1-192-394 - © London Museum/Heritage-Images

'King Henry the Eigth & Anna Bullen', 18th century. Henry VIII holds the hand of Anne Boleyn. On the right the unhappy Pope Clement VII looks at the couple sideways. In the background Henry VIII's existing wife, Catherine of Aragon, is seated on the throne and pointing at the couple. Henry met Anne while still married to Catherine and needed to obtain a divorce. However Pope Clement VII, as head of the Catholic church, refused to grant this. Therefore Henry broke away from the church in Rome, and appointed himself head of the new Church of England. In doing so he could allow his own divorce.