Anna Regina

Wolf Hall synopsis episode three.

Anna Regina

 Although he has no official title, Cromwell is increasingly relied on to run the King’s affairs.

Cromwell manoeuvres a Bill through Parliament acknowledging Henry, rather than the Pope, as head of the Church of England. This is the first step in Henry granting his own divorce from Katherine of Aragon.

Out of the blue, a major obstacle to Henry’s marriage plan arises when Harry Percy’s wife claims her own marriage is unlawful on the grounds that her husband had previously made a binding contract of marriage with Anne Boleyn. With the Cardinal now dead the Boleyn family look to Cromwell to fix Harry Percy, a task Cromwell approaches with relish, remembering how Percy helped bring the Cardinal down.

As Anne and Cromwell become allies, Anne secures him a formal position in the King’s household.

The King and his Court head to Calais to meet with the French King. At a dance, Anne flirts with the French nobility, to Henry’s evident fury. She and Henry argue violently, but when they are reconciled Henry finally pledges himself to Anne before witnesses. Henry marries Anne upon their return to England and she is crowned Queen. Even in her moment of triumph, Anne feels trapped; she knows the old noble families hate her and will never accept her.

Anne is pregnant and leaves Court to begin her confinement. She has achieved what she wanted, but it has come at a cost. She must now produce a male heir or risk suffering Katherine’s fate.

Wednesday 4 February 9 pm on BBC2

  "The compelling Damian Lewis is simply superb as King Henry, a man you just know could explode in anger at any moment, while Mark Rylance is fantastic as Cromwell, our cunning leading man."