Katherine of Aragon

Sorry, event now sold out! What happens now? All seats are taken - if you want to take a chance you can come to the door to see if anyone has not showed up. But sadly all remain spoken for at the moment.

Lesley Smith, Curator of Tutbury Castle is famed for her colourful costumed presentations and she now presents Katherine of Aragon. This promises to be an entertaining evening when you will discover much more about the first wife of Henry VIII.

Early booking recommended.  Tickets £10 in advance, £12.50 on the door. Available HERE ONLINE or at Michaelmas House and MBCL ( community library)

• Doors open 18.45 for 19.30 start
• Suitable for children over 12
• Licensed bar, no interval
• On-street parking, disabled drop off.

Katherine of Aragon was born into one of the most powerful and warlike families in Europe.  She was the youngest of five children. Her parents were King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castille.  Many in her family died young and madness stalked each generation.

Katherine arrived in England to marry Arthur, Prince of Wales, of the new Tudor dynasty 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 of England he married Katherine and she became Queen. After a very happy start to the marriage they went on to suffer a series of miscarriages. Their son died within weeks of his birth but their daughter, Mary, would become Queen Mary 1st.

Henry desperately wanted a male heir and after more than 20 years of marriage to Katherine, he divorced her to marry Anne Boleyn.  Katherine died in isolation, near poverty and ill health when she was just 50 years old.