Their 6-month marriage and Anna of Kleve's lavish life after the King.
Anna was born the daughter of the Duke of Juliers-Cleves, Johann III, and was described as "no great praise neither of her parentage nor her beauty," by one Englishman. She was raised by the side of her mother and could neither play an instrument nor carry a tune - although she was talented in needlework and embroidery (whilst only speaking German, it is said that she was quick to learn the English language upon her arrival.)
She was less like the first two Queens, and much more alike to the beloved Jane Seymour who had suffered an untimely death after producing the son Henry so desperately wanted. Anne was known for her gentleness and her humility, traits that would serve her well in her journey to become the Queen. Her religious stance is debated, her mother was a staunch Catholic, the rule of governance in Kleve was of a Catholic nature, though her father was a Lutheran. It is thought Anna was more Catholic than she was Protestant, though this can be debated.
Thomas Cromwell was the one to persuade Henry to look toward Anna for marriage, though the prospect of needing more sons was also prominent in Henry's mind. Cromwell saw many advantages in a marriage with Kleve, and after seeing a portrait of her by Hans Holbein the younger, Henry enthusiastically agreed. Problems arose when Anna arrived in England, for the great German artist had overdone Anna's true beauty, in fact, she was so undesirable to Henry that he immediately turned against her. (Though previous accounts of her unattractiveness have been overdone and exaggerated entirely, the majority even commented that she was extremely pretty, and after she had embarrassed him by not recognising him when he disguised himself as Robin Hood and forcing himself into her apartments, it is probable the claim of her ugliness was merely a coverup.)
However his rush to marry would come back to haunt Henry since he was forced to commit to the marriage, it would ruin his reputation if he turned her down, and he needed the political alliance. The marriage took place 5 days after Anna had arrived at court, and the marriage night was a disaster. Anna was 24 and had never been married before, meaning she was entirely inexperienced, so along with Henry's age and impatience meant the marriage was not consummated. It was annulled 6 months later.
Thomas Cromwell would be executed for his fatal marriage proposal on the same day as the King's marriage to Catherine Howard, the 28th of July 1540.
(An interesting detail to note of Anna's behaviour after the marriage ended is when she returned her wedding ring and asked Henry to spilt it into pieces because it was of no value.)
They divorced, and because of her willingness in the matter, she was granted £4000 a year and several estates and manor houses, including Richmond and Anne Boleyn's childhood home of Hever, making her the richest female landowner in England. Henry was also kind to her in giving her the title of "dearest sister" and inviting her to Hampton Court for Christmas, where one year, she danced with Henry's new Queen, Catherine Howard. Anna was also close to the Prince and Princesses, and frequently gave them gifts, she even left her second-best jewel to Elizabeth in her will. She was a close friend to Mary, being only a year older than her, with the Princess - and later Queen - referring to Anna as "beloved Aunt".
Anne drifted in and out of court for the remainder of her life, and outlived all of Henry's other Queens, surviving till 16 July 1557. She has the honour of being buried in Westminster Abbey, curtesy of Queen Mary I.
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