The Hopeful Duke

<p>I watch from among the crowd as Anne Boleyn speaks her last then kneels before the French swordsman.</p><p>As a member of the royal family - and the king's only son - I was appointed to attend Queen Anne's execution; representing England's monarch and indicating to the world that he approved of what was happening. And yet despite this great honour I was born but a mere bastard.</p><p></p><p>As an illegitimate son Henry Fitzroy was not born to be king.</p><p>But when Henry VIII is yet to father a legitimate son by his wife Katherine of Aragon he decides to elevate his only surviving son into the peerage.</p><p>At the age of just six years old Henry Fitzroy is created an Earl a Duke a Knight of the Garter and is granted a royal education. As the years go on the boy's future as heir to the throne starts to take shape and he grows to believe that perhaps he <em>is </em>destined to wear the crown.</p><p>But when the king discards his queen in favour of another Henry's future takes an uncertain turn and an unspoken race for the throne begins...</p>