In contemporary culture, Henry VIII is often depicted as a slouch who sloppily ate food by throwing pieces of meat into his mouth and covering his face in gravy - but nothing could be further from the truth. Henry was in fact a hygiene freak, who fastidiously washed his hands before, during and after meals, and who would say grace and eat in a repetitive and ceremonious fashion. He rarely held large banquets unless foreign dignitaries were visiting, instead preferring to eat alone in his private quarters. In this exclusive area, he would be served several dishes from which to choose - and they would be presented to him by senior court officers, who would bend their knee to showcase the offerings. Certainly he was not the slob he is often depicted as being.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
In contemporary culture, Henry VIII is often depicted as a slouch who sloppily ate food by throwing pieces of meat into his mouth and covering his face in gravy - but nothing could be further from the truth. Henry was in fact a hygiene freak, who fastidiously washed his hands before, during and after meals, and who would say grace and eat in a repetitive and ceremonious fashion. He rarely held large banquets unless foreign dignitaries were visiting, instead preferring to eat alone in his private quarters. In this exclusive area, he would be served several dishes from which to choose - and they would be presented to him by senior court officers, who would bend their knee to showcase the offerings. Certainly he was not the slob he is often depicted as being.