Comedian and presenter Josh Widdicombe returned to Hever Castle on Sunday 22 June 2025, the anniversary of his ancestor William Carey’s death, to unveil a newly acquired Tudor portrait of his 14-times great-grandfather which now hangs in the Castle’s historic Great Chamber.
Carey, a prominent Tudor courtier, was the husband of Mary Boleyn, Anne Boleyn’s sister. While much about his life remains mysterious, he played a significant role at the court of Henry VIII as a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and Esquire of the Body. He was also a third cousin and jousting companion of the King.
Josh Widdicombe, who discovered his direct link to Carey during an episode of the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? filmed at Hever in 2021, spoke warmly about the occasion:
“It is a huge honour to be invited back to my family home to unveil this picture. Ever since Who Do You Think You Are?, I’ve been presuming this day would come.”
During the filming Dr Owen Emmerson, historian at the Castle, took him through the story on screen. Widdicombe is descended directly from William Carey, Anne Boleyn is his ancestral aunt, and Elizabeth I his ancestral cousin.
For the first time in 500 years, William Carey has now been reunited with his wife Mary Boleyn in portrait form, with both paintings hanging side by side in the Great Chamber of the Boleyn Apartment. Mary’s portrait has long been on display at Hever Castle, while Carey’s portrait was recently acquired for the Castle’s collection after being sold at auction in Paris in 2024.
Hever Castle’s curator, Alison Palmer, said:
“The painting of William Carey is thought to have been commissioned around 1580 by his son, Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon, and exemplifies the Tudor tradition of creating ‘corridor portraits’ to honour lineage. It joins the wider collection of historic portraits at Hever, enriching the Castle’s narrative of Tudor heritage.”
Interest in William Carey has surged in recent months, with speculation among Tudor history fans about the portrait’s whereabouts following its sale. Visitors to Hever Castle can now view the reunited pair in situ and reflect on their place in the wider Boleyn and Tudor story.
The connection between William Carey and the modern royal family adds another layer to the story. Carey is an ancestor of both the paternal and maternal lines of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.
Read more about William Carey and his portrait here.
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Hever Castle has played host to many important events and celebrations for over 600 years. In 1903 when William Waldorf Astor set about restoring Hever Castle to its former glory, he added the Astor Wing, to accommodate his family and guests, before creating a lake and the spectacular Italian Garden to house his impressive collection of ancient Greek and Roman statuary.
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