The Catholic Church did not let King Henry VIII to divorce his existing wife, therefore he decided to break away from the church rather than comply with their regulations. She was no longer able to deliver him a son, despite the fact that he need a male heir. He also divorced his wife shortly after founding the Church of England.

Despite the fact that he was already married to Catherine, Henry wished to marry Anne Boleyn because he felt she could give birth to an heir. After learning that Anne Boleyn was carrying his child, Henry made arrangements to marry her in private at Whitehall Palace. This event is often seen as the starting point for the rupture with Rome.