LONDON - Henry VIII was a real mummy’s boy, at least that’s what his handwriting suggests.

According to David Starkey, a well-renowned historian, the King of England’s handwriting was so similar to his mother’s, it seems, he was emotionally dependent on women.

An exhibition, which will open next month at the British Library, on one of the most fascinating monarchs will compare and contrast the handwriting of Henry, his younger sister Mary and their mother, Elizabeth of York.

“Henry was brought up very, very unusually, in a female household,” The Times quoted Starkey, who has curated the exhibition, as saying.

In the exhibition, Starkey will show that he was tutored by his mother “both to read and, as we now see from the handwriting, to write, too”.

Besides this, Henry’s tutors have noticeably different styles from his. His writing is also nothing like that of Thomas More, who had a huge influence over the young king.

Only a few fragments of Henry’s mother writings have survived. One, from her personal book of devotion, is inscribed: “Thys boke ys myn Elysabeth the kyngys dawwghtyr.” She was the daughter of Edward IV.

A letter from Henry shows how similar his writing was to hers. It tells Cardinal Wolsey, the lord chancellor, that his wife (Catherine of Aragon) is “with child”.

The handwriting of his sister Mary is also virtually the same.

“It could pass for Henry’s,” said Starkey.

“Henry’s handwriting shows how very close he was to females in his youth. He was the only boy and became emotionally dependent on women. Or, to put it more bluntly, he was emotionally incontinent,” said Starkey.

Starkey deduces that being surrounded by females had a lasting effect.

“He could never be without women in his life and was always falling in love. He also married, at least when it comes to most of his six wives, for love. It is just that he would also fall out of love,” he added.