Anne of Cleves: More Than Just Wife Number Four
If you’re anything like me and obsessed with Six the Musical, you’ll know Anne of Cleves as the one who didn’t “look as good as she did in her pic.” And there’s so much more to her than that catchy lyric.
Anne was born in what’s now Germany, and while she wasn’t trained to be a glittering court lady (no dancing, no music), she had her own quiet strengths. Her marriage to Henry VIII in 1540 was basically a political deal, and Henry chose her based on a portrait by Hans Holbein. But when they met in person… let’s just say the spark wasn’t there. Henry claimed he wasn’t into her, and six months later… bye-bye marriage.
But here’s where Anne’s story gets awesome.
Instead of ending up in a tragic tale like some of Henry’s other wives (looking at you, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard 💔), Anne agreed to an annulment and walked away with a super generous settlement. Hello Richmond Palace! On June 24 1540, Anne was commanded to leave the English court by King Henry VIII (under the pretext of the plague…) marking the beginning of the end of their marriage, which was annulled on July 9, 1540. She got her own house, land, staff, and a solid yearly income. Henry even called her his “sister” and invited her back to court now and then. She stayed friends with his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, and lived the rest of her life on her own terms.
She outlived all of Henry’s other wives and is buried in Westminster Abbey.
Anne in Six = Total Queen
One of the reasons I love Six the Musical is how it gives each queen her own voice. Anne of Cleves gets to be bold, confident, and totally in charge. Her song “Get Down” is basically a royal flex. She didn’t need a man, a crown, or a tragic ending to make her mark.
Anne knew how to read the room, protect herself, and still live well. In today’s world, she’d probably have her own self-care brand and be thriving on Instagram.
Why She’s Still Inspiring
Anne’s story reminds us that walking away can be powerful. She turned what could’ve been a disaster into a fresh start, and not just survived but thrived. She didn’t need a fairytale ending to be remembered. She made her own.
So next time you’re singing along to Six, give a little extra love to Queen number four. Anne of Cleves knew her worth and she got down, stayed down, and lived like royalty without the drama.
