Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
DON’T BE FOOLED! It may look like a simple royal grave, but every detail of the tomb of Lady Margaret Beaufort is loaded with hidden meanings. Join me in this episode of History Calling as we delve into the secrets of one of the most famous graves in Westminster Abbey under which lies the mother of Henry VII, the grandmother of Henry VII and the woman who shaped the course of English history from behind the throne, for although she never wore a crown, without her the Tudor dynasty wouldn’t have existed. This is the story of the tomb of the Tudor Kingmaker.
Lady Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby, died in 1509 and lies beneath a stunning monument created by Renaissance sculptor, Pietro Torrigiano, featuring a lifelike gilt-bronze effigy of her in her final years. Dressed in austere widow’s robes, her hands raised in prayer and her head resting on cushions embroidered with the Tudor rose and Beaufort portcullis, the effigy is believed to have been modelled on a death mask, capturing her as she truly was at the time of her passing.
This is more than just a tomb though. It’s a carefully crafted statement of power, piety, and legacy. From the mythical yale crouching at her feet, to the bronze shields displaying the arms of kings, queens and other noble bloodlines, every detail tells a deeper story about Lady Margaret Beaufort’s life, her birth family, two of her three husbands and her role as My Lady, the King’s Mother, a title she held after her only son, Henry Tudor, became Henry VII in 1485 and ended the Wars of the Roses. You’ll also learn about the lost-and-found iron grille that once protected her tomb and the Latin epitaph composed by none other than the famed scholar, Desiderius Erasmus, paying tribute to her role as a patron of learning and religion.
Whether you're a fan of the Tudors, a lover of art and architecture, or just fascinated by powerful women of the past, this is a monument worth exploring. Make sure you subscribe too for more deep dives into the secrets of royal tombs and untold stories from Britain’s historic landmarks.
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YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
LIFE OF LADY MARGARET BEAUFORT, PART 1
youtu.be/86i3a_G7gl4
LIFE OF LADY MARGARET BEAUFORT, PART 2
youtu.be/UGM_auVPcTc
WHERE WERE ROYAL BABIES BURIED?
youtu.be/zMhOFuOhgSo
TRAGIC DEATH AND BURIAL OF PRINCE ARTHUR
youtu.be/M7izXFVPG1M
TRAGIC LOSS OF 3 TUDOR CHILDREN
youtu.be/_oYk8fwConI
THE SHORT LIFE OF PRINCE HENRY TUDOR
youtu.be/7F6WYqzGURk
THE TOMB OF MARY AND ELIZABETH TUDOR
youtu.be/EgLchn8Xs7I
READ MORE:
Michael K. Jones and Malcolm G. Underwood, The King’s Mother: Lady Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby (Cambridge, 1992) available at amzn.to/3EgInG7
BUY OR RENT:
Britain’s Bloody Crown Presented by Dan Jones (2016) [Documentary covering the Wars of the Roses] amzn.to/2TPep8i
The White Queen (TV show, 2013) amzn.to/2VcbQO5
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
Blue Yeti Microphone: amzn.to/3FgEDYq
Go-Pro Hero 13 camera: amzn.to/41H4Xnt
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/3vaVxjU
Memory Card: amzn.to/3KeLZZs
DJI Drone: amzn.to/39hROZm
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
#LadyMargaretBeaufort #RoyalGraves #WestminsterAbbey #TudorHistory
DON’T BE FOOLED! It may look like a simple royal grave, but every detail of the tomb of Lady Margaret Beaufort is loaded with hidden meanings. Join me in this episode of History Calling as we delve into the secrets of one of the most famous graves in Westminster Abbey under which lies the mother of Henry VII, the grandmother of Henry VII and the woman who shaped the course of English history from behind the throne, for although she never wore a crown, without her the Tudor dynasty wouldn’t have existed. This is the story of the tomb of the Tudor Kingmaker.
Lady Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby, died in 1509 and lies beneath a stunning monument created by Renaissance sculptor, Pietro Torrigiano, featuring a lifelike gilt-bronze effigy of her in her final years. Dressed in austere widow’s robes, her hands raised in prayer and her head resting on cushions embroidered with the Tudor rose and Beaufort portcullis, the effigy is believed to have been modelled on a death mask, capturing her as she truly was at the time of her passing.
This is more than just a tomb though. It’s a carefully crafted statement of power, piety, and legacy. From the mythical yale crouching at her feet, to the bronze shields displaying the arms of kings, queens and other noble bloodlines, every detail tells a deeper story about Lady Margaret Beaufort’s life, her birth family, two of her three husbands and her role as My Lady, the King’s Mother, a title she held after her only son, Henry Tudor, became Henry VII in 1485 and ended the Wars of the Roses. You’ll also learn about the lost-and-found iron grille that once protected her tomb and the Latin epitaph composed by none other than the famed scholar, Desiderius Erasmus, paying tribute to her role as a patron of learning and religion.
Whether you're a fan of the Tudors, a lover of art and architecture, or just fascinated by powerful women of the past, this is a monument worth exploring. Make sure you subscribe too for more deep dives into the secrets of royal tombs and untold stories from Britain’s historic landmarks.
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Join my mailing list (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
LIFE OF LADY MARGARET BEAUFORT, PART 1
youtu.be/86i3a_G7gl4
LIFE OF LADY MARGARET BEAUFORT, PART 2
youtu.be/UGM_auVPcTc
WHERE WERE ROYAL BABIES BURIED?
youtu.be/zMhOFuOhgSo
TRAGIC DEATH AND BURIAL OF PRINCE ARTHUR
youtu.be/M7izXFVPG1M
TRAGIC LOSS OF 3 TUDOR CHILDREN
youtu.be/_oYk8fwConI
THE SHORT LIFE OF PRINCE HENRY TUDOR
youtu.be/7F6WYqzGURk
THE TOMB OF MARY AND ELIZABETH TUDOR
youtu.be/EgLchn8Xs7I
READ MORE:
Michael K. Jones and Malcolm G. Underwood, The King’s Mother: Lady Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby (Cambridge, 1992) available at amzn.to/3EgInG7
BUY OR RENT:
Britain’s Bloody Crown Presented by Dan Jones (2016) [Documentary covering the Wars of the Roses] amzn.to/2TPep8i
The White Queen (TV show, 2013) amzn.to/2VcbQO5
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
Blue Yeti Microphone: amzn.to/3FgEDYq
Go-Pro Hero 13 camera: amzn.to/41H4Xnt
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/3vaVxjU
Memory Card: amzn.to/3KeLZZs
DJI Drone: amzn.to/39hROZm
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
#LadyMargaretBeaufort #RoyalGraves #WestminsterAbbey #TudorHistory
