There is much debate among historians about whether Henry VIII had fertility difficulties and whether he fathered any children with his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. As far as we know, Anne of Cleves did not conceive a child with Henry during their short-lived marriage.
It is important to note that Henry VIII had already had three children prior to his marriage to Anne of Cleves. He had a daughter, Mary, with his first wife Catherine of Aragon, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, with his second wife Anne Boleyn. However, he was eager to have a male heir to secure the Tudor dynasty’s succession.
The marriage between Henry and Anne of Cleves was arranged as a political alliance, and they were married in January 1540. However, Henry was reportedly displeased with Anne’s appearance upon meeting her, famously saying that she was not as attractive as he had been led to believe. This led to their marriage being annulled just six months later, in July 1540.
During their brief marriage, there is no recorded evidence or historical accounts suggesting that Anne of Cleves became pregnant or gave birth to a child. It is worth noting that Anne herself stated that the marriage was never consummated, which would have made it highly unlikely for her to conceive.
After the annulment, Anne of Cleves was given the title “The King’s Beloved Sister” and was treated with respect and generosity by Henry. She lived a comfortable life in England and outlived both Henry VIII and his last wife, Catherine Parr.
There is no historical evidence to suggest that Anne of Cleves and Henry VIII had any children together. While Henry had fertility issues later in his life, it is unclear whether these difficulties were present during his marriage to Anne. The lack of offspring from this marriage is often attributed to the lack of consummation and the subsequent annulment.