Love Letters

Love Letters at The National Archives features correspondence that covers 500 years of devotion, longing, heartache and passion.

This exhibition opens the envelope on the stories behind the documents and the consequences of their existence – from eternal blessing to execution. Love Letters offers a rare into personal emotions captures in The National Archives unique collection – tender, intimate and deeply human.

It ‘lifts the veil’ on some of the most famous, and sometimes most dangerous, love affairs in British history.

One of the most high-risk love letters ever written – by Catherine Howard (Henry VIII’s fifth wife) to Thomas Culpeper in 1541 – was used to prove that they were having a treasonous affair. Shortly afterwards, both were executed.

Imagine realising that one of your first loves was a spy? Love Letters reveals a new discovery, a love letter from the Cambridge Five spy ring’s “fifth man” to his former girlfriend. Separated by the Second World War , he was already passing secrets to Soviets with her knowledge.

The culmination of another Royal love affair – between Edward VIII & Wallis Simpson resulted in the Instrument. of Abdication (on display in Love Letters.)

Another letter is from Lord Alfred Douglas (Oscar Wilde’s lover) to Queen Victoria begging her to exercise her power of pardon in the case of the poet and dramatist who was beginning his two years hard labour sentence for gross indecency.

These are some of the wide ranging examples of Love Letters in this exhibition which runs from 24th. January until 12th April 2026