Armouries gets dressed up, TV Tudor style

The eight costumes from the Emmy Award-winning series have gone on display in the fitting setting of the Royal Armouries museum’s Tournament Gallery – the permanent home to Henry VIII’s famous “horned helmet” and his foot combat armour. Among those on display from the series are one created for the character King Henry VIII, played by Jonathan Rhys-Myers, during the siege of Boulogne and another for Jane Seymour, played by Annabelle Wallis, during the opening titles of the third series.

The Royal Armouries’ creative director, Peter Armstrong, said: “The Tudors are possibly the most flamboyant and well known of the Royal houses and are popular with all ages, particularly children, who are always captivated by the romance, treachery and sheer audacity of Henry VIII and the stories of his ill-fated wives.

“Where better to stage these costumes than alongside Henry’s famous horned helmet, which has its permanent home at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds?”

The loan of the costumes has been made possible by the support of costume designer Joan Bergin, plus the creator and writer of The Tudors, Michael Hirst, and the Mary Rose Trust in Portsmouth – the only previous exhibitors of the costumes in the UK.

To film the series, about 500 costumes were made and countless others rented and modified.

The degree of skill employed can be seen in every detail of the costumes, from fabric to braid to button.

The show netted costume designer Joan Bergin the 2010 Emmy for Outstanding Costume for a Series, along with wardrobe supervisor Susan Cave.

The exhibition, on the balcony of the Tournament Gallery at the Royal Armouries, runs until November 30.