Henry VIII Children: How Many Children Did Henry The Eighth Have? Who Are The 4 Children Of Henry VIII?

Henry VIII had several children, but three of them were his legitimate children. These three were Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I, who all survived past infancy.

All three of Henry VIII’s legitimate children – Mary, Elizabeth and Edward – became queens or kings of England.

They played an important role in both British history and the history of the royal palaces.

However, none of them had children themselves, and on Elizabeth’s death, the Tudor dynasty ended.

Mary, born in 1516, was the only surviving child of King Henry VIII’s 24-year marriage to Katherine of Aragon.

Seventeen years later, Elizabeth was born to Henry and his second wife Anne Boleyn, in 1533. Henry’s third queen Jane Seymour gave him his long-awaited male heir, Edward, in 1537.

Edward had died of consumption—in other words, tuberculosis—a diagnosis accepted by many historians. Skidmore believes that Edward contracted tuberculosis after a bout of measles and smallpox in 1552 that suppressed his natural immunity to the disease.

Henry also had an illegitimate son, named Henry Fitzroy (meaning ‘son of the king’), born in June 1519. In 1524, aged 6, the King made Fitzroy Duke of Richmond, and ensured he was well provided for.

Fitzroy enjoyed a ‘prince’s life’ until his premature death at 17, probably from tuberculosis.

Who Are The 4 Children Of Henry VIII?
Mary I, Queen of England; Henry FitzRoy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset ( ill. ); Elizabeth I, Queen of England; and Edward VI, King of England.