Tudor Royal Progresses

Tudor Royal Progresses were an important way to for the Tudor monarchs to consolidate their rule throughout England. Following his victory at the Battle of Bosworth in August 1485, the first Tudor monarch, Henry VII, ensured his coronation (November 1485), called a parliament (November 1485), married Elizabeth of York (January 1486) – all in London before embarking on his first Royal Progress in March 1486. The last Tudor Royal Progress took place in summer 1602, as Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch died in March 1603.

Henry VII: 1485–1509

 * 1486: Bristol; York.
 * 1487: York

Prince Arthur

 * 1498: Coventry.

Henry VIII

 * 1535: Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucester; Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn went to Gloucester in July 1535. They used Gloucester as a base for hunting trips to Painswick, Coberley, and Miserden. They left Gloucester for Leonard Stanley, on their way to Berkeley Castle.
 * 1541: August, Grimsthorpe Castle and Lincoln; September, York; Pontefract Castle

Edward VI
1552: Edward VI embarked on a short progress to Guilford, but this was soon abandoned.

Mary I
As a Princess, Mary Tudor accompanied her father on royal progresses. As Queen, Mary was less ardent about making royal progresses. The unpopularity of her husband and her own ill health led her to remain in her royal residencies near London.
 * 1525–1526; as Princess; September, Thornbury Castle and Gloucester; November, Tewkesbury; January, Tickenhill and Worcester; April, Hartlebury Castle.
 * 1526: as Princess; Coventry.
 * 1554: Following her marriage to Philip II of Spain in Winchester, the newly weds proceeded to London via their royal residencies in Basing House, Windsor Castle and Richmond Palace.

Elizabeth I
The Elizabethan Royal Progresses played an important role in enabling Elizabeth I to exercise and maintain her royal authority. During each year of her 44 years reign she insisted her court accompanied her on a progress in the spring and summer months.
 * 1558: November, Monken Hadley and London Charterhouse.
 * 1559: July-August, Dartford Priory, Cobham Hall, Gillingham, Otford Palace, Eltham Palace, Croydon Palace, Nonsuch Palace
 * 1561: Suffolk
 * 1564: Cambridge.
 * 1566: Oxford.
 * 1572: Warwick
 * 1573: Kent; August, Sandwich.
 * 1574: Bristol
 * 1575: Woodstock; Kenilworth; August, Worcester; Shrewsbury; Lichfield
 * 1578: July and August, East Anglia; Bury St Edmunds, Euston Hall, Norwich.
 * 1591: Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire; August, Cowdray House
 * 1592: Bisham; October, Ryecote; Elvetham
 * 1602: August, Harefield.