Catherine married Arthur first, who died after about 6 months of marriage. After 20 years of marriage to Henry VIII, he suddenly decided his “conscience” bothered him about his having married his brother’s wife. Catherine maintained until the end that her marriage with Arthur was never consummated (probably true), and regardless, the Pope had given a dispensation anyway, but she was doomed. Her daughter Mary would follow strangely similar paths.1

Crowned along with Henry on Midsummers Day, 24 June 1509544

Catherine married Arthur first, who died after about 6 months of marriage. After 20 years of marriage to Henry VIII, he suddenly decided his “conscience” bothered him about his having married his brother’s wife. Catherine maintained until the end that her marriage with Arthur was never consummated (probably true), and regardless, the Pope had given a dispensation anyway, but she was doomed. Her daughter Mary would follow strangely similar paths.

Crowned along with Henry on Midsummers Day, 24 June 1509,