Some historians suggest rivalry, especially since Mary was previously Henry VIII’s mistress before Anne caught the king’s eye. Others propose that the sisters maintained a close bond despite their differing fates.
Mary’s retreat from court life after Anne’s execution in 1536 suggests a deliberate distance from the turbulent political environment that destroyed her sister.
Mary Boleyn’s Later Years and Death
Mary Boleyn lived a relatively obscure life after her second marriage. She was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1538, possibly due to her marriage without royal permission, but soon released.
Her financial situation remained precarious for much of her later life, and she relied on family and royal patronage for support. Despite the Boleyn family’s tragic fate, Mary survived until around 1543. shutdown123