Discover the Unexpected: Top 11 Entertaining and Intriguing Facts About Anne of Cleves

1. Royal Wife Swap

In a royal game of Wife Swap, where Anne of Cleves exchanged her crown for a better title: The "King's beloved sister" was a reward given after her marriage to Henry VIII was annulled due to an unfortunate case of non-consummation and a pre-contract with Francis, Duke of Lorraine. This clever sister outlived her ex-hubby, his two other wives, and a stepson, leaving her mark on history when she finally bowed out at the ripe old royal age of 41 in 1557.
Source => smithsonianmag.com

2. Lemonade Twist

When life gave Henry VIII lemons, it seems he made merry lemonade with a twist: Despite his initial disgust towards Anne of Cleves upon meeting her in person, the two maintained a cordial relationship after their annulment and even referred to each other as "brother" and "sister."
Source => smithsonianmag.com

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3. Friendly Annulment Dance

When the annulment is friendlier than the marriage, it's party time: Despite their union falling to pieces, Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves remained on such good terms post-annulment that they called each other "brother" and "sister", and Anne even joined Henry and his next wife, Catherine Howard, for a festive dance session at Hampton Court during Christmas.
Source => hrp.org.uk

4. Monopoly Divorce Queen

If winning at divorce had a mascot, it would be Anne of Cleves, who walked out of her marriage with more gold and castles than a game of Monopoly: Following her annulment from King Henry VIII, Anne secured an annual income of £4,000 and became the proud owner of lavish royal properties at Richmond and Bletchingley, all while expressing her utmost loyalty to the King and acceptance of their invalid union.
Source => tudortimes.co.uk

5. Disguised Tinder Disappointment

Talk about a swipe left on Tinder! When Henry VIII went full Sherlock Holmes and disguised himself to sneak a peek at Anne of Cleves, he was far from impressed with his future wife's looks: Henry's dismay at their first incognito encounter famously led to him dubbing her "nothing so fair as she hath been reported," basically saying she didn't live up to her 16th-century profile pic.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Exes Turned Besties

Who says exes can't be friends? Anne of Cleves and good ol' Henry VIII were a prime example of a royal breakup turned buddy comedy: After their marriage got dissolved quicker than a royal aspirin in a goblet of wine, Anne hung around England, scoring the endearing title of "the king's sister" and even snagging VIP seats at swanky events during Edward VI and Mary I's time on the throne.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Castle-Bound Bachelorette

Who needs a king when you've got yourself a castle? Anne of Cleves sure knew how to bounce back in the real estate game after her royal breakup: Despite her brief marriage to Henry VIII, Anne found happiness, living luxuriously on multiple properties with hefty financial allowances, and even owned Hever Castle, Anne Boleyn's former home. Choosing to stay in England, she lived out her days at Chelsea Manor until her death at 41.
Source => english-heritage.org.uk

8. Unexpected Tudor Twist

If Henry VIII's love life were a TV show, Anne of Cleves would be the unexpected twist in an epic drama: handpicked by a king for strategic alliances, Anne's marriage to Henry VIII barely outlived the shelf life of a carton of milk, lasting just six months. Yet, against all odds, the two maintained a sibling-like bond, complete with a generous allowance and a swanky Kent property for Anne – proving that not all Tudor Palace stories need a bloody finale.
Source => hrp.org.uk

9. Speed-Dating Sister Wife

Anne of Cleves, the marital speed-dater of the 16th century: Her union with King Henry VIII lasted a mere six months before being declared unconsummated and annulled, yet she scored a generous settlement and remained in England for the rest of her days, outlasting all her fellow sister wives and rubbing elbows with Edward VI and Mary I.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Thrifty Royal Adaptation

Who needs multilingual singing talents when you can rock a sensible budget and killer adaptability skills? Anne of Cleves was like the thrift store version of royalty, embracing her frugal lifestyle with practicality and grace: Despite being monolingual and having no musical talents, Anne quickly adapted to the English way of life, becoming both beloved by her ladies-in-waiting and also somewhat frivolously nicknamed "The Flanders Mare" by her not-so-adoring critics.
Source => spartacus-educational.com

11. Amicable Tinderella Exes

You could say Henry VIII swiped left on his Tinderella, Anne of Cleves, but they both managed to find something better than happily ever after: amicable exes status. The serious reveal: Despite never being crowned queen, Anne of Cleves received a lavish divorce settlement, remained friendly with Henry VIII, and ended up with a final resting place fit for royalty - Westminster Abbey, complete with her initials, a crown, lions' heads, skulls, and crossed bones.
Source => westminster-abbey.org