British Museum Raises Nearly $5 Million to Save Gold Tudor Heart Pendant Linked to Henry VIII's Marriage to Katherine of Aragon
- - British Museum Raises Nearly $5 Million to Save Gold Tudor Heart Pendant Linked to Henry VIII's Marriage to Katherine of Aragon
Erin ClackFebruary 11, 2026 at 4:45 AM
0
The Tudor Heart Pendant
The British Museum
The British Museum successfully raised nearly $5 million to save a 24-carat gold heart pendant linked to Henry VIII's marriage to first wife Katherine of Aragon
The pendant — which was found by a metal detectorist in Warwickshire, England, in 2019 — is the only surviving piece of Tudor jewelry like it in the world
Actor Damian Lewis, who starred as Henry VIII in Wolf Hall, helped promote the fundraising campaign, which drew several major contributions, as well as individual donations from more than 45,000 people
A heart-shaped symbol of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon's love story has been saved — just in time for Valentine's Day.
The British Museum in London announced on Tuesday, Feb. 10, that it successfully raised the £3.5 million (about $4.8 million) needed to acquire the Tudor Heart Pendant, a rare piece of 24-carat gold jewelry linked to Henry VIII's marriage to first wife Katherine. The museum launched the public fundraising campaign in October 2025, with the aim of securing the pendant for its private collection so that it could remain on public display for generations to come.
The Tudor Heart Pendant
The British Museum
The campaign reached its target just days before its Feb. 14 deadline, thanks to a £1.75 million ($2.4 million) award from the National Heritage Memorial Fund. In addition to several other major contributions, more than 45,000 people gave individual donations totaling £380,000 ($519,000).
"The campaign captured the public's imagination with the untold love story the Tudor Heart tells between Henry and Katherine," the museum said.
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Henry famously had six wives. He wed Katherine in 1509 and then, 24 years later, broke away from the Catholic Church by having their marriage annulled in 1533 after falling in love with Anne Boleyn. His union with Katherine was his longest.
Henry VIII; Katherine of Aragon
The Print Collector/Getty (2)
The Tudor Heart Pendant was first discovered by a metal detectorist in Warwickshire, England, in 2019. Under the British Treasure Act of 1996, finders have a legal obligation to report all finds of potential treasure, and national and local museums have the chance to acquire significant historical finds before they go up for general sale.
According to the British Museum, the pendant is the only piece of jewelry of its kind from the time of Henry VIII's marriage to Katherine of Aragon.
The pendant, which features enameled motifs, is attached to a 75-link gold chain by a suspension clasp in the form of a hand emerging from a cloud. The front of the pendant is decorated with a white and red Tudor rose entwined with a pomegranate bush, which was the personal emblem of Queen Katherine, "representing fertility and her Spanish homeland."
The Tudor Heart Pendant
The British Museum
The pendant's hidden face is detailed with the initials "H" and "K," united by a tasseled cord. Both sides feature the French word "tousiors," meaning "always."
Research conducted by the British Museum revealed that the Tudor Heart Pendant may have been made to celebrate the betrothal of Henry and Katherine's 2-year-old daughter Princess Mary to the 8-month-old French heir-apparent in 1518.
The Tudor Heart Pendant
The British Museum
"As well as commemorating Henry and Katherine's love, ambition and Katherine's importance as Henry's first queen, the Tudor Heart Pendant also unveils this little-told part of Mary's story," the museum said. "A powerful witness to pivotal years in English history, the Tudor Heart Pendant offers a tantalising glimpse into the splendour of Henry VIII's early court and celebrates chivalry, love and dynastic hope."
Actor Damian Lewis, who starred as Henry VIII in Wolf Hall, fittingly lent his support to the Tudor Heart Pendant fundraising campaign. In a video shared on Instagram by the British Museum, he showed off the jewelry piece, describing it as "so exquisite" and encouraging people to donate.
He noted that Henry and Katherine actually shared a beautiful love story, but "we don't chart that much in history because it tends to be all about their divorce and the fact that he fell for Anne Boleyn."
The Tudor Heart Pendant is currently on display in Room 2: Collecting the World at the British Museum in London.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
