Wolf Hall: the embarrassing true story of how Henry VIII met Anne of Cleves | HELLO!

She was supposed to meet him in just a few days, so she was likely preoccupied with getting ready for that and wasn't really paying attention or in the right mindset to encounter the King. He surprised her; he wasn’t what she had imagined. She may have pictured someone younger and in better shape. There were two aspects to consider: she might not have been as striking as the women he was accustomed to, and he certainly made a point of acknowledging that difference.

Regardless of the circumstances, it’s clear that the meeting deeply hurt the King's pride. It is widely reported that he angrily exclaimed to his advisors, "I do not like her!" in response to the proposed marriage.

© BBC / Playground Entertainment / Nick Briggs

It was obvious that Henry had no desire to marry Anne. Similar to the portrayal in the series, he attempted to argue that her earlier engagement to the Duke of Lorraine should hinder her from entering into another marriage. Nonetheless, that was not true. Additionally, there was political pressure on Henry to form an alliance with Cleves after a peace agreement was reached between France and the Holy Roman Empire.

In truth, just like in the series, Henry found himself unable to complete the marriage and expressed his dissatisfaction with his new wife. He mentioned to Cromwell that she had an unpleasant odor, stating, "I didn't think much of her before, but now I find her even less appealing."

The marriage was dissolved only six months afterward. Cromwell mentioned that "the king has often said that he has felt a strong aversion towards her since the very beginning. In fact, if he were to attempt to be intimate with her, he truly believes his instincts would prevent him from going through with it." Following this, Henry married his fifth wife, Katherine Howard.

Anthony discussed Anne's post-Henry life, stating, "She likely came out ahead of everyone else. She received a substantial divorce settlement and enjoyed recognition as the King's cherished sister. Following the King and Queen’s children, she was granted a position of honor. After all that, she was the leading woman in the kingdom. She even took the time to learn English… and she lived longer than Henry."