He didn’t wear a crown… but his choice may have changed the course of English history. On 29th July 1504, Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby, died quietly at his manor in Lancashire. But nearly two decades earlier, at the bloody Battle of Bosworth, his decision to support his stepson — Henry Tudor — was a turning point in English history, ending centuries of Plantagenet rule and beginning the Tudor era. Some say he stood back and watched until the moment was right. Others claim he crowned Henry on the battlefield with Richard’s fallen crown. Was Thomas Stanley a loyal stepfather… or a master manipulator who waited to see which way the wind would blow? In this episode of On This Day in Tudor History,I take you beyond the battlefield drama to explore:

• Stanley’s powerful family background and early royal service
• His two politically significant marriages — including to Lady Margaret Beaufort, Henry VII’s mother
• His pivotal role at Bosworth and its aftermath
• Why he became Earl of Derby and godfather to Prince Arthur
• And whether he was a kingmaker… or just playing both sides to stay on top

He may have moved in the background, but his actions helped shape the Tudor dynasty. Listen now to discover the real Thomas Stanley — and decide for yourself whether he was loyal, opportunistic… or both.

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