Good Morning To Everyone,

It was finally decided between the four parents that a good match would be made between Prince Henry and Catherine.

For many years, Henry had admired his pretty sister-in-law, and had a chance to observe how she handled adverse situations. It could be said that he had fallen in love with her, and he often expressed the opinion that he "loved her beyond all others, and wished to wed her".

Six weeks after the death of the old King, on June 11, 1509, which was the feast day of St. Barnabas, the new King Henry VIII married Catherine of Aragon in her closet at Greenwich Palace, by William Warham, who was now the Archbishop of Canterbury. Catherine wore virginal white, with her long hair flowing free under a gold circlet.

The Archbishop pronounced the young couple as man and wife, and the small wedding party proceeded to the Chapel of the Observant Friars within the palace precincts to hear mass.

There is no record of the royal couple "being put to bed", as their wedding was private. However, there was never any doubt that the wedding was consumated.

In the beginning years of their marriage, it was recorded that Henry and Catherine were extremely close, and a loving couple. It seemed that they went everywhere together, and shared a wonderful relationship.

As to the children born to Henry and Catherine, there were six babies born to them:

1. A stillborn daughter was born on January 31, 1510.

2. Henry, the Duke of Cornwall, was born at Richmond Palace on January 1, 1511. The little prince was christened before he was a week old, his godparents being the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Earl of Surrey, and the Countess of Devon, who was the daughter of Edward IV, and the King's aunt. Katherine's happiness was now complete, for she had done her duty in providing the King with an heir. Henry, for his part, could not do enough to praise her. Many churches had special masses in honour of the royal birth. There were quite a few festivities in honour of the new little prince.

Then tragedy struck, and the festivities were brought to an abrupt halt, when the King and Queen were informed that the little prince had passed from this life on February 22, 1511, at Richmond Palace.

Needless to say, Catherine was devastated. Henry did his best to console her; he was philosophical, and said there would be other children soon.

3. Another boy, also named Henry, Duke of Cornwall, was born and died at Richmond Palace in November, 1513.

4. A stillborn son was born in December, 1514.

5. Mary, later Queen Mary I, was born at Greenwich Palace, on February 18, 1516.

Queen Mary later acceeded to the throne on July 6, 1553. She was crowned at Westminster Abbey on October 1, 1553.

Queen Mary was married at Winchester Cathedral on July 25, 1554, to Phillip II, the King of Spain, as his second wife.

Queen Mary passed from this life at St. James's Palace, on November 17, 1558. She was buried in Westminster Abbey.

6. Henry and Catherine's last child together was a stillborn daughter, who was born on November 10, 1518.

Henry grew increasingly vexed at the problem of his not having a male heir to survive him. This legacy was extremely important to his dynasty.

Henry, like many men of his generation had ventured outside the matrimonial fold, and probably had found many willing partners. One such willing partner was a beautiful young lady, Miss Anne Boleyn, who was a Maid of Honour in Queen Catherine's service.

Henry became very infatuated with Anne, and pursued her intensely. Anne discreetly demured, and would vow that she was virginal, and would not give in to Henry's charms. Henry was intent on this "chase", and gave her many expensive gifts, "tokens of love", and such.

Catherine, of course, was horrified, and insisted that Anne was rather of a wicked sort, and kept her in her service, but was very sarcastic to her, treating Anne with much contempt.

Henry was now intent on ridding himself of Catherine, and entreated Catherine to end the marriage "gracefully" by entering a nunnery. Catherine, furious at the thought of being divorced, adamantly refused. Henry, incensed that Catherine would refuse him, after many gentle requests, banished her from Court, and sent her to many different remote Castle, which were cold and damp, dismal to be precise. Catherine suffered great hardships at these remote locations; many of her servants were taken from her; she was allowed only a handfull of ladies to go with her. Catherine's health suffered greatly.

In the meantime, the Princess Mary was also taken from Catherine and sent to other Palaces, to be reared by Ladies of the Court, and such. The Princess Mary was stripped of her titles, and declared to be a bastard child.

Henry went to his advisors and repeatedly requested that his marriage be dissolved in some manner. He was totally vexed at the situation of no male heir, and considering that he was very infatuated with Anne Boleyn, Henry wanted to be free of Catherine.

Now, Catherine would have no talk of divorce; she considered herself to be Queen of England, and Henry's wife "until death do us part", and she intended to keep it that way.

After much legal wrangling and such, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer declared that Henry and Catherine's marriage to be invalid and unlawful on May 23, 1533. The marriage was "utterly dissolved" by an Act of Parliament in March, 1534.

Catherine's spirit remained unbroken to the last. She died at Kimbolton Castle, where she had been confined, after an illness of about a month's duration, on January 7, 1536.

On Janary 29, 1536, Catherine's body was conveyed to Peterborough, and she had all the trappings of a royal funeral. The funeral sermon was preached by John Hilsey, who was the Bishop of Rochester.

Catherine was buried as the Dowager Princess of Wales, in the abbey church, later the cathedral.

Henry observed her death by wearing black mourning clothest to honour the Dowager Princess of Wales.

To the end, Catherine believed that, regardless of divorce, or Henry's convictions, she was his lawful and true wife, and she remained staunchly true to him. She wrote many letters to Henry telling him of her love for him, and forgiving him for his many indiscretions.

It may be said that Catherine was a true and devoted spouse, and her loyalty to Henry was absolutely amazing.

Catherine was an icon of strength and steadfastness to Henry that will be remembered throughout the ages.


(Courtesy of "Debrett's Kings and Queens of Britain", by David Williamson, Published by Salem House Publishers, Topsfield, Massachusetts, 1986, Pages 107, 110, 115, 117, 120, 128, 129).


(Courtesy of "The Six Wives of Henry VIII", by Alison Weir, Published by Grove Weidenfeld, New York, New York, 1992, Pages 71, 72, 83, 86, 110, 111, 170, 171).

(Courtesy of "The Wives of Henry VIII)", by Antonia Fraser, Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1992, Pages 9, 13, 29, 32, 33, 49, 229, 230, 231).