Mary Tudor, Princess in Exile

26th of August, 1538: Henry VIII’s reaches Ludlow with his family, and sets up for a weeklong stay to get the young Prince Henry ready to be by himself. To ease his pain, Henry resents him with 5 portraits, one of the King, one of Princess Elizabeth, one off Princess Margaret, one of the Queen and one of Prince Henry. He also gives him a book filled with stories of valour and knights, in an effort to make sure he is entertained during the stay up in Ludlow. The Queen is suitably royal during all this.
 
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2nd of September, 1538: As Henry and family (minus Edward, of course) leave Ludlow, little princess Margaret falls as she is getting into her carriage with her sister and scratches up her knees and hands. While by no means a bad injury, her sad cries lead the King to sit with her in the carriage away from the Queen and the Princess Elizabeth, who feels some intense jealousy for the sister who has taken over her father’s affections.
 
13th of September, 1538: George Boleyn happily announces that he is expecting his first child by his wife. While not saying anything in front of the King, he seems quite proud; as this is the first time he has ever had the possibility of a child. He announces he will either name the baby Anne or Thomas, depending on the sex.
 
21st of September, 1538: Mary Tudor announces that she will give up her succession rights if her father the King will personally, in a diplomatic visit, agree to recognise her as legitimate. She will not be considered his bastard, but she will give up her succession rights. She just wants to know that she is not a bastard to her father.
 
29th of September, 1538: Henry VIII hears and agrees to the meeting, if just to meet his grandchild Prince Charles. He is getting what he wants, and no war. But he also sends a message to return to his daughter, he will be bringing all of his children by both of his Queens and she will recognize their legitimacy.
 
3rd of October, 1538: Queen Eleanor returns to court yet again, this time to scold her daughter in law for inviting the King of England to France. He might want to meet Prince Louis, and she will not have that man spoil her perfect baby boy. Mary assures her that he will not have to see Louis, the visit will not even require the Queen if she wishes it. The Queen does wish it.
 
15th of October, 1538: Lady Catherine Parr (nee Howard) announces her first pregnancy to her husband, and Henry VIII moans that he might have given her a royal babe in her womb. Queen Mary offers the young bride the chance to go to a country manor for the duration of the pregnancy, to get her away from the increasingly love struck Henry.
 
17th of November, 1538: Queen Mary gives birth to her first daughter, a baby girl that is named Eleanor. This was not her original name, as the Queen originally wished to name her Katherine for her mother, but the King refused, still harbouring resentment over his first wife (who he calls ‘the Spanish Woman’) and refusing to honour her in any type of way. So the name Eleanor is chosen, and the baby is sent Hatfield to be with her brother and sisters.
 
The Descendants of Henry VIII of England


By Catherine of Aragon:

1- Mary Tudor (b.1516)
m. Francis de Valois: Dauphine of France and Duke of Brittany
i. Charles de Valois


By Elizabeth Blount:

1- Henry Fitzroy (b.1519 – d.1537)
m. Mary Howard
i. Edmund Fitzroy, Cecily Fitzroy


By Anne Boleyn:

1- Elizabeth Tudor (b.1533)

2- Edward Tudor (b.1535-d.1535)

3- Margaret Tudor (b.1535)


By Mary Arundel:

1- Henry Tudor (b.1536)

2- Edward Tudor (b.1537)

3- Eleanor Tudor (b.1538)
 
26th of November, 1538: Due to his recent health troubles and ‘manly’ appetite, Henry VIII has gained a lot of weight. But he doesn’t realise how much until he goes to ride on a particularly small, pretty horse to impress a lady of the court, and manages to break one of the animal’s bones getting onto it. The result is the Queen telling him off privately, and publicly having less banquets and more private dinners. But the King is appalled, he doesn’t feel like the handsome young King he used to and he doesn’t like it. So he begins to exercise again. Just not jousting, because horses are such frail animals.
 
6th of December, 1538: Mary Tudor is announced as pregnant again.

19th of December, 1538: Madeleine de Valois announces her pregnancy.
 
25th of December, 1538: Christmas in England is fairly non-eventful compared to the previous year. As Lady Magdalen is now pregnant in the country and the children are all off in Hatfield for a private, quite Christmas. So the only drama is that Henry leaves midway through the celebrations for a bathroom break and one ambassador takes it as a grave insult and is promptly thrown into a fountain.

In Scotland, Queen Mary and King James lead the celebrations with a sweet, happy lot of revelries that are designed to show off the growing family of the monarchs, with the Princess Mary charming all of the ambassadors and people present.

In France, King Francois spends his time with his ladies, leaving his son and daughter-in-law to lead the festivities. They do so with elegance, and many hope that the competence and grace that they display is an indicator of future hopes.

In Spain, Charles and Anne have a solemn, quiet Christmas. While they attend the celebrations, they leave as early as possible to spend time with the children. They leave Prince Philip to hold over the celebrations with his betrothed, who shocks the court by planting a kiss on his cheek and dancing ‘wildly’ with the young royal. But many note that they seem quite friendly, and many hope that the marriage is as happy as they are now.
 
