Henry VIII’s extended suit of armour as he grew (and grew)

HENRY VIII had to have his armour expanded twice to fit him as he got fatter, it has been revealed, as the Royal Collection Trust publishes a catalogue of its treasures.

The suit, on display at Windsor Castle, is now known to have been made at least two inches bigger, to cope with the king’s increasing girth.

On the first alteration, strips were added between breastplate and backplate to give an extra eighth of an inch, with a later adjustment boosting it by 1.25in.

The changes came to light as experts examined every suit of armour owned by the Royal Collection, compiling the first catalogue raisonné in 100 years. They are sharing their findings with the public for the first time, allowing visitors to look afresh at the armour. Made around 1540, Henry’s is 54in high and weighs 39kg. The catalogue covers more than 250 items in the Royal Collection, including Henry’s sabatons, or foot protectors, described as “the latest fashion in Tudor footwear”. It also details a 17th-century Scottish shield covered with Fomes fomentarius, a type of dried fungus intended to form a surface that could not be pierced by a dagger.