you so much for all your comments and feedback the other day. I'm so glad you're excited about my forthcoming event.
A few of you mentioned not being on Facebook, ...so I'll be live streaming on YouTube for you too, privately for ticketholders.
The Fall of Anne Boleyn with Claire Ridgway 13-20 May 2022
Join historian Claire Ridgway, author of "The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A [...]
Join historian Claire Ridgway, author of "The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown", for a completely online 8-day event exploring the dramatic events of spring 1536.
This event is completely online ...so you can join in from the comfort of your home. This event is for you if:
- You want to understand exactly what happened in the spring of 1536
- You want to understand how Anne went from being the woman Henry VIII broke with his beloved church to possess to being replaced by her maid of honour
- You want to know who was involved in Anne's fall, who was implicated and why, and how two men escaped with their lives
- You're interested in getting behind the fiction and myths
- You'd like to know what happened afterwards and what Anne Boleyn's legacy was
- You'd like to know if Jane Boleyn really brought down the Boleyns out of hatred and revenge
- You'd like to pay tribute to Anne Boleyn by spending 8 days immersed in her story and connecting with like-minded people![+] Show More
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Anne Boleyn: The Woman Who Changed England - Sarah Morris
10 days of daily talks and live Q&A sessions with THE best Anne Boleyn [...]
From Blickling Hall to Paris and the glorious chateaux of the Loire, Natalie and Sarah will describe the buildings she knew, and explore some of the early, cultural forces that we believe shaped Anne Boleyn's later character and tastes. Pack your virtual bags and get ready to time travel![+] Show More
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Anne Boleyn: The Woman Who Changed England - Natalie Grueninger
10 days of daily talks and live Q&A sessions with THE best Anne Boleyn [...]
Have you ever wanted to know more about some of the places Anne Boleyn knew intimately during her early years in England, Mechelen and France? Drawing upon the extensive research undertaken for the writing of their No 1 Amazon bestseller, "In the Footsteps of Anne Boleyn", join co-authors Sarah Morris and Natalie Grueninger for a lively adventure as they reimagine Anne’s early years through the places she visited and called home.[+] Show More
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Anne Boleyn: The Woman Who Changed England
10 days of daily talks and live Q&A sessions with THE best Anne Boleyn [...]
10 days of daily talks and live Q&A sessions with THE best Anne Boleyn experts where you'll meet a very new Anne Boleyn and understand why she changed the course ...of English history.
Anne Boleyn's story is one of the most famous of the Tudor Age, but that of her father, Thomas Boleyn, is less known. Far from the myth of a grasping courtier who sacrificed his daughters to the royal bedchamber, Thomas Boleyn enjoyed a successful career as one of the Tudor period's most highly skilled ambassadors and courtiers, serving as one of Cardinal Wolsey’s right-hand men and cultivating impressive personal connections with European monarchs and the nobility.
The relationship between father and daughter is reflected in the sophisticated education he secured for Anne in the courts of Europe, as well as the connections he helped her create at the English court. Lauren Mackay delves into this underappreciated element of Anne’s life, to discover just how instrumental Thomas was in shaping the extraordinary woman we have come to know.[+] Show More
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Anne Boleyn: The Woman Who Changed England - Kate McCaffrey
10 days of daily talks and live Q&A sessions with THE best Anne Boleyn [...]
10 days of daily talks and live Q&A sessions with THE best Anne Boleyn experts where you'll meet a very new Anne Boleyn and understand why she changed the course ...of English history.
In many aspects of her life, Anne was the opposite of passive, the opposite of the expected. In her style, her language, her religious beliefs, her boldness, her airs and graces, Anne was unexpected. She did not follow the grain. She stood out.
Anne Boleyn: The Woman Who Changed England - Owen Emmerson
10 days of daily talks and live Q&A sessions with THE best Anne Boleyn [...]
10 days of daily talks and live Q&A sessions with THE best Anne Boleyn experts where you'll meet a very new Anne Boleyn and understand why she changed the course ...of English history.
One of Anne Boleyn’s most defining characteristics, one that marked her out as different from the traditional model of English court ladies and captured the eye of the king of England, was her agency.
In many aspects of her life, Anne was the opposite of passive, the opposite of the expected. In her style, her language, her religious beliefs, her boldness, her airs and graces, Anne was unexpected. She did not follow the grain. She stood out. Equally, however, she knew the importance of using the established gender roles to her advantage, of presenting herself as the ‘lovynge and kynde’ wife-in-waiting. This talk will examine the ways in which Anne consciously created and curated her own image working both within, and outside of, expected gender norms.
Thank you so much for putting together this event! It's been something I've looked forward to every evening, and I've learned so much from the talks and Q&As. As I
