The journey to England had been long – it had taken three months and the ship had passed through several storms. Catherine was tired, but also excited, and prepared to begin married life. She had had an excellent education, one befitting a princess, and liked the idea of being in charge of her own household. It was difficult for her, however, to leave her own family and travel to a foreign country knowing that she may never return.
Catherine was not impressed by her parent’s choice of husband. Arthur was sickly, weak and not Prince Charming material. The marriage was to be short-lived however, - Arthur died six months later.
King Henry’s motive for the marriage was primarily to obtain Catherine’s large dowry. Anxious to obtain more money, he made an arrangement to marry Catherine to his other son, Henry, who was six years younger. However, the King changed his mind when it appeared that the alliance with Spain was not beneficial. Catherine, now a nuisance, was forced to live frugally, and had a miserable time, because her father objected to paying the second half of her dowry. The King did eventually obtain it, however.
Handsome and robust, young Prince Henry was very attracted to pretty, red-haired Catherine, even though she was six years older. When his father died, he married her quickly and they had a joint coronation ceremony with all the trappings.
Catherine was a good wife and very popular. She managed the royal household very well, even becoming Regent while Henry was away fighting in France. She also oversaw the Battle of Flodden, while he was away, defeating the Scots, who were always rebelling.
The couple were happy together – they both liked music and dancing, and Catherine, as good royal wives are supposed to do, even today it seems, put up with her husband’s affairs. uncomplainingly.
However, Henry desperately wanted a son and grew ever more impatient with Catherine’s inability to provide one. Although she had six children only Mary survived. He had also fallen in love with one of his mistresses- the dark-haired and enigmatic Anne Boleyn. When Anne fell pregnant, a decision had to made quickly.
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