Delve into the intrigue, drama, and Yorkshire legacy of the turbulent Tudors with a series of fascinating talks headlining Tudor Month at Ripon Cathedral.

Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn; Conspiracy and Plot in Elizabethan England and Henry VIII & England’s Accidental Protestant Reformation offer informed insights into a world of royal ambition, religious change, and political machinations.

Ripon Cathedral has no fewer than 18 portraits of Tudor royalty and other key figures, offering a striking visual journey through one of the most transformative periods in English history – copies from this remarkable collection are on display in the north aisle.

Other highlights of Tudor Month include special Tudor tours – led by expert guides – exploring the cathedral’s connections to the Tudor period and a Tudor Workshop for Adults.

*Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn on June 11 explores one of the most controversial figures in English History. Dr Owen Emmerson is part of the curatorial team at Hever Castle, Anne Boleyn’s childhood home and temporary home to the cathedral’s portrait of this iconic queen. An historical consultant for the BBC adaptation of Dame Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, Dr Emmerson is also the co-author of several books.

*Conspiracy and Plot in Elizabethan England on June 18 explores the shadowy world of intrigue, rebellion and political danger in the reign of Elizabeth I. The talk is given by John Cooper, Professor of History at the University of York; his book The Queen’s Agent, on which this talk is based, was serialised on BBC Radio 4. 

*Henry VIII & England’s Accidental Protestant Reformation with Prof Diarmaid MacCulloch, Professor of History of the Church, University of Oxford, on June 25 explores Henry VIII’s break with the Pope and the political and personal forces that reshaped English identity for centuries.

Entry to the cathedral and exhibition of photographs and Tudor costumes is by donation, while tickets for talks, tours and the Tudor workshop are bookable via the cathedral’s website.