Queen Anne’s Ghost

Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, was beheaded at the Tower of London on May 19, 1536. Her ghost has been reported at the Tower, Hever Castle, and other locations for nearly five centuries, making her one of history’s most persistent apparitions.

The Queen

Anne Boleyn captivated Henry VIII and changed English history. To marry her, Henry broke with Rome and established the Church of England. When she failed to produce a male heir, she was arrested on false charges of adultery and treason.

The Execution

Anne was beheaded on Tower Green by a French swordsman, a mercy granted by the King. She was buried in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula within the Tower walls. Her restless spirit would not stay buried.

The Tower Sightings

Guards and visitors report Anne’s ghost throughout the Tower. She appears in the Chapel near her burial place. She walks on Tower Green where she died. A captain of the guard once challenged her apparition, only to have her vanish when his bayonet passed through.

Hever Castle

Anne’s childhood home at Hever Castle in Kent also hosts her ghost. She appears at Christmas, walking across the bridge and through the grounds. Staff have encountered her in hallways and bedrooms.

Other Locations

Anne’s ghost has been reported at Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, and Blickling Hall in Norfolk, where she was born. On the anniversary of her execution, a ghostly coach supposedly arrives at Blickling bearing her headless corpse.

Assessment

Anne Boleyn’s tragic end and historical significance ensure her ghost will always be sought and reported. The consistency of descriptions across centuries and multiple locations suggests something more than mere expectation at work.