A long-lost face from Tudor history returns home

Historic Moment as William Carey Portrait Unveiled at Hever Castle by Descendant Josh Widdicombe

In a moment charged with emotion and historical significance, a rare portrait of William Carey, the husband of Mary Boleyn and courtier to King Henry VIII, was dramatically unveiled at Hever Castle in Kent—nearly 500 years after his death.

Comedian Josh Widdicombe, a descendant of William Carey, unveiled his portrait at Hever Castle

The unveiling, held on June 22, the anniversary of Carey's death in 1528, was led by none other than comedian Josh Widdicombe, who discovered his direct lineage to Carey during his 2021 appearance on BBC's Who Do You Think You Are?. With a flourish, Widdicombe drew back a red cloth to reveal the portrait of his 14-times great-grandfather, reconnecting not just with his ancestry, but with the larger-than-life figures of Tudor England.

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Speaker and friend of Wolf Hall Weekend, Dr Owen Emmerson, who is Resident Historian at Hever Castle and the driving force behind the portrait’s acquisition and display, called the unveiling “an important moment in the history of the Boleyns”, noting that this is the first time in centuries that portraits of William Carey and Mary Boleyn have hung together.

“It’s truly special to reunite husband and wife here at Hever, a place so deeply intertwined with the Boleyn legacy,” said Dr Emmerson. “To the best of our knowledge, these two portraits have never been displayed side-by-side before—until now.”

The historical implications are profound. While Mary Boleyn is often remembered as the sister of Anne Boleyn and one-time mistress to King Henry VIII, William Carey remains an enigmatic figure—often overlooked in Tudor narratives despite his close ties to the king and position at court.

Portrait of Mary Boleyn said to be painted from a sketch by the famous court artist Hans Holbein

Widdicombe expressed his delight at being part of such a unique event:

“It’s a huge honour to be invited back to my family’s ancestral home to unveil this portrait. Ever since that episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, I’ve been half-expecting this moment!”

Assistant curator, Kate McCaffrey, holds rare Tudor portrait of William Carey unveiled at Hever Castle on June 22.

Hever Castle’s assistant curator, Kate McCaffrey, highlighted the importance of the portraits in helping to bring to life these lesser-known Tudor figures:

“Both Mary and William are elusive characters in the historical record. But having their portraits here together makes them feel a little more real—like they’ve finally come home.”

Thanks to the passion and dedication of Dr Owen Emmerson and the Hever Castle team, the faces behind one of the Tudor era’s most intriguing couples now look out together from the castle walls—reunited at last, and remembered anew.

Dr Owen Emerson will speaking at our event next year.

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