WI: Catherine Parr had Royal Children

Ok so, we all know that Catherine Parr never even hinted throughout her marriage to Henry VIII that she might be pregnant. But we also know that Catherine Howard was rumoured to be pregnant twice throughout her marriage, which gives us an indication that Henry VIII saw it as a distinct possibility. So let's say she has twins (because it's gratuitous) and Henry VIII now has two extra living, healthy children. These royal babies (let's name them Margaret and Henry) are born in 1542. They are both healthy, red haired and blues eyed. Both are on level with the intelligence of Edward/Elizabeth. Both are charming and ambitious. Where do they go?
 
Henry would certainly succeed Edward as King under a Regency.
How that Regency proceeds will depend on who's on it and how Mary Tudor fits in.
Since both Elisabeth and Mary are still classed as bastards then Margaret will be the more worthy prize for marriage.
 
Henry would certainly succeed Edward as King under a Regency.
How that Regency proceeds will depend on who's on it and how Mary Tudor fits in.
Since both Elisabeth and Mary are still classed as bastards then Margaret will be the more worthy prize for marriage.

Unless, of course, their mother's adultery is uncovered and doubts simmer on their paternity.
 
OTL Catherine Parr only married H VIII in 1542

12 July I think

So the earliest a legitimate child could be born is Spring 1544, when she was 32

However it's possible she was still fertile.

She married again six months after H's death but died within 15 months - probably from complications of pregnancy ... she was 35 then

AIUI there was no hint of her adultery when married to H.
They did quarrel but over her religious views which were more starkly Protestant than Anglican
(which was probably why she was not named Regent for Edward, despite being a major factor in his education)
 
I think had Catherine Parr borne Henry any offspring, he WOULD have made them the heirs after the Prince of Wales - skipping over his daughters by his earlier contentious unions without the slightest hesitation the same way he'd bastardized them. So IMO likely his will would have had the succession been first Edward, then Catherine's son, then Catherine's daughter, then Lady Frances Grey and her daughters.
 
I think had Catherine Parr borne Henry any offspring, he WOULD have made them the heirs after the Prince of Wales - skipping over his daughters by his earlier contentious unions without the slightest hesitation the same way he'd bastardized them. So IMO likely his will would have had the succession been first Edward, then Catherine's son, then Catherine's daughter, then Lady Frances Grey and her daughters.

I very much doubt Henry would Skip over his daughters. He was obsessed with his line following him on the throne, so I could see him having them both just come after Margaret. It wouldn't be impossible for him. Honestly, I just see neither of them rising to power, but always in the line of succession.
 
I very much doubt Henry would Skip over his daughters. He was obsessed with his line following him on the throne, so I could see him having them both just come after Margaret. It wouldn't be impossible for him. Honestly, I just see neither of them rising to power, but always in the line of succession.

I seem to recall hearing that Henry's restoration of Mary and Elizabeth to the line of succession was largely driven by encouragement from Catherine Parr. In the OP's scenario, I could see her instead encouraging Mary and Elizabeth to be inserted into the succession after *Margaret on a theory of legitimate sons, then legitimate daughters, then illegitimate children (Mary and Elizabeth were never officially re-legitimized even though they were restored to the succession IOTL), then collateral relatives.
 
It might make things interesting on who Elizabeth would marry if she was at the end of succession. Any suggestions on where she might be sent?
 
Ok so, we all know that Catherine Parr never even hinted throughout her marriage to Henry VIII that she might be pregnant. But we also know that Catherine Howard was rumoured to be pregnant twice throughout her marriage, which gives us an indication that Henry VIII saw it as a distinct possibility. So let's say she has twins (because it's gratuitous) and Henry VIII now has two extra living, healthy children. These royal babies (let's name them Margaret and Henry) are born in 1542. They are both healthy, red haired and blues eyed. Both are on level with the intelligence of Edward/Elizabeth. Both are charming and ambitious. Where do they go?

Catherine had only married Henry VIII on 12 July 1543 at Hampton Court Palace, so as stated by Alan J. White stated the earliest we could expect the new royals would be around late Feb/early March 1544.
Henry VIII at this point is a overweight monarch who stunk of dead flesh due to his gout and weight related issues.
 
12 July I think

So the earliest a legitimate child could be born is Spring 1544, when she was 32

However it's possible she was still fertile.

She married again six months after H's death but died within 15 months - probably from complications of pregnancy ... she was 35 then

AIUI there was no hint of her adultery when married to H.
They did quarrel but over her religious views which were more starkly Protestant than Anglican
(which was probably why she was not named Regent for Edward, despite being a major factor in his education)

Oh wait, sorry I was thinking of Howard.

