Perhaps they have been watching the wonderful “ Cranford” with Judy Dench amongst other super actresses and actors.
Sunday afternoons.
Imelda Staunton etc.
Katherine had a bad time after her first husband Prince Arthur died very shortly after their marriage ,couldn’t go back to Spain in case she was pregnant ,then left relatively poor as Ferdinand her father had not paid all her dowry so Horrid Henry The Seventh kept her very poor ,then Henry The Eighth saw her and they married but she had to declare her marriage to Arthur was unconsummated .
Henry chose to follow one passage in The Bible saying “ Thou shallt take unto thyself thy brother’s widow “etc — BUT - later another saying “ Thou shalt not
take unto thyself ,etc etc .”
Whatever was convenient.!
I must look them up when I have spare time ———-
Just reading a book about Katherine’s sister Joanna, I have mentioned it already elsewhere ,her marriage to Philip The Fair, introduced the very sad Hapsburg Jaw into The Spanish Royal family which through inbreeding became really disfiguring.
Maximilian, The Holy Roman Emperor ,Philip’s father was the origine.
All the above is everyday knowledge in Belgium ,every four years there is a fantastic pageant celebrating the marriage of Charles The Bold - Count of Flanders to Margaret of York ,who was aunt to The Princes in the Tower.
Their daughter Mary of Burgundy married Maximilian and Philip was their son .
The pageant takes four hours to pass through the streets of Bruges ,every farm horse for miles is requisitioned ,fantastic costumes and arms - it really is magnificent .
So that connection with England is very strong and familiar.
Isn’t History amazing ,well I find it so.
However it does stop me from getting on with my work!
Cheerio.
Viktoria.
