When Henry VIII met Catherine of Aragon

Duty bound to cement the two nations in an ongoing dynastic dispute involving many different European powers, the Spanish princess was used as a pawn to strengthen a political alliance between England and Spain in the 16th century.

Despite being forced to marry the English monarch, Catherine had a mind of her own. Far from permitting herself to be pushed around, she evolved into a powerful Queen Consort of England, with her popularity even rivalling the king’s own.

Over the years, debate has ensued over whether Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII were ever in love, despite being forced together, or whether their relationship was doomed from the start.

Who was Catherine of Aragon?

Born in December 1485, to King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I, Catherine’s future was mapped out. Her parents agreed she would marry the heir to the English throne, Prince Arthur, as soon as the law allowed. At the time, they were aged three and two years old respectively. Arthur’s parents, King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, gave him the title Duke of Cornwall when he was born in September 1486. The wedding plans were common knowledge and Catherine spent her childhood knowing she was destined to become Queen of England.

After writing to each other for years, Catherine and Arthur married, both aged 15, on 14th November 1501. They seemed genuinely happy. However, Arthur passed away suddenly on 2nd April 1502 from a mystery illness, leaving Catherine a widow after less than five months of marriage. His death left her future uncertain, as she was in a foreign country, relying on the English royal family’s goodwill. Her father Ferdinand hadn’t paid the full dowry to the groom, so she wasn’t entitled to claim money from her late husband’s estate to support her household.

Aside from the personal tragedy, it had political implications for England and Spain, who still wished to retain their alliance. It wasn’t long before both nations’ royal families turned their attention to the next heir to the English throne, Arthur’s brother, Henry, who was only ten at the time.

First meeting

Catherine and Henry’s first meeting had taken place when she arrived in England just before her wedding to Prince Arthur, when she was introduced to royal family members and courtiers.

Henry had enjoyed a lavish childhood, being awarded the titles of Earl Marshal of England, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Duke of York and other honours between the ages of two and four years. A bright scholar, he completed  a high-quality education, speaking French, Latin and Italian fluently.

A new plan was hatched that Catherine should stay on at the royal residence until Henry was legally old enough to marry his sister-in-law. The Pope gave his permission, on the grounds that Catherine and Arthur hadn’t consummated their marriage. However, she wrote home to say she was unhappy living at the palace.

The planned wedding began to seem unlikely, as the political situation in Europe shifted and the alliance between England and Spain became less important to peace. King Henry VII changed his mind about his teenage son marrying Catherine, keeping them apart while he sought other potential brides. In 1508, tired of her situation, Catherine, now 23, made plans to go back to Spain.

Royal wedding

Fate intervened when Henry VII died of tuberculosis on 21st April 1509, aged 52, so his son became King Henry VIII, aged only 17. Days later, the young king asked Catherine of Aragon, now 24, to become his Queen Consort. Some royals speculated it was his father’s dying wish to ensure Henry married a suitable bride. However, a more commonly held view was that the teenager had fallen in love with the intelligent and attractive widow.

Catherine and Henry VIII married on 11th June 1509, before their lavish coronation celebrations on 24th June at Westminster. The stunning bride, resplendent in an embroidered dress, long hair flowing down her back, waved to the adoring public from a horse drawn carriage before being presented with her golden sceptre and crown as Queen of England.

Marriage and children

Their marriage was happy at first and they seemed devoted to each other. The public respected the Queen Consort, especially since Henry appointed her Regent for six months in June 1513, when he was in France. She led England safely through a national crisis, preventing James IV of Scotland from invading with his army at the Battle of Flodden on 9th September. Inspiring her troops by riding to Branxton in Northumberland, leaving the safety of London before the battle, she personally delivered 1,500 suits of armour and also gave an emotional and rousing speech about patriotism and courage.

Catherine was also a diplomat who became her father’s ambassador to England, a role requiring her to write coded letters and negotiate with the king. She became a skilled hostess, including entertaining King Francis I of France in 1520 in the English camp during the Field of the Cloth of Gold – a lavish meeting of the English and French monarchs aimed at cementing their friendship.

Sadly, despite their love for each other, Queen Catherine was unable to provide Henry VIII with a son and heir. A major stumbling block to their union; she suffered a miscarriage in January 1510, but fell pregnant again soon afterwards, giving birth to Henry, Duke of Cornwall, in January 1511. However, tragically, the baby died at only seven weeks old.

Historians believe she had six pregnancies between 1510 and 1518, but only one child survived into adulthood: born in February 1516, the daughter of Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII went on to become Queen Mary I of England between 1553 and 1558.

Divorce of Henry VIII

Ultimately, their marriage failed, as the king wanted a son and heir. In a letter to the Venetian Ambassador following Mary’s birth, Henry VIII wrote, “We are both young. If it was a daughter this time, by the Grace of God, the sons will follow.” However, it wasn’t to be and Henry became besotted with a young lady-in-waiting, Anne Boleyn, in 1522. She refused to become his mistress, holding out for marriage, so he tried to divorce Catherine.

The Pope refused to grant him an annulment, as it was against the law, eventually causing Henry to break ties with the Catholic church, Rome and the Pope. He cruelly banished Catherine from court in 1531, forcing her into exile, as some of the public supported her, rather than him. Setting himself up as head of the Church of England, he married Anne Boleyn in 1533, after his first marriage was annulled. Catherine passed away in January 1536, aged 50, retaining her dignity until the end.

Henry VIII’s actions in granting himself new powers still weaken democracy today, according to historians. The so-called “Henry VIII powers” are clauses in a Bill that permit government ministers to repeal or amend provisions in an Act of Parliament. According to a report by the House of Lords Constitution Committee in April 2025, Henry VIII powers have become an “increasingly common feature of legislation” today.