Any way, there would be no chance of her being allowed to marry Seymour, since as mother to Edward's heir, she could be used to make the Seymours even closer to the throne if such a marriage took place.

Also, Henry's eldest daughters would probably stay with her and actually be given good marriages as they have another brother between them and the throne.
 
Agree as H8's Dowager Queen Mother, CP

Oh wait, sorry I was thinking of Howard.

Any way, there would be no chance of her being allowed to marry Seymour, since as mother to Edward's heir, she could be used to make the Seymours even closer to the throne if such a marriage took place.

Also, Henry's eldest daughters would probably stay with her and actually be given good marriages as they have another brother between them and the throne.

would not be allowed to remarry, but would stay at Court as Mother to the 2nd & 3rd in line,

I can envisage her being quite involved in her children & doing a reasonable job. Apparently she had good relations with Edward, Elizabeth & even Mary despite their religious differences.

Without the Seymour marriage and "geriatric" pregnancy she will probably live several years ... maybe a decade or more. Given her more Protestant views, evident in OTL in her mentoring of her step daughter Elizabeth, I can see her main influence being securing solidly Protestant heirs to Edward.

Mary would be near the end of a long chain of heirs, so no "Spanish Marriage" of Queen Mary to Philip II of Spain, which would change the rate of conflict between Spain and England.

In addition a more solidly Protestant England in the 1580s might affect the war of he 3 henrys in France.
 
would not be allowed to remarry, but would stay at Court as Mother to the 2nd & 3rd in line,

I can envisage her being quite involved in her children & doing a reasonable job. Apparently she had good relations with Edward, Elizabeth & even Mary despite their religious differences.

Without the Seymour marriage and "geriatric" pregnancy she will probably live several years ... maybe a decade or more. Given her more Protestant views, evident in OTL in her mentoring of her step daughter Elizabeth, I can see her main influence being securing solidly Protestant heirs to Edward.

Mary would be near the end of a long chain of heirs, so no "Spanish Marriage" of Queen Mary to Philip II of Spain, which would change the rate of conflict between Spain and England.

In addition a more solidly Protestant England in the 1580s might affect the war of he 3 henrys in France.
Perhaps we could marry Mary to the Duke of Beja.
 
Henry VIII of England (b.1491: 1547) m. Catherine of Aragon (b.1585: d.1536) (a), Anne Boleyn (b.1501: d.1536) (b), Jane Seymour (b.1509: d.1537) (c), Anne of Cleves (b.1515: d.1556) (d), Catherine Howard (b.1524: d.1542) (e), Catherine Parr (b.1510: d.1568) (f)
1a) Mary Tudor (b.1516: d.1559) m. Luis, Duke of Beja (b.1???) (a)
1a) Catherine of Beja (b.1557: d.1559)

2a) Elizabeth Tudor, Marquess of Pembroke (b.1533: d.1600) m. Thomas Seymour (b.1508) (a), Robert Dudley (b.1532) (b)
1a) Henry Seymour, Duke of Pembroke (b.1553)

2a) Sir Edward Seymour (b.1554)

3a) Anne Seymour (b.1555)

4b) Penelope Dudley (b.1568)

5b) George Dudley (b.1570)

6b) Richard Dudley (b.1571: d.1572)

3a) Edward VI of England (b.1537: d.1554)

4a) Henry IX of England (b.1544) m. Victoria de Valois, Princess of France (b.1554) (a)
1a) Catherine Tudor, Princess of England (b.1570)

2a) Margaret Tudor, Princess of England (b.1571)

3a) Cecily Tudor, Princess of England (b.1573: d.1576)

4a) Henry Tudor, Prince of Wales (b.1576: d.1582)

5a) Edward, Prince of Wales (b.1579: d.1590)

6a) Elizabeth Tudor, Princess of England (b.1582)

7a) Charles I of England (b.1585)

5a) Margaret Tudor, Princess of England (b.1544) m. Frederick II of Denmark (b.1534: d.1588) (a)
1a) Elizabeth of Denmark (b.1565: d.1583)

2a) Catherine of Denmark (b.1565)

3a) Dorothea of Denmark (b.1566: d.1566)

4a) Hedwig of Denmark (b.1567: d.1568)

5a) Christian IV of Denmark (b.1569)

6a) Margaret of Denmark (b.1572)

7a) Augusta of Denmark (b.1573)

8a) Mary of Denmark (b.1575: d.1577)

9a) Frederick, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein (b.1578)

10a) Anne of Denmark (b.1580)

11a) Eleanor of Denmark (b.1582: d.1590)

12a) Christopher of Denmark (b.1584: d.1584)

13a) Christina of Denmark (b.1584)
 
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