In Act II, Scene 2 of Anne Boleyn – The Musical, a quiet moment unfolds that carries the weight of a dynasty. “YOU” is an intimate solo ballad sung by Anne to her newborn daughter, Elizabeth — a solo shaped by heartbreak, hope, and the shifting tides of power. Performed with searing emotion by Emily Lane, accompanied by musical director Matthew Malone on piano and captured by sound engineer Pierpaolo Demarchi, this acoustic version lets the song breathe in its rawest form.

“You were meant to be a boy,” Anne sings — not with bitterness, but with the exhaustion of a woman who has given everything. In just a few lines, the audience feels the crushing weight of seven years of courtship, a kingdom separated from Rome, and the founding of a new church — all for the promise of a son. And yet, in this still moment, the politics fall away. What remains is the overwhelming love of a mother meeting her child.

As writer Rebecca Night explains:

“We were thinking about the overwhelming political and personal pressure — after a seven-year relationship, a break from Rome, a new religion — to produce a son. In a world where it was rarely considered possible for a woman to be a leader. Yet, despite all of the external noise, what happens in that quiet, unparalleled moment when a mother, or a parent, first meets their child? You are changed forever. Your priorities shift instantly, and love becomes the guiding force.”

This isn’t just a song — it’s the turning point where Anne’s personal truth eclipses royal expectation. It reframes Anne not only as a queen but as a mother whose daughter would grow to rule for 44 years.

As producer Simon de Merode shares:

“After ten years of bringing history to life in Belgium’s historic houses, I’m filled with pride and awe hearing ‘YOU’ in English and staging it in one of the UK’s most famous castles.”

The UK premiere of Anne Boleyn – The Musical marks a new chapter for Historalia. And with “YOU”, the heart of the story beats louder than ever.