Henry, Prince of Wales

Sitter in 42 portraits
The eldest son of James I and Anne of Denmark, Henry was reputed to be an ideal warrior prince: athletic, brave, noble, clever, cultured and ardently Protestant. He became the focus for courtiers who advocated a more militant foreign policy, and for those who sought to make London a great cultural centre in Europe. Henry assembled an important collection of paintings, sculpture and books; and patronised artists, architects, writers and musicians. He was actively engaged with the development of the navy, exploration and foreign politics. His sudden death in 1612, probably from typhoid fever, at the age of eighteen, was a devastating blow to the hopes of many at home and abroad.