The Book of Hours prayer book, once owned by Anne Boleyn, is currently on loan display at Hampton Court Palace until 30 October. Groups can see the book that features Anne’s signature and her personal inscriptions.
Anne Boleyn’s Book of Hours been loaned to Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII’s ‘pleasure palace’, by Hever Castle in Kent, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Meanwhile, at Hever Castle, a prayer book belonging to Catherine of Aragon, reputed to be Anne’s love rival, is on display during the exhibition Catherine & Anne: Queens, Rivals, Mothers.
Within the prayer book, Anne Boleyn’s inscription reads “Le temps viendra” (the time will come) “Je Anne Boleyn” and she has drawn an astrolabe (ancient astronomical instrument) as a symbol of time. The book was originally handwritten in Bruges between 1410 and 1450.
Hever Castle’s Assistant Curator Kate McCaffrey says: “There is no place more fitting for Anne’s Book of Hours to temporarily reside than the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace. We are particularly excited by the location of Anne’s book next to Elizabeth I’s Book of Common Prayer. To reunite mother and daughter through their religious books in this way is of beautifully poignant significance.”