August 8 - Edward VI's Burial

On this day in Tudor history, 8th August 1553, fifteen-year-old King Edward VI was buried in Henry VII’s Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey in a funeral service performed by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. 

 

Although his Catholic half-sister, Mary, was on the throne, Edward was buried with Protestant rites and it was the first time the English Book of Common Prayer was used for the funeral of a monarch.

 

Find out more about Edward VI's funeral, how Mary I marked his passing, and Edward VI's resting place, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History". You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:

https://youtu.be/ifwHCSZC1b4

 

Also on this day in Tudor history, 8th August 1588, Queen Elizabeth I decided to accept Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester's invitation to visit the troops he had gathered near Tilbury Fort to guard the eastern approach to London from the expected invasion by the Spanish Armada. Why did Leicester invite the queen to Tilbury? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/4twBiLqkxDc