Lesley Smith: Katherine of Aragon
Lesley Smith, formerly curator of Tutbury Castle, is famed for her colourful costumed presentations and she now returns to the Hub to present Katherine of Aragon.
Katherine of Aragon was born into one of the most powerful and warlike families in Europe. She was the youngest of five children to royal parents but many in her family died young and madness stalked each generation.
Katherine arrived in England to marry Arthur, Prince of Wales, but within months of the marriage, he was dead, and she was effectively abandoned for six years with little money and poor care.
When the glittering young Henry VIII leapt upon the throne, he married Katherine and she became Queen. After a very happy start to the marriage they suffered a series of miscarriages and their son died within weeks of his birth. Henry desperately wanted a male heir and after more than 20 years of marriage, he divorced her to marry Anne Boleyn. Katherine died in isolation, near poverty and ill health when she was just 50 years old.
