Charles Brandon was born about 1484. He was raised at court with the children of King Henry VII after his father, William, died at the Battle of Bosworth as the standard bearer of Henry VII. He would become the closest friend of the young Henry, future King Henry VIII. In turn, Henry would honor him with many titles and responsibilities throughout his reign, including making him the Duke of Suffolk in 1514. Although many friends and advisors to Henry VIII would lose their heads when falling out of favor, Charles never did. Which may be an indication of just how close Henry and Charles really were.

Charles had four wives, but his best known is Mary Tudor, the king’s own sister. He had accompanied her to France for her marriage to the aging king of France who died within months after the wedding. He returned to France to bring her home to England and married her in secret on March 3, 1515. This was treason as he did not have the permission of the King to marry the princess. Members of the King’s Privy Council encouraged him to have Charles imprisoned and executed. Instead, Henry imposed fines upon the couple and banished them from Court. Henry eventually allowed them to marry openly on May 13, 1515 at Greenwich Hall. They did live away from court for a time, but both return to the King’s good graces. As his first big official event after returning to court, Charles was present at the Field of the Cloth of Gold in June 1520.

Charles died in 1545 and is buried in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, where King Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour are buried. He had many children with four wives and mistresses, but his best known would be his daughter, Frances Brandon. Frances married Henry Grey and became the mother of the ill-fated Lady Jane Grey, the nine days queen. He came from humble beginnings himself, but his daughter would be a part of a scheme to rival the King’s own daughter, Mary I, for the throne of England.