Hatfield Palace was acquired by Henry VIII in 1538 and served as a nursery for his children including Mary, Elizabeth and Edward.

It is said that the messenger from London bearing this news imparted it to Elizabeth while she was sitting beneath this tree, reading the bible or eating an apple (or perhaps both).

[3] Hatfield Palace was later swapped by James I for Theobalds House, owned by Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, one of Elizabeth's advisers.

[3] Victoria and Albert visited in 1846, by which time the tree was enclosed by a fence and protected by a lead covering.

[3][5][6] The American journalist Joel Cook visited the site and, in an 1882 book, described the remains of the oak as "one of the most precious memorials at Hatfield".