A rare surviving Tudor necklace, linked to Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, is at the heart of a new fundraising campaign from the British Museum.
Known as the ‘Tudor Heart’, the pendant is up for grabs – but at the cost of £3.5 million.
The necklace is made from 24 carat gold, and is comprised of a 75-link gold chain, enamelled hand clasp and a large heart-shaped pendant.
The heart itself features the initials H and K (after the King and Queen), their emblems of the Tudor rose and the pomegranate with enamelling, entwined with their branches, as well as a banner featuring the word ‘tousiors’ (the old French for ‘always’).
Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon took their vows in 1509, and were married for 24 years until a forced annulment in 1533 when the King broke with Rome. The Spanish Queen was a trusted partner to Henry throughout their marriage, however, acting as Regent multiple times.
Research by the British Museum has uncovered that the necklace may have been created in 1518, to mark the betrothal of Princess Mary to the French Dauphin, Francois. Mary was just eight-months old at the time.
It is unclear who this belonged to, but Henry VIII did commission London goldsmiths to create ‘costume’ jewellery for large celebrations; these were worn by members of the court for a short time.
Tudor jewellery of this calibre is incredibly rare and there are very few other surviving objects from the first of six Tudor marriages.
An amateur metal detectorist, Charlie Clarke, who is a café owner from Birmingham, found the treasure in 2019 in Warwickshire – in the less-than-regal setting of a dried-up pond…!
In order to prevent the necklace from going to a private collection, the museum needs the hefty sum to purchase it from Mr Clarke and the landowner. This money – the total of which is needed by 14 February 2026 – would save the rare Tudor piece for the nation and ensure it was put on display for visitors.
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The price (or reward) is set ‘at the full market value’ of the finds, which is classed as treasure, a number determined by an independent panel of experts known as the Treasure Valuation Committee.
Dr Nicholas Cullinan OBE, Director of the British Museum, said: ‘The Tudor Heart is perhaps one of the most incredible pieces of English history to have ever been unearthed. Support will ensure that this unique and beautiful treasure is secured for the nation, so that it can be enjoyed by and inspire generations to come.’
Actor Damian Lewis, who has played Henry VIII in Wolf Hall and has promoted the fundraising campaign on social media, said: ‘The Tudor Heart is a beautiful piece of our history, shedding a light onto the court of Henry not previously seen. Your support will help the British Museum save this piece for the nation and ensures our history remains on view for generations to come, not hidden away in a private collection.’
£500,000 has already been donated by The Julia Rausing Trust, in memory of its philanthropic namesake.
The Tudor Heart will be on view at the British Museum (Room 2: Collecting the world) until April 2026. Those who wish to support the fundraiser can donate here.
