The Spanish Princess has captivated audiences with its lush costumes and dramatic portrayal of Catherine of Aragon’s early years, but how accurate is this Tudor-era television series when held up against the historical record? Based on Philippa Gregory’s novel, the show blends fact with fiction, often taking significant liberties with real events, characters, and timelines. In this essay, we’ll explore the historical inaccuracies in The Spanish Princess, separating the dramatized narrative from the documented truth about Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII, and the Tudor court.
With over 25 years of studying the Tudor period and a seven-book Tudor historical fiction series to my name, I bring a well-researched and passionate perspective to the lives of Henry VII, Catherine of Aragon, and the court that shaped them. If you enjoy peeling back the layers of fact and fiction in Tudor dramas, you’ll feel right at home here, and maybe even find yourself intrigued enough to explore my novels that bring this world to life in rich, imaginative detail.
Episode 3: Grief
The court mourns the loss of key figures as The Spanish Princess delves into the emotional aftermath of war and miscarriage. Catherine’s hopes for an heir are dashed once again, while Henry VIII becomes increasingly restless. Season 2 Episode 3 highlights the personal grief behind political power, setting up future conflicts between husband and wife amid a fragile royal lineage.
A Meditation on Grief and Loss
Even with its historical liberties, this episode of The Spanish Princess offers a powerful exploration of grief. Nearly every character is mourning something (children, dreams, love, or control). Catherine of Aragon’s postpartum depression is quietly but poignantly portrayed, a rarity in historical dramas outside of Call the Midwife. This emotional realism deserves credit. Miscarriage and infant loss in Tudor England were not only common but deeply traumatic, and the sense of powerlessness Catherine experiences (over her body, her marriage, and her future) mirrors the broader theme of lost control that runs through the episode. These characters live in a world where so much is dictated by fate, gender, and politics.
Catherine vs. Wolsey: Rivalry Rooted in Politics
The show paints Wolsey and Catherine as immediate adversaries, which is more dramatic than historically accurate. While they did eventually become fierce opponents, especially during the divorce crisis, it’s unlikely their relationship began with open hostility. Wolsey’s real rise began in the early 1510s, and while Catherine was pro-Spanish and opposed his pro-French sympathies, early on he may have attempted to work with her. The show correctly depicts their differing diplomatic loyalties, but overstates their personal enmity at this point in time.
The Scottish Court After Flodden: A Hollow Victory
Margaret Tudor’s scene in the Scottish court contains more lords than is historically accurate or likely. The Battle of Flodden (1513) was a devastating loss for Scotland, killing an estimated 10,000–14,000 men, including King James IV, nine earls, three bishops, and numerous lords. This obliterated much of the Scottish nobility and left Margaret in a tenuous regency. Her scolding of the squabbling lords in the show rings true to her character as presented in the series, pragmatic, forceful, and politically isolated, but the real one would have been more diplomatic (here, she lectures them about squabbling like children, because she has no nuance or tact).
Anne Hastings: The Scandal That Shook the Early Court
The show’s depiction of Henry VIII’s first major scandal involving Anne Hastings is a welcome addition, but the timeline is off. This incident occurred in 1510, three years prior to Flodden. Henry’s friend Sir William Compton was caught in Anne’s chambers by her brother, Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham. Though Compton was accused of adultery, he swore innocence by taking the sacrament, a serious act in a deeply religious society. Lying during the Eucharist was thought to endanger the soul and offend God. Catherine of Aragon confronted Henry about this scandal, and in response, he punished her by removing a favored lady from her household, an early example of his retaliation methods whenever anyone crossed him (he graduated to… well, arresting people and chopping off their heads).
Mary Tudor and Louis XII: A Reluctant Bride
Mary Tudor’s public refusal to marry King Louis XII of France is dramatized for effect, but her reluctance was real. She resisted the match and only agreed on the condition that, once widowed, she could choose her next husband (contemporary records say she cried and sulked until she got her way). Mary wanted to marry Charles Brandon, and despite royal resistance, she eventually did, sparking a scandal. She was also a political asset: intelligent, beautiful, and beloved. Her rebelliousness foreshadowed later Tudor defiance, and her independent streak may reflect the indulgence she and her siblings received from their father, Henry VII.
Margaret Pole and Compton? Not Quite
In the show, Lady Margaret Pole is pressured to romance Sir William Compton to regain her titles, an invented subplot. Historically, Margaret was restored to her family’s lands and titles in 1512. There is no evidence of a romantic connection between her and Compton, nor was any such relationship a requirement for her political reinstatement.
A Quote Out of Time: Thomas More in Scotland?
Archibald Douglas quotes Sir Thomas More in an effort to woo Margaret Tudor, but this is chronologically problematic. More’s Utopia wasn’t published until 1516 and didn’t gain widespread circulation until later. It’s unlikely his writing would be known or quoted in 1513 Scotland. Likewise, Margaret visiting a tavern is historically dubious. As queen dowager and regent, her presence would have remained tied to court or castle, especially after Flodden.
Catherine and Henry Escort Mary to France?
In another deviation from history, the show depicts Catherine, Henry, and Wolsey personally escorting Mary Tudor to France. In reality, monarchs rarely accompanied royal daughters or sisters abroad. While ceremonial farewells were common (often at the border) the actual journey would be undertaken by the bride’s retinue. Catherine and Henry did not leave England for this event. Historically, Mary’s ladies, including a young Anne Boleyn, did accompany her to France. Anne remained there after Mary returned, which helped shape her education and courtly skills.
Explaining the Succession Crisis: Necessary Exposition
The episode includes scenes of Henry VIII lamenting his lack of a male heir and explaining why he needs one. While perhaps heavy-handed, it’s useful for modern audiences unfamiliar with Tudor succession fears. At the time, England had never successfully sustained a reigning queen without plunging into civil war. The memory of Empress Matilda’s 12th-century struggle against Stephen of Blois still haunted English minds. Unlike Isabella of Castile, whose reign was viewed as legitimate and divinely sanctioned, England lacked a precedent for strong female rule, making Catherine’s failure to produce sons a national anxiety and a personal source of grief for Henry, as a mark of divine disfavor.
Step Back in Time with The Tudor Throne Series
While The Spanish Princess revamps Catherine’s story with dramatic flair, The Tudor Throne Series offers you a more historically accurate interpretation to the tapestry of events in her young life. Set earlier during Catherine of Aragon’s formative years, each novel blends rich historical details (family loyalties, dynastic alliances, and peril) with the emotional depth and suspense you crave.
