Charles Brandon was the first Duke of Suffolk and likely England's King Henry VIII's best friend. Certainly they were friends from youth until the end of their lives. His father had fought and died bravely during the War of the Roses, and so Brandon was brought up at court.

He was said to be very handsome and have a similar disposition to that of Henry VIII. He held a succession of positions working for the king over the years, including Master of the Horse. Henry granted him vast tracks of valuable land and other possessions. He also fought bravely in battle, proving further loyalty to the king and to England.

Like Henry, he was fond of jousting. He was a skilled diplomat as well, negotiating a number of matters between Henry and King Francis I of France. It was during his years of French diplomacy that he became well-acquainted with Henry's sister, Mary, who was married to the French king, Louis XII. However, even before her marriage the two were said to have been romantically involved. When Mary was widowed the attraction only increased.

Henry and the new French King Francis were not entirely opposed to the match, and generally acquiesced. However, Henry was worried that the considerable dowry, including money, plate, and jewels, that had arrived in France with Mary would be retained by France should she decide to marry Brandon. The couple decided to wed privately, which only angered Henry. It was only the intervention of Cardinal Wolsey that kept Henry from arresting Brandon for treason. The newlyweds agreed to repay Henry the lost dowry. They then held a public marriage, which unfortunately attracted the attention of a woman who was once betrothed to Brandon, as well as a former wife. Brandon had to seek dispensation from the Pope to make his new marriage legal.

After the dramas of their courtship and two weddings, Mary and Brandon lived quietly for a number of years. They had one son and two daughters, one of which became the mother of Lady Jane Grey, who reigned as queen for nine days. Brandon was apparently present at the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520, and he participated in leading an invasion of France in the 1520s. He was fully supportive of Henry's decision to divorce Catherine of Aragon and in his break from the established church. Because of his staunch loyalty, Henry continued to elevate Brandon. The truth of the matter, though, was that Henry relied on Brandon to do things he would rather not. And Brandon never let him down. It was Brandon who had to break repeated bad news to Catherine of Aragon, including her transfer out of the palace and into a straitened retirement.

Brandon also was sent to break up the monasteries and convents. When Mary Tudor died, Brandon married his ward, Catherine. With Catherine he had two sons. From his early marriage to Anne Browne he had one son and two daughters.