A rare Tudor portrait of William Carey will go on display at Hever Castle & Gardens on Sunday 22 June, on the anniversary of his death, reuniting him for the first time in 500 years with his wife, Mary Boleyn – famously known as the other Boleyn girl.
The two portraits will hang together in the Castle’s historic Great Chamber, allowing visitors to see this couple from Tudor history side by side once more.
Dr Owen Emmerson, Resident Historian at Hever Castle, says: “This is an important moment in the history of the Boleyns. To the best of our knowledge, these two portraits have never been displayed together before. It’s the first time in five centuries that husband and wife will be reunited – and to do so at Hever, Mary’s childhood home, is especially significant.”
William Carey – a courtier, jousting champion, and third cousin to Henry VIII – is a figure who has long remained in the shadows of Tudor history. Best remembered as the husband of Mary Boleyn, Carey’s own story has been largely overlooked.
William Carey was a favourite of Henry VIII, and a frequent companion in jousting tournaments (along with Thomas and George Boleyn). He was present at the famous Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520. His wife Mary Boleyn was also a known figure at court, having spent time in France in the household of Henry VIII’s sister, Mary Tudor.
The couple married in 1520 and had two children, Henry and Catherine Carey, who would go on to play important roles during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, their cousin.
Carey’s descendants include HRH The Prince of Wales. He is descended from William Carey on both his maternal line (the Spencers) and paternal line (the Bowes-Lyons).
Mary Boleyn remains a captivating yet elusive figure. While her sister Anne Boleyn rose to become Queen of England, Mary’s own legacy is harder to define. Historian and Assistant Curator Kate McCaffrey, a specialist in the Boleyn family, explains: “Mary is often misunderstood. She was intelligent, educated, and known to have made a love match with her second husband, William Stafford. After being banished from court for marrying below her station, she famously wrote to Thomas Cromwell: ‘I had rather beg my bread with him than be the greatest queen in Christendom.’”
The portrait of William Carey was painted some twenty years after his death and probably commissioned by his son Henry Carey, a key figure in Elizabeth I’s court. Curator Alison Palmer explains: “This type of portrait, often called a ‘corridor portrait’, was popular in the later Elizabethan and early Jacobean periods. They were designed to honour family lineage. Its presence here strengthens not just William’s story, but Mary’s too, echoing the rich collection of Tudor portraiture in our Long Gallery.”
Since the sale of the portrait of William Carey, rumours have spread online as to the whereabouts of this important figure from history, and the team are excited to share the portrait with Tudor fans and visitors to Hever Castle.
Carey’s death from sweating sickness on 22 June 1528 left Mary widowed with two young children. At the time, news of his death would likely have reached Hever Castle, where Anne Boleyn and her father Thomas were themselves stricken by the same illness.
Now, nearly five centuries later, his portrait returns to a place deeply connected to his extended family, where visitors can explore the stories of the Boleyns and now see a portrait of William too.
“It’s incredibly moving to see these two enigmatic individuals reunited in a place so central to the Boleyn legacy,” says Kate McCaffrey. “As historians, we hope this display helps visitors feel closer to the real people behind the names – people whose stories we’re still uncovering.”
This portrait will be on permanent display in the Great Chamber, from Sunday 22 June. Included with Castle admission.
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Within the grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, there are two opportunities for you to stay the night with us.
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.
There are multiple places to eat & drink across the Hever Castle Estate. Select between the Castle & Gardens and Golf Club below to discover more.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, Hever Castle Golf Club is a 27 hole Kent golf course that will encourage and inspire all golf enthusiasts.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, the Wellbeing Centre consists of five smart treatment rooms.
