It is possible that in OTL Katherine Howard - Henry VIII's fifth Queen - had fallen pregnant with his child. The main piece of evidence for this as AIUI is a letter written by Charles Marillac in 1540 which described Katherine as "Grosse", grosse mainly being a verb used to describe pregnant women, suggesting that Katherine was pregnant but the child was stillborn or miscarried and hence covered up or that Katherine was never pregnant and Charles made a mistake. But what if Katherine had actually fallen pregnant with Henry VIII's child and gave birth to a healthy child. More specifically, what if the child in question was the long desired Duke of York? How would this affect things? Obviously the House of Tudor would survive/last longer and Katherine won't be getting divorced, but what else might change?
The Duke of York might be floated around as a suitor for Mary, Queen of Scots alongside his brother. His survival would also have an interesting effect on the English Reformation, depending on his religion. If he is as fanatical a reformist as his brother, then Edward VI's reforms would continue and England could look more Calvinist than it is in OTL. If he is Catholic he could attempt to restore English to the Papal fold (much to Mary's delight), or if he is moderate like his sister Elizabeth, then nothing changes. But the more interesting effect is what happens to Katherine and Thomas Culpepper? Would Thomas Cranmer and friends still tell Henry VIII about Katherine and her flings with Culpepper and others, if Henry has a son with her or would they keep their mouths shut? If they do tell Henry VIII/he finds out how would Henry react? Would he suspect that his spare isn't actually his son or would he brush the rumours aside as hearsay? How would this affect England?
The Duke of York might be floated around as a suitor for Mary, Queen of Scots alongside his brother. His survival would also have an interesting effect on the English Reformation, depending on his religion. If he is as fanatical a reformist as his brother, then Edward VI's reforms would continue and England could look more Calvinist than it is in OTL. If he is Catholic he could attempt to restore English to the Papal fold (much to Mary's delight), or if he is moderate like his sister Elizabeth, then nothing changes. But the more interesting effect is what happens to Katherine and Thomas Culpepper? Would Thomas Cranmer and friends still tell Henry VIII about Katherine and her flings with Culpepper and others, if Henry has a son with her or would they keep their mouths shut? If they do tell Henry VIII/he finds out how would Henry react? Would he suspect that his spare isn't actually his son or would he brush the rumours aside as hearsay? How would this affect England?
