English Nobility. The Duke of Richmond, he was the bastard son of Henry VIII and his mistress Elizabeth Blount, born during Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon. He was the only bastard child that Henry VIII ever acknowledged. Named Fitzroy, meaning 'son of the king', he was brought up at Windsor, where his father indulged him. The King created Henry Knight of the Garter at the age of six in April 1525. He was then advanced to Earl of Nottingham, and the same day, June 16, 1525, made Duke of Richmond, and then a month later Admiral of England, Ireland and Normandy. He was also made Lieutenant of Ireland and given other titles and an income which made him the richest person in the kingdom after the King. Some observers thought that Henry was going to name his son as heir apparent despite his bastardy. In 1531 he was formally betrothed to the Duke of Norfolk's daughter, Mary Howard, whom he married two years. Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond, died of consumption (TB) at St. James Palace July 1536 at the age of 17. The king entrusted his son's funeral arrangements to the Duke of Norfolk, Fitzroy's father-in-law, and gave orders that the body be wrapped in lead and taken in a closed cart for secret interment. In a grand error or miscommunication, the corpse was borne in a wagon covered in straw, and the only mourners were two attendants who followed at a distance. The young Duke was originally interred at Thetford, but the Howards and the Dukes of Norfolk (his in-laws), lost their family mausoleum at Thetford Priory to the dissolution of the monasteries. His tomb presently rests within the walls of St. Michael's Church, Framlingham, Suffolk.

English Nobility. The Duke of Richmond, he was the bastard son of Henry VIII and his mistress Elizabeth Blount, born during Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon. He was the only bastard child that Henry VIII ever acknowledged. Named Fitzroy, meaning 'son of the king', he was brought up at Windsor, where his father indulged him. The King created Henry Knight of the Garter at the age of six in April 1525. He was then advanced to Earl of Nottingham, and the same day, June 16, 1525, made Duke of Richmond, and then a month later Admiral of England, Ireland and Normandy. He was also made Lieutenant of Ireland and given other titles and an income which made him the richest person in the kingdom after the King. Some observers thought that Henry was going to name his son as heir apparent despite his bastardy. In 1531 he was formally betrothed to the Duke of Norfolk's daughter, Mary Howard, whom he married two years. Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond, died of consumption (TB) at St. James Palace July 1536 at the age of 17. The king entrusted his son's funeral arrangements to the Duke of Norfolk, Fitzroy's father-in-law, and gave orders that the body be wrapped in lead and taken in a closed cart for secret interment. In a grand error or miscommunication, the corpse was borne in a wagon covered in straw, and the only mourners were two attendants who followed at a distance. The young Duke was originally interred at Thetford, but the Howards and the Dukes of Norfolk (his in-laws), lost their family mausoleum at Thetford Priory to the dissolution of the monasteries. His tomb presently rests within the walls of St. Michael's Church, Framlingham, Suffolk.

Bio by: Iola