# Henry VIII — The Prince and the Pauper character guide

> Henry VIII in The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** VIII, Henry, Henry I

**First appearance:** 0006-iii-tom-s-meeting-with-the-prince

## Who they are

The dying king and father of Prince Edward, who appears briefly at the start.

## In the story

### [The Prince and the Pauper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/the-prince-and-the-pauper)

The king who rejoices at the birth of his son Edward, and who later confronts Tom when he is mistaken for the prince.

### [Tom's Meeting with the Prince](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/iii-tom-s-meeting-with-the-prince)

Mentioned as the king, Edward's father.

### [Tom as a Patrician](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/v-tom-as-a-patrician)

The ailing king confronts Tom, believing him to be his son Edward. He tries to comfort Tom and tests his Latin, showing growing distress at Tom's apparent madness.

### [Tom Receives Instructions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/vi-tom-receives-instructions)

Issues commands through Lord St. John regarding Tom's behavior and concealment of his infirmity.

### [Tom's First Royal Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/vii-tom-s-first-royal-dinner)

King Henry VIII is not directly present, but the court's strict adherence to protocol reflects his reign's influence.

### [VIII: The Question of the Seal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/viii-the-question-of-the-seal)

Awakens from troubled dreams, aware of his impending death, and is determined to see the Duke of Norfolk executed before he dies.

### [IX: The River Pageant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/ix-the-river-pageant)

Though not present in the scene, his recent death and the ongoing masquerade set the stage for Tom's appearance as prince.

### [At Guildhall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xi-at-guildhall)

His death is announced during the banquet.

### [XII: The Prince and His Deliverer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xii-the-prince-and-his-deliverer)

Reported dead; the news spreads through the crowd, causing grief in the prince.

### [XIV: “Le Roi Est Mort—Vive le Roi”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xiv-le-roi-est-mort-vive-le-roi)

The late king's death is the central event of the chapter, and his will and debts are discussed in the council.

### [Tom as King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xv-tom-as-king)

Though deceased, the harsh laws of Henry VIII's reign are referenced in the context of the prisoner's sentence and Tom's desire for reform.

### [Foo-Foo the First](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xvii-foo-foo-the-first)

Mentioned in the king's grief; the king recalls loving memories of his father.

### [The Prince and the Hermit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xx-the-prince-and-the-hermit)

Mentioned as the hermit's persecutor who dissolved his religious house.

### [XXIII: The Prince a Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxiii-the-prince-a-prisoner)

Mentioned as 'old Harry that's just dead' in reference to coinage from the previous reign.

### [Tom's Progress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxx-tom-s-progress)

Referenced as the 'august late father' whose prisons held sixty thousand convicts and who executed seventy-two thousand thieves.

### [The Recognition Procession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxxi-the-recognition-procession)

Mentioned as part of the historical pageant representing the king's progenitors.

### [Coronation Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/xxxii-coronation-day)

Deceased, but referenced as the late king whose apartments Edward describes correctly.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/endnotes)

Henry VIII is mentioned in relation to the condemnation of the Duke of Norfolk and the harsh laws of his reign, which were later repealed.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/characters/henry_viii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/characters