National Geographic series explores Tudor-era executions

National Geographic is set to premiere a new six-episode series titled ‘How the Tudors Lost Their Heads’, hosted by historians Dan Snow and Suzannah Lipscomb. The documentary examines the lives and decapitations of six historical figures from the Tudor era: Mary Stuart, Perkin Warbeck, Anne Boleyn, Robert Devereux (Earl of Essex), John Dudley (Duke of Northumberland), and Margaret Pole.

Through travels in England, France, and Belgium, the series utilizes recent historical evidence to re-examine these figures. The first episode focuses on Mary Stuart, the Queen of Scots, who was executed in 1587 following 19 years of imprisonment by her cousin, Elizabeth I. The production highlights the deep connections between the Tudor dynasty and continental Europe, moving beyond a strictly English perspective.