Henry VIII's palace at the Field of Cloth of Gold

Short video on the magnificent palace that Henry VIII has constructed in 1520, during his stay in France to met the French king, François I. Both sides aimed to impress and Henry was decked out in jewels, wore impressive clothing and armour and brought over 5,000 people including various courtiers. The palace was only intended to remain for two weeks thus it no longer exists. Plans for the building were held by Wolsey and he was greatly involved in the construction of the building. According to historian Simon Thurley the most accurate eye witness account of the palace comes from the Mantuan ambassador, Soardino. Soardino noted that 'on the left side of the principal entry there are two halls and a chamber for Cardinal Wolsey and a chamber for the princess Mary....in the middle of the long entrance hall a small building was added containing two oratories looking down on the very large church below'. The princess Mary mentioned was not Henry VIII's daughter (later Queen Mary I). She did not accompany her parents to France for this event despite her betrothal to the dauphin of France. Instead Soardino meant Henry's sister, also called Mary, who was the former Queen of France. This Mary certainly attended the Field of Cloth of Gold.