Catherine of Aragon’s death Catherine dying meant that Charles V, her nephew, was a viable ally for England – provided that Mary was restored to the royal line. This would invalidate Elizabeth’s claim though, and there was no way Anne was going to take that.

Henry’s doubts of the validity of the marriage Because Henry had done the diddle with Anne’s sister previously, he began to claim that his marriage with Anne was void and sinful in the eyes of God – ring any bells?

Anne’s temperament Almost every reason that Ms Hughes loves Anne was a major problem in Henry’s eyes: at this time, it was not a woman’s place to disagree with her husband (least of all the King).

Failure to produce a son After one daughter, one stillbirth, and one deformed foetus (which, though supposedly male, did not make it to full term), Henry began to doubt his marriage in the eyes of God as he had with Catherine. It is more likely that Henry couldn’t father a son and was halfway to being impudent. For a king though, it’s easier to call your wife a witch than admit you have a faulty Johnson.

Anti-Boleyn faction Edward Seymour and Cromwell (hella biased) thought it best if Henry had a new wife, and thankfully, Eddy’s daughter had taken Henry’s fancy – time to give Anne the chop.

The role of Cromwell Already the enemy of Anne over political dealings. It was Cromwell who made the call to accuse Anne of treason, along with her many supposed consorts (including her brother).

Accusations against Anne With this ‘evidence’ (straight from the mouth of the famously reliable Richard Rich), and a tortured confession from Michael Smeaton, Anne was beheaded.