Honouring a Queen Without a Tomb: The Anne Boleyn Memorial Fund

For nearly five centuries, the true story of Queen Anne Boleyn has been overshadowed by the tragic nature of her death. As the second wife of Henry VIII and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I, she was one of the most brilliant, influential, and consequential women in English history—a driving force behind the English Reformation.

Yet, despite her immense significance, Anne Boleyn was never given a fitting burial.

Following her execution at the Tower of London on 19th May 1536, Anne was buried hastily in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula. Contemporary accounts suggest her body may have been placed in nothing more than an old arrow chest. Today, only a modest Victorian flagstone marks her potential resting place. Historians remain entirely uncertain whether her remains actually lie beneath it, or if she was lost to a mass grave in the crypt.

For many, this uncertain marker falls short of commemorating a queen. We believe it is time to change that.

Why Hever? Returning Home

While we may never know where Anne's final resting place is, we know exactly where her heart and mind were shaped: Hever.

Purchased by her great-grandfather in 1462, Hever Castle was the Boleyn family seat. Just steps away stands the parish church of St Peter, where the family worshipped.

Recent groundbreaking research by architectural historian Dr Simon Thurley reveals that Anne lived at Hever as an adult between 1524 and 1529. These were the decisive years of the King’s "Great Matter." Far from being a passive bystander, Anne used Hever as a vibrant center for political and religious debate, meeting with bishops and envoys to help shape the future of England.

The Bullen Chapel, within the Grade 1 listed St Peter's Church, already holds the memorials of Anne’s immediate family: her infant brother, Henry, and her father, Thomas Bullen. Our campaign will finally bring Anne home, making her the third member of the family to be honoured there.

The Memorial: Presenting a Queen as She Wished to Be Seen

We are commissioning a beautifully designed, permanent stone memorial to be placed inside the Bullen Chapel.

The monument is being brought to life by a world-class team: award-winning stonemason James Elliott and master stone carver Lucy Churchill.

At the centre of the memorial will be a meticulous carving of the famous "Moost Happi" medal of 1534. Preserved in the British Museum (and currently on display at Hever Castle for the 2026 exhibition 'Capturing a Queen'), this lead prototype is the only surviving, authoritative image of Anne created during her lifetime. It features her crowned bust, the initials "A.R." (Anna Regina), and her personal motto: "THE MOOST HAPPI."

Using rigorous historic sketches and period analysis, Lucy Churchill has beautifully restored the likeness of Anne from the damaged original medal—capturing her exactly as she wished to be seen: the powerful, crowned Queen of England.

How You Can Help Us Make History

In the absence of a true tomb, this memorial at St Peter’s Church offers the global community a permanent, publicly accessible place of remembrance to pay their respects to Anne Boleyn.

We cannot do this without you.

Your donation today will directly fund:

The sourcing of the high-quality stone.

The meticulous design, carving, and craftsmanship by Lucy and James.

The safe, permanent installation of the monument within the historic Bullen Chapel.

To improve access to the church for our visitors

By supporting this campaign, you are doing more than funding a piece of stone; you are righting a historical omission and ensuring that Anne is remembered not just for how her life ended, but for how brilliantly she lived.

Please donate what you can today, and share our page with fellow history lovers. Let’s finally give Queen Anne Boleyn the memorial she deserves.