Inside the Tudor queens' baggage train

What were Tudor royal progresses?

The six queens of Henry VIII often travelled around the country, with or without the King, on royal progresses. These were prolonged journeys that extended beyond the London-based ‘standing palaces’ – so-called because they were fully furnished and therefore stood ready to receive the king and queen at a moment’s notice. 

Progresses usually took place annually in the summer months, but they could also occur at other times of year. There were many reasons for travel, ranging from religious pilgrimages and diplomatic meetings to leisure pursuits or avoiding outbreaks of plague. The movement of the court also allowed for the palaces to be cleaned and supplies to be replenished before the royal party returned.

To prepare for the queen’s arrival, the grooms and yeomen of her household were sent ahead to prepare the lodgings and assemble her furniture. They typically had just two days to get everything ready. They had to recreate the familiar palatial landscape of royal apartments in different locations, including hunting lodges, bishops’ palaces, monasteries, and courtiers’ homes. 

Properties that had lain empty for months were cleaned and fumigated using herbs and spices that were boiled or burned in perfume pans to eliminate unsavoury odours. During the 1543 progress, Katherine Parr’s chambers at the More were perfumed with rose water, Woodstock with fennel water; on Christmas Eve, her apartments at Hampton Court Palace were spiced with cloves. 

Everything and the kitchen sink

The queens did not travel light. They packed everything they needed to maintain the comfort of royal life on the move, known as 'progress stuff'. This included furniture, clothing, tapestries, pets, and servants. We can catch glimpses of some of the goods that they took with them in surviving accounts books, inventories, and bills that record what was bought for the queen before and during progress.

During the 1543 progress, Katherine Parr’s baggage included crimson velvet chairs, a heart-shaped gold clock, mirrors, books, furred gowns, and washing basins for her kitchen and laundress.

The queen's furniture, including her bed, close stool (a portable toilet), and tapestries, was transported in carts and carefully assembled by her servants. In 1544, William Hopwood, Katherine’s smith of the beds, was paid for setting up the Queen’s bed at Chelsea on 4 April and for taking it down again two days later.

Travelling with so many goods might seem excessive, but it was integral to the performance of progress. The sight of carts piled high in the baggage train meandering across the countryside would have been awe-inspiring to passersby, and the richness of the queen’s clothes, furnishings, and household were emblematic of her wealth and status.

By displaying her magnificence so vividly on the move, a Tudor queen projected her power to her subjects and hosts.

Royal requests  

Inventories, letters, and warrants reveal the goods the queens requested during their travels. During the 1537 progress, pregnant Jane Seymour asked for items, including cushions and imported quails, for her comfort as the court travelled between Guildford, Sunninghill, and Windsor. 

Luxury goods could be delivered to the queen from London, while perishable goods had to be purchased on the go to prevent them from spoiling in transit. In April 1546, a rundlet of wine, a 68-litre cask, was sent to Katherine Parr from London by river for the use of her household. As she travelled around Surrey with the King later that summer, Katherine ordered large quantities of milk for baths as part of her beauty regime. 

Travelling companions

Many of us want to take our four-legged friends everywhere, and the queens were no different. As such, they were accompanied by working and domestic animals on their travels.

Horses were used to draw the carts of supplies, and the queens were all proficient horsewomen, who often travelled between venues on horseback. In preparation for the long-distance 1541 progress to York, a pair of bay geldings (a type of horse) were purchased for Catherine Howard.

Dogs, particularly greyhounds, were brought on progress as pets and to serve the queen during hunts. They were cared for by the ‘groom of the leash,’ who provided straw for their bedding and milk to feed them.

The dogs also formed part of the queen’s magnificent display. In 1528, Katherine of Aragon's greyhounds wore rich velvet collars with silver buckles and were led on green silk leashes decorated with white roses. Greyhounds were practical for hunting and symbolised nobility and the House of Lancaster, projecting Tudor dynastic imagery.

Today, images of greyhounds can still be seen at Hampton Court Palace on the moat bridge, in the Great Hall, and in Chapel Court.

Hunting and leisure 

Hunting was a leisure activity and an opportunity to display the queen’s athleticism. The queens often joined Henry VIII on expeditions but could also venture out alone. In July 1518, Katherine of Aragon left the King at the More and rode four miles away to hunt in a courtier’s parkland. Then, in October 1535 it was reported that Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn were ‘merry and hawk[ed] daily’ in Southampton. 

Travel provided opportunities for the queens to socialise and to pursue their own interests. Their preferred leisure activities are reflected in the goods they travelled with, such as Anne of Cleves’ card games and Katherine Parr’s books. These items provided entertainment, but they also offer a window into the queens' personalities and interests which can challenge conventional views of them.

Unique insights into the Tudor queens

Exploring the contents of the queen’s baggage train provides unique insights into their personalities and everyday lives. The goods they travelled with, from rich furnishings and games to animals and practical items, reveal much about their identities, status, and the logistics of royal travel. 

By looking at the belongings they took with them to meet their needs both as queens and as women at leisure, we gain a window into their daily activities, with and without the King.