A man has sparked a viral debate by claiming that King Henry VIII's footwear in a 16th-century portrait bears an uncanny resemblance to Greggs steak bakes, leading him to speculate that the monarch might have been a time traveller.
Viral observation on social media
Luke from Manchester posted on X, sharing an image of the former ruler's portrait and highlighting his shoes, which looked remarkably similar to the popular pastry. He joked in his tweet: "Why do Henry VIII's shoes look like a Greggs steak bake?"
The high street bakery chain responded with humour, replying: "Losing our heads over this," as reported by the Daily Star.
Public reaction and engagement
The post has accumulated almost 600 retweets and more than 3,000 likes, sparking widespread debate about the validity of the theory. One follower wittily commented: "ahhh choux pastry." Another added: "Because they are, needs to keep those toes warm during winter."
A third person wrote: "On another note - ciabatta (bread) translates to slipper. This has been going on a long time." However, one sceptical user rejected the steak bake comparison, saying: "Bro that's cheese and onion. Get a grip." Another user joked: "Because, and not many people know this, Henry VIII's feet were delish! ! !"
Context: Henry VIII and Greggs
Greggs, the UK's largest bakery chain, sells an impressive 1.5 million sausage rolls every week, totalling 145 million each year. Henry VIII, the second Tudor monarch, reigned from 21 April 1509 until his death on 28 January 1547, and is notorious for his six marriages and efforts to diminish the influence of the Catholic Church in England.