2nd of January, 1539: Queen Mary of England, after waiting for weeks to go to Hatfield, she leaves for a week-long stay with her baby girl Eleanor and little sickly Henry. She leaves with explicit instructions to her friend Catherine Parr (nee Howard) to keep an eye out for any favourites, as she does not want another Lady Boleyn situation.
 
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9th of January, 1539: Queen Mary returns to court to the good news that Henry did not wander for the week. Instead, he spent time either exercising (which has already taken effect, and Mary is appreciative of this) or doing paperwork and preparations for the trip to France.
 
Interesting dynastic TL so far, subscribed.

Wondering if Mary T. is really sincere to search a reconciliation with the father... Knowing her character, and adding the last miscarriage, it seemed so, but I bet the meeting will be more rocky than planned. Something could pull a stunt and considering how much father and daughter are susceptible, the little incident could cause immediate war.

On a minor personal note, I liked how Jane Seymour was out of the games to take Henry TTL, as I had a rather distaste over the character. Naturally, Henry is my favourite so far, causing ruckus in England in any possible moment.

However... If Mary T. survives more longer, and his husband died as OTL... shit will fall on France at the right time. For the Huguenots for sure.
 
Interesting dynastic TL so far, subscribed.

Wondering if Mary T. is really sincere to search a reconciliation with the father... Knowing her character, and adding the last miscarriage, it seemed so, but I bet the meeting will be more rocky than planned. Something could pull a stunt and considering how much father and daughter are susceptible, the little incident could cause immediate war.

On a minor personal note, I liked how Jane Seymour was out of the games to take Henry TTL, as I had a rather distaste over the character. Naturally, Henry is my favourite so far, causing ruckus in England in any possible moment.

However... If Mary T. survives more longer, and his husband died as OTL... shit will fall on France at the right time. For the Huguenots for sure.

Thank you :) Yes, Mary is sincerely trying o reconnect with her family, at least now that Anne Boleyn is out of the picture. But the meeting has several possibilities at going badly, and I will take advantage of at least one of them. :D There will be blood.

And yes, I don't like Jane Seymour very much either. There was just something a little off about what we know about her, and I don't like the fact that many people don't question the 'perfect wife' archetype that has been created for her in the wake of her death. There is just too much that hints to me of a darker, more ambitious character to her that I can't believe she was like that.

Mary will cause some very interesting butterflies in the future. Think a less sane, less intelligent and more zealous Catherine de Medici. She will bring France into a very interesting era of history. Lots of pain.
 
17th of January, 1539: Queen Eleanor of France announces that she wishes for the Scottish royal family to visit court when England does, so that she may meet her grandchildren and reconnect with her daughter. Well, she doesn’t announce that last part, but it is implied. So King Francis sends a message to Scotland, and privately mutters that his wife should come court to tell him her wishes rather than hiding in the country with their son.
 
The Descendants of Henry VII of England

By Arthur Tudor: Prince of Wales

By Catherine of Aragon:

None

By Margaret Tudor

By King James IV of Scotland:

1- James V of Scotland (b.1512)
m. Mary of Portugal
i- Mary Stewart (b. 1537), James Stewart (b.1538)

By Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus:

1- Margaret Douglas (b.1515)

By Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven:

1- Dorothea Stewart (b.1520s:d.1520s)

By Henry VIII

By Catherine of Aragon:

1- Mary Tudor (b.1516)
m. Francis de Valois: Dauphine of France and Duke of Brittany
i. Charles de Valois


By Elizabeth Blount:

1- Henry Fitzroy (b.1519 – d.1537)
m. Mary Howard
i. Edmund Fitzroy (b.1536), Cecily Fitzroy (b.1536)


By Anne Boleyn:


1- Elizabeth Tudor (b.1533)

2- Edward Tudor (b.1535-d.1535)

3- Margaret Tudor (b.1535)


By Mary Arundel:

1- Henry Tudor (b.1536)

2- Edward Tudor (b.1537)

3- Eleanor Tudor (b.1538)


By Elizabeth Tudor:

None

By Mary Tudor

By Louis VII, King of France:

None

By Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk:

1- Henry Brandon (b.1516: d.1522)

2- Frances Brandon (b.1517)
m. Henry Grey: 3rd Marquess of Dorset
i. Henry Charles (b.1536), Catherine (b. 1538)

3- Eleanor Brandon (b.1519)
m. Lord Henry Clifford
i. Margaret (b.1538)

4- Henry Brandon, 1st Earl of Lincoln (b.1523: d.1534)

By Edmund Tudor

None

By Katherine Tudor

None
 
25th of January, 1539: Queen Mary of Scotland announces her third pregnancy, to the delight of her King and husband.
 
6th of February, 1539: Prince Henri, Duke of Orléans happily announces that he is expecting his first child by his wife Isabella. All are happy for him, except maybe one little lady in the country, who is furiously writing letters to the royal that are filled with some very interesting information.
 
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