Had a spectacular breakfast (Hever don't do anything by halves!) and then, the final morning of our Tour was spent in the most beautiful room, listening to almost 4 hours of talks from 3 amazing Tudor Historians. Our Tour's Historian In Residence, Estelle Paranque, who has been absolutely incredible for this whole week and who I just love to absolute pieces, Sandra Vasoli (who joined us yesterday and is disgustingly lovely, I can't cope with how much I love everybody we've encountered this entire trip) and Sophie Bacchus-Waterman who is the cutest little old lady in a young woman's body you've ever seen. Estelle talked about Anne Boleyn's connections with France, Sandy has been to the Vatican library (an unbelievable honour even in the World of Historians, not many people get permission and are permitted) and has studied the original love letters that remain from Henry to Anne. So beautiful and awe-inspiring - but how is it possible that somebody SO in love fell so out of love that he chopped her head off her shoulders a few years later?! Sophie spoke to us about the relationship between Elizabeth and Thomas Boleyn, the parents of Anne, George and Mary and how the execution of 2 of their 3 children affected them both personally and as a couple. An unbelievable morning and a great thing to have on the final day when we have so much context and fresh connection with all the things we've seen this week.
Estelle Paranque
Sandy Vasoli
And the very cute, tiny little Sophie Bacchus-Waterman
We had a free afternoon but were on a ban from going into Hever Castle itself until our Tour later tonight, so Melissa, Marley and I had lunch in the grounds, shopped (I use the word shop, but could also say "descended like a once-in-a-generation plague of locusts") in the gift shop and then SHOULD have caught up on my blog, but fell asleep and napped instead.
I did, however, wake up in time to go on our Tour of Anne Boleyn's childhood home followed by our "Tudor Banquet" in the Boleyn's Great Hall. When I saw we went on a Tour of the Boleyn Family Home, I mean we stood in their courtyard, looked out their windows, stood in the rooms where they talked, played, ate, slept, planned, where Anne had The Sweat, where they had their lessons, all of it. Right here, in this space. Unbelievable.
I know I'm ignoring the entire 500 years since, including the American millionaire family of John Jacob Astor (lost with the Titanic) and wow, that pink bathroom definitely screams that they were here, but...Anne...
Anne's Book of Hours - her very own that she carried around with her!
After the Tour we had the most EPIC dinner of all time, where we were honoured with the presence of the "most excellent, most high and most mighty Prince, His Majesty Henry the Eighth, by the grace of God, King of England and of France, Defender of the Faith and Lord of Ireland", as well as our hosts in the home of the Boleyn family and mother to our good Queen Anne, Elizabeth and Thomas Boleyn (really our Tour Director Sarah and her husband, Chris). Henry was hilariously obnoxious, Elizabeth and Thomas were equal parts curious about us and mortified by the actions of their "Guests from the New World" and the musicians were - well they were magnificent. We sat in the Boleyns Great Hall and ate like Kings, tried to hide from the wrath of His Majesty (some of us unsuccessfully) and laughed like Court Jesters. Estelle (our Historian In Residence for the Tour and as French as they come) was dubbed The French Ambassador and then grilled relentlessly by Henry as to why her Master, King Francis, was behaving in a manner proving he is no friend to the King, His Realm or His People. Poor Estelle! She handled it like a trooper and she was a great choice for Henry to pick on because, being a Historian, she had all the answers to everything Henry brought up, while the rest of us tried to hide, which, in case anyone is wondering, is impossible when you're laughing non-stop into your clout (serviette), or in my case, having a panic attack that Henry's gonna see you choking on a pea. It was a magical evening and the absolute perfect way to finish our Tour.
Henry stepped out of character at the end to chat with us all and he is an absolutely cracking bloke. After dinner the group of us that have been staying up late sat up until almost 3am. David, who was Henry joined us and he's awesome. He's only 25 but his knowledge is amazing and we had an absolutely fascinating conversation. I couldn't leave even though I had stuff spread all over the room and ended up packing until 4 o'clock in the morning.
I can't begin to express how magical this week has been. I wish I'd done this 30 years ago!
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