LONDON (MNN); A rare golden heart pendant linked to King Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, has been acquired for permanent display at the British Museum after a fundraising campaign raised £3.5 million.
The 24-carat gold pendant, decorated with the couple’s initials in red enamel, the Tudor rose and a pomegranate tree, symbolises their early devotion despite the eventual collapse of their marriage. Henry divorced Katherine in 1533, but the pendant survived centuries of disappearance.
Lost for hundreds of years, the historic jewel was rediscovered in 2019 by a metal detectorist in a field in Warwickshire. Under British treasure laws, museums are given priority to acquire such finds before they are sold privately.
This pendant is believed to be the only surviving piece of jewellery from Henry and Katherine’s 24-year marriage. It also bears an Old French inscription reading “tousiors” — meaning “always”.
Around 45,000 people contributed nearly £380,000, with additional support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and other trusts. The purchase price will be shared equally between the finder and the landowner.
British Museum Director Nicholas Cullinan said the pendant reveals a lesser-known chapter of English history that the public can now experience together.
Historians believe the pendant was made in 1518 to mark the engagement of the couple’s daughter, Mary, to the French heir. However, by the 1530s Henry had fallen in love with Anne Boleyn, ultimately breaking from the Catholic Church to end his marriage to Katherine.
