THE monthly Times Magazine is out this week. It is free with the WHT. Here is one of the articles which features. Read more by buying the WHT this week. In the second of our articles about events marking the 500th anniversary of King Henry VIII s

THE monthly Times Magazine is out this week. It is free with the WHT. Here is one of the articles which features. Read more by buying the WHT this week.

In the second of our articles about events marking the 500th anniversary of King Henry VIII's coronation we highlight a magnificent Tudor river pageant sailing from the Tower of London along the River Thames to the King's favourite surviving royal residence, Hampton Court Palace.

The weekend of June 20 and 21 will be the highlight event in Historic Royal Palaces' year-long celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of the mighty monarch's accession to the throne.

At 10am on the Saturday, King Henry VIII and his Queen will board the Royal Shallop 'Jubilant' at the Tower of London. Accompanied by a flotilla of traditional skiffs, the King and his entourage will travel up the River Thames with more boats joining the procession at Richmond for the final leg of the journey to Hampton Court Palace.

King Henry's loyal subjects are invited to line the banks of the river between central London through Richmond and down to Hampton Court Palace, cheering the King and Queen and their splendid entourage as they pass by on their journey.

Meanwhile at Hampton Court Palace, preparations will be underway in anticipation of their arrival at around 3pm. Visitors will be able to see the Tudor cooks hard at work in Henry VIII's kitchens preparing a feast fit for a King, which will be served to the royal party in the palace's famous gardens followed by music, dancing and entertainment from the King's fools so get ready to party like its 1509!

On the Sunday, festivities will continue at Hampton Court Palace with traditional Tudor court fun and games on the river, such as boat races and tug of war, with further opportunities to meet the King, Queen and members of the court throughout the day.

By late afternoon the royal flotilla will bid farewell to Henry's palace playground, sailing back downriver and bringing the historic weekend's celebrations to a close.

A major exhibition at The Tower of London runs until January next year. It brings together the most stunning display of the King's personal arms and armour ever seen in the UK.

Hampton Court Palace is hosting Henry VIII: heads and hearts, as featured in last month's Times Magazine, a series of special events and exhibitions at the great Tudor palace which has been majestically transformed for the landmark year.

For further information about the Henry VIII Coronation weekend river pageant or for tickets to the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace, visit the Historic Royal Palaces website: www.hrp.org.uk

The event is part of the Story of London festival - a month-long series of cultural activities celebrating London's heritage, past, present and future: http://www.london.gov.uk/storyoflondon/