[RJS1950]

They needed the excuse to get the approval of the Pope so they weren’t “living in sin”. Some, like Henry II didn’t give a damn.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I am no student of royal adultery, but my impression is that the indissolubility of the king's (duke's/prime minister's) marriage was the one thing he wanted to maintain, in order to insure that his ladies on the side would stay on the side. Henry VIII had lots of other men's wives, who knew they would never be on the throne.

It was the younger Boleyn girl who would not put out until King Henry ditched his wife. She did not want to be the King's mistress: she wanted to be Queen. Got her way. Lost her head. Amazing the centuries of trouble which ensued.