The British Museum has secured a rare Henry VIII love pendant for permanent display after raising 3.5 million pounds ($4.8 million) to keep the piece from being sold privately.
The heart-shaped gold pendant, linked to the early years of Henry VIII’s marriage to Katherine of Aragon, features their initials, the Tudor rose and a pomegranate design. The acquisition confirms the institution’s commitment to preserving one of the few surviving objects tied to the couple’s relationship.
Researchers say the pendant, crafted in 24-carat gold, offers an unusual glimpse into the royal marriage’s hopeful beginnings. The piece was created around 1518 to celebrate the planned marriage of their daughter Mary to the French heir.
It also carries the old French word meaning “always,” underscoring the sentiment attached to the union. The pendant is now the only known piece of jewelry still in existence from Henry’s 24-year marriage to Katherine.
Discovery and public effort behind the Henry VIII love pendant
The pendant remained lost for centuries until a metal detectorist discovered it in 2019 in a Warwickshire field. Under British treasure rules, museums are given the chance to secure historically significant finds before they go to auction.
A gold necklace symbolizing the love between Henry VIII and his wife, the "Tudor Heart," which had been lost for centuries, was found in a field. pic.twitter.com/LyPMcAm0pS
— DaVinci (@BiancoDavinci) February 10, 2026
Public interest helped drive the effort to keep the object in Britain. About 45,000 people contributed 380,000 pounds ($520,000), with the rest of the funding supplied by the National Heritage Memorial Fund and several trusts. The final amount is shared between the detectorist and the landowner.
British Museum director Nicholas Cullinan said the pendant opens a window into a chapter of English history that many may not have known but can now explore through this rare object.
The piece also reflects a turning point. By the early 1530s, Henry sought a male heir, turned his attention to Anne Boleyn, and eventually left the Catholic Church to annul his marriage to Katherine.
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