charles ii and Anne Hyde die in 1660

So a random thought I had.

What if in 1660, the illness that took Mary, princess royal and Henry duke of Gloucester, instead took Charles II and Anne hydE. This is before Charles has married Catherine of Braganza though he is still betrothed to her, and Anne had just married James.

The duke of York is now king, and single without any children, his brother Henry is still alive however.

Would James follow through on his brothers engagement and marry Catherine of braganzA. Or marry elsewhere? Without the influence of Barbara colliers could Catherine carry children to term? Perhaps having two or three kids at most?

How does this change England’s policy and domestic politics? Especially if James remains Protestant
 
The Portuguese dowry was too enormous to not to take. Henry marries either his French betrothal or Saxony/Denmark princess.
Mary's survival, in addition to different upbringing for Prince of Orange, creates nice butterfly I've explored in Mazarinettes, given the rumors of her possible engagement to Prince Rupert.
 
The Portuguese dowry was too enormous to not to take. Henry marries either his French betrothal or Saxony/Denmark princess.
Mary's survival, in addition to different upbringing for Prince of Orange, creates nice butterfly I've explored in Mazarinettes, given the rumors of her possible engagement to Prince Rupert.

Oh very interesting, I do think Catherine might have a better time of the pregnancy, as I don't think James would insist on making his mistress, his wife's lady in waiting.

And oh now that could be very interesting, would that marriage between Rupert and Mary if it goes ahead, mean they'd venture to the Netherlands?
 
Oh very interesting, I do think Catherine might have a better time of the pregnancy, as I don't think James would insist on making his mistress, his wife's lady in waiting.
James' tastes in mistresses was weird, but I won't attribute Catherine's failures to have a child soley to Duchess of Cleveland.
 
And oh now that could be very interesting, would that marriage between Rupert and Mary if it goes ahead, mean they'd venture to the Netherlands?
Actually Mary preferred British court to Dutch one. If her TTL husband is employed as Lord High Admiral (former position of James), they may stay in Britain.
 
Actually Mary preferred British court to Dutch one. If her TTL husband is employed as Lord High Admiral (former position of James), they may stay in Britain.
This is very true, perhaps one or two, perhaps three kids maximum for James and Catherine then?
 
If he grabs a Denmark match (Anne Sophie) who in OTL gave his husband two healthy sons, then it's all OK on this front.
 
If he grabs a Denmark match (Anne Sophie) who in OTL gave his husband two healthy sons, then it's all OK on this front.

This is very true.

Fo you would this be more interesting than James having surviving sons by Anne Hyde, or another Protestant wife?
 
One thing I'm trying to decide is if James II and his sons would have the ability to keep the power of the crown as it stood under Charles II or if they'd slowly see it erode under their grasp or not.

Charles II and his sons I think would be able to.

Henry, Duke of Gloucester by virture of being a soldier and a devout Protestant, I think might also be able to
 
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